PBR Australia News

Back to All News

World Cup Stars Head Aussie PBR Line Up For Townsville

05/11/2010

2010 PBR TROY DUNN INTERNATIONAL
TOWNSVILLE, QUEENSLAND
MAY 21 & 22, 2010

World Cup Stars Head Aussie PBR Line Up For Townsville

Five of Australia’s Professional Bull Riders World Cup Team are included in the twenty-man Aussie contingent for the 2010 Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Troy Dunn International at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre over two nights on May 21 & 22.

The strongest Australian list to line up for a PBR Troy Dunn International in several years, this local squad is overflowing with talent and experience. Led by Australia’s highest profile US-based rider Brendon Clark, the squad includes two of the famed Farley brothers (Jared and Pete), current PBR Australia champ David Kennedy and the highly animated Ben Jones, all of whom wore the green and gold at the recent PBR World Cup in Las Vegas.

Working his way back along the tough road from serious injury, Brendon Clark comes into the 2010 PBR Troy Dunn International in blistering form. Twenty-nine-year-old Clark from Morpeth, NSW had struggled to recapture his superb pre-injury form until a recent trip to Canada saw his fortunes take a dramatic reversal. An event win on Canadian soil followed by a stirring effort at the World Cup and a top ten finish at the PBR Built Ford Tough event this past weekend, have seen the Clark of old back in business.

Kempsey’s Jared Farley is also a cowboy who’s recaptured top form over the past couple of months. In November last year Farley returned from a nine-month injury lay-off and set about re-establishing himself on the Built Ford Tough Circuit. Farley currently leads the PBR Australia Qualifier Standings and sits at 55 at the Built Ford Tough ranks.

The hottest bull riding ticket on north Queensland’s annual calendar, PBR Troy Dunn International pits these twenty top Aussies against a selection of the world’s finest professional bull riders from the United States’ elite Built Ford Tough Series. Each night all riders contest the long round, with the top fifteen scores progressing to the championship round. The event champion will be the rider with the highest aggregate score across the two nights.

With a pen of the rankest bulls Australia can muster standing between these cowboys and a slice of the $50,000 prize money, the stage is set for some of the hottest action sport Queensland has ever seen.

With the nation’s fiercest beasts and the world’s toughest athletes combined with the rock’n’roll sound, lights, big screens and pyrotechnics of a PBR show, the 2010 PBR Troy Dunn International is one bull ride not to be missed. This is not a rodeo - this is the PBR!

THE AUSTRALIAN CONTENDERS

Jared Farley (24, Kempsey, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 1)
A member of the Farley brothers trio of bull riders (older brother Denny also rides on the PBR Australia Challenger Series) Jared returned in November last year from a lengthy layoff, with immediately strong results at the PBR Australia National Finals. Jared represented Australia in the 2007 and 2010 PBR World Cups and is a five-time PBR World Finalist.

David Kennedy (25, Kyogle, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 2)
Twenty-five-year-old David Kennedy has been around bull riding for most of his life but the 2009 PBR Mega Month was without doubt his watershed period in the PBR. Riding ten bulls from twelve attempts during four events, Kennedy catapulted himself from nowhere to third place on the PBR Australia standings and went on to win the 2009 PBR Australia national title. In 2010 Kennedy won two PBR Australia Challenger Series events before receiving the call up to the PBR Built Ford Tough Series and representing Australia in the 2010 PBR World Cup in Las Vegas.

Brendon Clark (29, Morpeth, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 3)
Australia’s most experienced US-based bull rider, Brendon Clark suffered serious internal injuries early last year and, as a result, just missed the cut for the PBR World Finals. Clark is currently ranked 47th on the Built Ford Tough Series, is a six times World Finals Qualifier, has represented Australia in three PBR World Cups and has accumulated more than US$750,000 in career earnings.

Ben Jones (31, Goulburn, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 4)
31-year-old Ben Jones last year made his second PBR World Finals, 11 years after his previous appearance! The 2007 PBR Australia Champion represented Australia in the 2007, 2008 and 2010 PBR World Cups and is currently Australia’s highest placed rider on the PBR Built Ford Tough Series at number 26. Riding high on career-best form, Jones is sure to set Aussie arenas alight with his famous chicken dance when he makes the 8-second journey during this PBR World Challenge Series.

Pete Farley (21, Kempsey, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 5)
21-year-old Pete Farley is the 2008 PBR Australia champion and currently sits at number 50 on the Built Ford Tough Series tour. Pete has represented Australia at the past three PBR World Cups and in 2009 made his first ever PBR World Finals in Las Vegas.

Troy Wilkinson (19, Upper Horton, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 9)
The top of the locals yet to taste the exhilaration of the PBR Built Ford Tough tour in the US, young Troy Wilkinson is a rider to watch during this PBR World Challenge Series. Throughout 2009 and 2010 Wilkinson has notched up a swag of top ten finishes and proven to be one of the most consistent riders on the Aussie circuit.

