A Eurobodalla rider has pitched her talents across the ditch in New Zealand.
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Aimee Mehl, of Moruya is a 15-year-old Carroll College, Broulee, student.
She had a very different school holidays this recent Christmas break.
Aimee was one of two students selected by NSW Polocrosse to travel on exchange across the Tasman Sea to New Zealand.
Aimee Mehl, who rides for Lake George Polocrosse Club and Jack Donaldson, who rides for Oberon Polocrosse Club, left for Auckland on December 30 for five weeks.
During the first three weeks, Aimee and Jack stayed with host families.
Aimee’s host family lived in a small rural town called Pio Pio, on the North Island.
Aimee’s mother, Sue Mehl, said she was treated “like part of the family”.
“She helped work their polocrosse horses during the week and on the weekends they took her to polocrosse carnivals,” Mrs Mehl said.
“The first weekend she was lucky enough to be in the winning B Grade side at a carnival in Ashurst.
“On the second weekend, her team was runners up at Tokoroa.
“The third weekend was the NZ Junior and Intermediate championships at Otorohanga.
“Aimee’s team just missed out winning by two goals.
“On Tuesday January 19, Aimee and Jack met up with another six NSW juniors, a coach and a manager to form a NSW junior development squad, who then played as a NSW team against New Zealand over the next two weekends.
“The NSW team played extremely well, considering they were all playing on borrowed horses.
“In the end, the Kiwis came through as the victors.
“Aimee said the whole experience was wonderful, she has learnt a great deal, and made many new friends.
“She would like to thank NSW Polocrosse for giving her this great opportunity.”
Polocrosse can be seen played here in the Eurobodalla over the Easter weekend.
The Eurocoast Polocrosse Club will host a carnival at the Mirrabooka grounds just south of Moruya on March 26 and 27.
Mrs Mehl said polocrosse was an excellent family sport.
“My husband Andy, myself and Aimee’s older sister, Michelle, all play polocosse with the Lake George Polocrosse club,” she said.
“It is a great family sport.
“Aimee has represented our zone (Southern Highlands) previously, but not NSW.
“This was a first and an awesome experience for her.”
The Eurobodalla has a proud history of producing polocrosse champions. In 2014 Bodalla’s Farran Mathie and Moruya’s Brittany Jones represented NSW and won the national polocrosse title.
