A capacity crowd at Dubbo Showground was treated to a thrilling spectacle at the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Monster Energy Tour: Dubbo Invitational on Saturday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The competition, featuring plenty of the nation’s best riders, went right down to the wire but it was current Australian No. 5, Cody Heffernan, who clinched victory with a rousing 89-point ride on the final buck off of the night.
Taking place within the PBR’s new state-of-the-art mobile stadium before a vibrant crowd, the event attracted 22 of the nation’s top riders, including the top five riders on the current Australian standings.
They were promised an entertaining night and the event lived up to all the hype, as all the fans in attendance were treated to plenty of high-class riding as well as a number spills and thrills which had them up on their feet.
Heffernan’s picture perfect final ride upon TNR’s Call Me Joe saw him narrowly pip current Australian number one Aaron Kleier to the Dubbo Invitational title.
The victory also solidified Heffernan’s status as a genuine contender for the 2018 PBR crown.
There is just one event left until the PBR Australia Grand Finals in Townsville on November 23 and 24.
The Dubbo Invitational also attracted some of the best bulls in the sport, with superstar bovines wowing local audiences including the likes of TnR’s ‘Call Me Joe’, John Gill and Sons’ ‘High Flying Akubra’, Hempenstall’s ‘Doorman’ and Kasper’s ‘Villain’.
With the win, Singleton-born Heffernan sent this year’s title race into overdrive. The slimmest of margins now separates Heffernan and the number three-ranked Fraser Babbington, with both riders also within striking distance of the leading Kleier and Cliff Richardson, who remains in second spot.
The PBRA now heads to Tamworth for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Monster Energy Tour: Iron Cowboy on November 17, before the Townsville finals.
Nineteen years after the PBR began staging events in Townsville, the grand finals will bring twenty-two of the country’s best bull riders, along with international stars and champion bulls, to Townsville for a head-to-head battle that will decide the national champion and also the stock contractor of the year titles.
“As with previous years, we’re expecting the 2018 title battle to attract diehard PBR fans from all over Australia,” PBR Australia general managed, Glen Young, said.
“It is anybody’s title this year, and with four more events to go, and the bonus points on offer at the Grand Finals, fans can expect a very tight battle.”
