By JODIE SYMONDS
CLEMATIS sisters Erica and Janis Hosking raised the bar to compete in the Pony Club Association of Victoria State Dressage Championships in Bendigo earlier this month.
The girls represented the South Metro zone in grade one and grade three dressage.
Eighteen-year-old Erica said she felt good in the weeks leading up to the event.
“It’s interesting when you go from big competition like Nationals, to a smaller ones like Pony Clubs,” Ms Hosking said.
“When I’m at competitions, I tend to doubt myself, but my coach is really supportive and says to just own the area as if it was the big stage,” she said.
“I would be nowhere without my mum or dad and my horse instructor Leanne Williams.”
Miss Hosking said their family were very proud of 14-year-old Janis also qualifying for the championship.
“We were so proud of her. She didn’t place, but it was better for her to get in and she rode really well,” Erica said.
The girls had successful contested three qualification rounds to be able to compete in the dressage championship.
Erica said although it would be outstanding to one day make it to the Olympics in dressage, it wasn’t her ultimate goal.
“I just want to get to the top level I can achieve,” she said.
