For  Graham and Tracey Crawshaw, known as G and T to their Showjumping friends, giving back to equestrian sport has always been part of the journey. Long-standing members of the Border Districts Showjumping Club (BDSJC), the couple have dedicated decades to supporting the sport they love, from competing alongside their family to helping run events, maintain equipment and keep their club thriving.

Their connection to horses began long before they joined BDSJC, with both growing up in families where horses were part of everyday life.

Tracey was introduced to horses through her grandparents, who shared a property with her family and encouraged her early interest in riding. Graham’s family also had a strong equestrian background, with his father working as a drover and his mother arriving in Australia from England in 1956, whose first job was for the Irving sisters at the Waverly Riding School.

Both families were actively involved in Pony Club, and Tracey and Graham followed the same path, eventually developing a shared passion for show jumping.

“We were both lucky enough that our parents took us to Pony Club,” Tracey said.

“We’ve come from a history where both families have always been committee people and giving back to the community. I guess that was just the expectation. You’ll go on that committee, you’ll put back into your sport.”

That commitment has continued across generations, with Tracey and Graham, their sons Todd and Trent and now their granddaughter all having been involved in Pony Club.

Graham was among those at an early meeting to establish BDSJC in the late 1970s, joining the club’s committee soon after. Tracey, her father, Len Hogan, and sister Donna Knuckey, also became involved, with all contributing to the club for decades, including executive positions.

What began as a small regional show jumping club has grown into an important part of the equestrian community across northeast Victoria and southern New South Wales.

During its heyday, BDSJC helped deliver show jumping at more than 25 agricultural shows across the region, providing equipment, personnel and opportunities for riders to compete.

 Having seen first-hand how important agricultural shows have been in providing competition opportunities, Tracey and Graham are also passionate about keeping show jumping available at grassroots level. With many agricultural shows now facing challenges to continue, they remain strong supporters of efforts to keep the sport part of these community events.

“We’re very supportive of trying to keep show jumping available at the grassroots level of our sport,” Tracey said. 

The club also played a significant role in the early days of the Australian World Cup qualifying series, hosting numerous qualifiers, including successful events at Wodonga.

“We were fortunate to be involved in some really successful World Cup qualifiers,” Tracey said.

“We’ve been involved in every World Cup qualifier that the club ran, and that would be 20 qualifiers overall.”

Alongside their work organising events, Tracey and Graham were also active competitors, often travelling to agricultural shows with their horses, family and the club’s equipment truck.

Some of their fondest memories are of those weekends spent travelling and camping together, with their families and fellow competitors.

“Riding the horses and winning a class was only the icing on the cake,” Tracey said.

 “They were fantastic weekends of camping away together. You catch up with people you only see once a year, and you just pick up where you left off.” 

As their involvement in the sport evolved, so too did their roles within the club. Both became qualified officials, with Tracey now working as a judge and Graham as a course designer.

Graham also served as a technical delegate at international events, including the Sydney Olympic Games, an experience he described as a fantastic opportunity to see the sport operating at the highest level.

Despite their many roles over the years, their contribution to BDSJC extends well beyond competition days.

 Helen Ashby, who nominated the couple for the member story, said their knowledge, dedication and willingness to help were central to the club’s success.

“Put simply, our club would not exist or function without them,” Helen said.

Tracey and Graham were quick to acknowledge Helen's own contribution to the sport, describing her as one of many local EA officials they have supported and encouraged along the way.

 “We're extremely humbled to be nominated by Helen, who herself works tirelessly for the sport. She's one of the many local officials we've helped start their course designing and judging journey,” Tracey said.

 Tracey and Graham remain active committee members, helping organise rallies and competitions while keeping the club’s equipment in top condition. From maintaining show jumps and vehicles to setting up and packing down events, they continue to do much of the work behind the scenes to keep the club running. 

For Tracey, the opportunity to contribute alongside other passionate horse people is one of the things that has kept them involved for so long.

“We’re both lucky enough now to be retired, so you’ve got to do something a little bit too,” she said.

“But it’s probably still just for our love of the sport. What we do, whether it’s for the show jumping or the horse trials or the Pony Club, it’s just for the sport.”

Today, BDSJC has 77 paid members and 121 active members, with a strong mix of junior riders, adult competitors and volunteers helping shape its future.

Tracey and Graham hope the club can continue offering regular competitions, training days and clinics while building a stronger sense of community among its members.

 For her, that means encouraging people to spend time together beyond the arena and to get involved in the work that makes the club possible.

 “I’d like to see our rallies be a little bit more of a social day as well,” she said.

 “Be able to put a barbecue on and maybe give Graham and Tracey a hand to paint some jumps while we’re at it or assist in reporting some plants,” quipped Tracey.

 Having spent decades supporting their club, Tracey and Graham know first-hand how important volunteers are to the future of equestrian sport.

 Their advice to anyone considering getting involved is to remember that every contribution counts, whether it is helping at an event, joining a committee or lending a hand with club maintenance.

“If the community doesn't keep helping to keep clubs going, they won’t keep going,” Tracey said.

For Tracey and Graham, volunteering has never been about recognition. It is about giving back to the sport that has given them so much, supporting the next generation of riders and ensuring their club remains a place where people can come together through a shared love of horses.

Behind every successful club is a community of people making it happen, and we want to hear about them. Tell us about someone from your club here. 

Behind the Bridle: Tracey and Graham Crawshaw