ALEX Bull will fly out to the United States after winning a Great Britain call-up for an international polocrosse tournament.

The 18-year-old, from Crowle, will compete in Kentucky as part of a British Pony Club Polocrosse team. It will be his third appearance abroad in this fast and demanding sport.

Polocrosse could be described as a cross between rugby and lacrosse -- on horseback -- and a quick eye and skilled ball handing are vital.

"They have an international Polocrosse tournament in the USA every three years and this year it coincides with the 50-year celebration of the Pony Club, so it's a big event," said mother Carolyn Bull.

"It is the first time the UK Pony Club has sent a polocrosse team abroad but Alex has competed on junior teams in Australia and South Africa in the past with the UK Polocrosse Association."

Alex, who is an apprentice engineer in Worcester, has been a member of the Croome Pony Club since he was five.

"He's come up through the Pony Club system and had a lot of fun," his mother added.

"All the clubs across Britain were invited to send polocrosse players to a try out for the team. Alex was chosen and was delighted to also be selected as team captain, which is a great honour."

The team will travel out to the US on July 13 from Gatwick. They will stop for two weeks and compete on borrowed horses, as well as coaching young polocrosse riders.

Fellow Croome rider Tom Yates, 16, has been chosen as non-travelling reserve for the team. The King's School pupil rides his 15.2hh Thoroughbred mare Casino in matches and, along with Alex, was on the Croome team that won the National Pony Club Polocrosse Championships last year.

The British polocrosse tournament season will soon be underway, with the first big event due to be held at Leighton Buzzard at the end of this month.

"We had to been due to have out first local tournament last week but unfortunately had to cancel due to the heavy rain," said Wendy Yates, who is the polocrosse representative for Croome Pony Club and chairman of the Pegasus Croome Polocrosse club.

"Our next polocrosse competition is on June 13 at Lower Farm, near Pershore. It's open to all Pony Club members with both novice and experienced players."