Chris Lowe (25, Uralla, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 10)
Ranked by his peers as a truly gifted bull rider, Chris Lowe is yet to unleash his full potential in the PBR, despite a handful of podium finishes in the past six months. Watch for Lowe to bring home some big scores on the top quality bulls he will encounter during this PBR World Challenge Series.

Jim Rowsell (23, Goondiwindi, Qld. Australian Qualifier Standings: 11)
One of PBR Australia’s great young characters, Jim Rowsell is quick with a joke but deadly serious when he climbs on the back of a one ton beast. Having had a strong start to the 2010 Rowsell is keen to use the PBR World Challenge Series to cement his position in the standings for a genuine shot at the 2010 PBR Australia title.

Nick Birch (29, Scone, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 13)
With one PBR victory and another podium finish already under his belt in the current PBR season, Nick Birch comes to the PBR World Challenge Series in great form. Hailing from the Upper Hunter Valley town of Scone, Birch has the experience and skill to make an impact on this series.

Grant Wells (30, Boulia, Qld, Australian Qualifier Standings: 14)
A legend in Western Queensland, Grant Wells has been riding bulls and winning titles since his teens. Although his extensive cattle property interests take up most of his time these days, Wells still rides enough events to keep him amongst the top contenders come finals time.

Budd Williamson (23, Ayr, Qld, Australian Qualifier Standings: 15)
While most young Aussie bull riders choose to establish themselves at home before venturing overseas, 23-year-old Budd Williamson from Ayr, North Queensland decided to just pack his bags and try his luck in the US. Now, having ridden several seasons on the PBR satellite circuits, Williamson has gained enough experience on top-flight bulls to be a genuine contender back in Australia during the PBR World Challenge Series.

Tom Ladhams (24, Port Macquarie, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 16)
At the PBR Australia National Finals in Tamworth last November, young Tom Ladhams came off second best from a head clash with a bull, emerging from the encounter with a broken jaw and badly lacerated tongue. But the nasty wreck didn’t dissuade the confident New South Welshman, who has started the 2010 season in sparkling form.

Matt Postle (25, Mundubbera, Qld, Australian Qualifier Standings: 17)
A consistent performer on the PBR Australia circuit since its inception in 2007, Matt Postle has always been close to the top of the points table. A natural big game player, look for Matt to ride the tough bulls when the pressure is on.

Jason Mara (23, Rockhampton, Qld, Australian Qualifier Standings: 19)
With podium finishes in Rockhampton and Cooyar this season, Jason Mara has really come of age as a Professional Bull Rider. Mara definitely has the skills and tenacity to make his presence felt in the 2010 PBR World Challenge Series.

Craig Postle (26, Mundubbera, Qld, Australian Qualifier Standings: 20)
The older brother of Mundubbera’s Matt Postle, Craig Postle is having his best season for some time. Craig made the 2009 PBR Australia Finals in Tamworth and hasn’t looked back, picking up top five finishes in Cooyar, Toowoomba and Julia Creek.

Clayton O’Brien (26, Blackall, Qld, Australian Qualifier Standings: 22)
Blackall’s Clayton O’Brien is having a mild season by his lofty standards. In 2009 the lanky Queenslander burst from the pack and established himself in PBR Australia’s top ten.

Kevin “Jock” Connolly (33, Charters Towers, Qld, Australian Qualifier Standings: 24)
At 33-years-of-age most bull riders would be thinking about winding down…not Jock Connolly. The tough-as-teak Charters Towers cowboy has fought back from a broken neck he sustained early last year and is looking to recapture the form that took him within one ride of claiming the 2008 PBR Australia title.

Tim Amey (24, Major’s Creek, NSW, Australian Qualifier Standings: 25)
Although he is yet to claim a PBR event victory, New South Welshman Tim Amey has proven a solid performer on the circuit, clocking up several top ten finishes, with his best being a second in Penrith late last year.

Sam Larsen (22, Katherine, NT, Australian Qualifier Standings: 26)
The only Northern Territorian in the Aussie line up, 22-year-old Sam Larsen is a young rider just beginning to realise his potential in the PBR. A pair of second placings in the past eight months has seen Larsen rise up through the ranks to qualify for the 2010 PBR World Challenge Series.

Saras Ramsay (33, Aratula, Qld, Australian Qualifier Standings: 27)
Equaling Jock Connolly as the oldest competitor in the 2010 PBR World Challenge Series, Queenslander Saras Ramsay is also one tough competitor. In 2007 Ramsay sustained near fatal injuries in an horrific bull-riding incident but fought back to represent his nation in last year’s Australia vs The Rest of the World contest in Newcastle.

2010 PBR Troy Dunn International
Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre
Friday, May 21 and Saturday, May 22, 2010
Tickets: Townsville Entertainment Centre on 07 4771 4000 or www.tecc.net.au
Tickets Prices: Diamond $120, Platinum $85, Saturday Silver $45, Friday Silver $25, Saturday Bronze $25, Friday Bronze $20, Family pass $85, Children $25