Peter Simmonds Memorial — Back O’Bourke Stampede SUCCESSFUL BOURKE RODEO HONOURS PETER SIMMONDS

Liam Brodrick, Kayla Simmonds, Sophia Carlon, Clay Simmonds, Sally Simmonds, Robbie Sullivan. Photo Kylie Fisher of Land & Life Photography

The Peter Simmonds Memorial Back O’Bourke Stampede was the talk of the town, the region and across the professional rodeo circuit this week after a hugely successful event on Saturday.

The Bourke community, the bulls and the broncos were the winners, with plenty of cowboys and cowgirls getting a taste of the Renshaw Oval dust as they battled it out in the arena for the winner’s buckle.

The contest between man, woman and beast was a spectacle worth watching, with an estimated crowd of more than 2,000 flooding through the gates from early Saturday morning and staying on for the fireworks spectacular and final drinks at the bar late on Saturday night.

For professional rodeo rider, organiser, and Bourke local, Tye Simmonds, the Stampede was a notch in his belt as a rider and a promoter, but more importantly, a tribute to his beloved ‘Uncle Pete’.

“This Memorial Stampede was 23 years to the day since the last one which was organised by Uncle Pete, so it was pretty special,” Tye said.

“He was the ultimate professional, he hooked in the hardest and never stopped working - and I would love to have had him there on Saturday to have seen it. […]

Read more in the printed edition of The Western Herald.

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