Xanthe Goodman, UK-based Bombers ambassador, wanted to share news of her exploits in the latest polocrosse season.
For the uninitiated, Polocrosse is a team sport – a combination of polo and lacrosse. It is played outside, on a field, on horseback. Each rider uses a cane or fibreglass stick to which is attached a racquet head with a loose, thread net, in which the ball is carried. Bombers Equestrian Equipment is a polocrosse specialist. (Founder Bomber Nel is pictured above.)
Xanthe has represented England on the national Pony Club Polocrosse Team. “I have had an awesome 2021 Season with my ponies Zuma and Meow,” she explains. “I started the season by stepping up into Medium Goal / C Grade with Arden Polocrosse Club. It was a brilliant step up for me, and something that will really help with my development. It has been amazing to have the support from experienced players, and playing with Iain Heaton has been an amazing experience. Although we did not have the best results on paper, I have played a 1 for the majority of my C grade games instead of being put as a 2!” she continues.
Another incredible experience for Xanthe in 2021 was the Pony Club Polocrosse Four Nations. The Four Nations is an invitational tournament which sees teams from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland competing across Mini, Junior and Senior sections to determine the overall champion. The action is fast-paced and features some of the best young polocrosse players from all across the UK. “As part of the England team, I had a productive week of training and teambuilding with Coach Stuart Dyson,” Xanthe tells us. “During the competition, the overall England team won the Championship title, and my Junior team also won the Junior section. It was amazing to be able to represent Bombers Equestrian Equipment at such a big event.”
Xanthe used her Bombers Loose Ring Control Plate snaffle bit (below) on Meow and Zoom throughout the training and tournament.
“They were also both kitted out with their Bombers bridles, breastplate and saddlepad. I was also using my Sharp Shooter stick, whip, kitbag and stickbag!” she adds.
After Four Nations, Xanthe played in the Open Juniors team as a Number 3. “I have converted from a number 1 to a number 3 after playing it at Four Nations. I played a 3 for the rest of the season. I had a brilliant team, consisting of Taryn Tinker (riding my mare, Meow) and Harry Horton Barr on his Mounted Games pony (Just Cavelli) and we came home with wins from 3 consecutive tournaments. We managed to win the Open Junior National Championships!” Xanthe proudly says.
In other news, her ponies Chispita and Pedro are coming on well at home. “Cheese and I have ventured into the showjumping ring recently and have competed in two classes recently with just an unlucky pole in each class,” she continues.
“Cheese has the Bombers DC Morgan bit in for showjumping (directly below) and I have been changing things up every now and again by schooling and hacking her in the Control Plate Snaffle and Moulded 
Mullen,” (the latter pictured below the DC Morgan in a Dee-style cheekpiece).
“Cheese accepts all of these bits well, with a good head carriage in the DC Morgan in particular, but she seems willing to take a contact and relax into the Control Plate,” Xanthe explains.
“Pedro has now turned 4 and will be making more appearances at Polocrosse Tournaments next year. For now, we have been focusing on his schooling and he is beginning to develop a relaxed and consistent outline.”
“He is currently in the Bombers DC Dressage Happy Tongue Swivel bit (left), and he is going so well in it! We have been focusing on hacking as well recently although Pedro joined Meow at the recent Arden Polocrosse Club Chairman’s Challenge. I believe that this is the next step for him so he can get used to what polocrosse is all about ready for next year.”
“To wrap up, I have really enjoyed my first full year of being on the Bombers team. It has been a successful and productive year, with lots of positive changes and developments,” Xanthe concludes. We send her many congratulations!
#bombersbits #bombersbluebits #teambombers #bombersbitsbringbalance #bombers4life
Top pic by Zoe Williams.