Lachlan has been playing polocrosse for four years and, aged only 14, is already showing he has the skills required to play at an elite level.

The youngest son of David and Debbie Howes of Milton, the Ulladulla High School student will take on the best in the country at the National Championships in Ballarat in March next year.

He will play for New South Wales in the junior mixed team, which consists of four girls and four boys, and is also hoping to be selected for the state’s junior open team.

Lachlan plays in the A grade women’s team (which includes good junior players) for the Eurocoast Polocrosse Club, based in Moruya and has travelled to competitions all around the country.

He and his horse Flame have shown they are a force to be reckoned with on the field, with success at the NSW Zone Championships in the Southern Highlands team in August this year where he was selected for the state team.

Lachlan has won numerous awards including the A Grade Best Number Three player at the NSW Junior Zone Championships this year.

Lachlan is excited about the championships and said he and his horse make a great team.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

“The horse does half the work during the games and has to be trained to follow the rider’s commands and signals.

“Flame’s a great horse and we play well together.”

Lachlan said he likes defending and attacking on field, but loves to score goals best of all.

His mum Debbie told the Times the sport is family orientated, with Lachlan’s brother Steven also hitting the field and his dad a former player.

She said Steven has played at state level three times, but Lachlan has gone one better than his big brother by playing at the nationals.

“Lachlan’s doing really well and is the only local player that we know of to have made it this far – it’s a big thing,” she said.

The family and their horses travel to local meets and also interstate for polocrosse competitions most weekends.