Bourke siblings Clay and Sally Simmonds are making their mark in the glamour sport of showjumping.
Story Therese Hall Photos Kylie Fisher
Sitting astride their horses near their family’s caravan park in outback NSW, Clay and Sally Simmonds are a long way from the glamorous world of showjumping. In their hometown of Bourke, there are no lavish arenas or jumping competitions for them to hone their equestrian skills. Their daily training schedule starts with a trot along the Darling River and any opportunities for competitive showjumping usually entail driving for up to 10 hours.
But the Simmonds siblings are not letting their remote location hold them back from making their mark on the sport. Before COVID-19 interrupted their trajectory, Sally, 19, had been crowned Australian Junior Champion showjumper (in November 2019) and Clay, 20, had earned a position as fifth World cup League contender (in the 2018–19 season).
With the resumption of events this year, both are preparing to compete in the Australian World Champion series, to be held across five states between June and December.
This story excerpt is from Issue #137
Outback Magazine: June/July 2021
