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Bull Fighting Team Announced for PBR National Finals

10/28/2010

2010 PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS NATIONAL FINALS
TAMWORTH, NSW
NOVEMBER 26 & 27, 2010

Bull Fighting Team Announced for PBR National Finals

Professional Bull Riders Australia (PBR) President and former PBR World Champion Troy Dunn today announced the three-man bull fighting team who will put life and limb on the line for the 2010 PBR National Finals at Tamworth’s Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) on November 26 and 27.

In the action packed world of Professional Bull Riders, bull fighters or protection athletes as they are otherwise known, take on the role traditionally performed by rodeo clowns in the broader sport of rodeo. Bull fighters, dressed in their shorts, jerseys, football boots and considerable padding, work the arena during the bull ride, placing themselves between rampaging bulls and fallen cowboys. Bull riders consider the bull fighters the angels of the sport and treat them with the utmost respect and admiration.
 

The bull fighting team for the 2010 PBR National Finals is Brendon Allen (Rockley, NSW), Shane “Mad Dog” Simpson (Mackay, Qld) and Darryl Chong (Rockhampton, Qld).

New South Welshman Brendon Allen is the defending PBR Australia champion bull fighter,having won the coveted title in 2008 and 2009, while Mad Dog Simpson is the team member with the most international experience, having worked extensively on the PBR Built Ford Tough Series in the US and fought bulls at a PBR World Finals. Twenty-five-year-old Darryl Chong, meanwhile, makes his PBR Finals debut this year in Tamworth.

“Bull fighters are some of the toughest and craziest characters in sport,” PBR President Troy Dunn explained. “These blokes put their personal safety aside to step in and distract bulls or untangle riders who are hooked up. They’ll take a shot from a bull rather than let animal go at a fallen bull rider.”

“The three fellas we have for this year’s finals will work great together as a team,” Dunn continued. “You’ve got two there with a lot of experience and cool heads and young Darryl who, despite his youth, has been around bulls his whole life.”

Professional Bull Riders Australia today also announced Tamworth fencing fabrication and installation company Bluedog Fences Australia as the sponsor of the trio of bull fighters. For the 2010 PBR National Finals, Allen, Simpson and Chong shall be known as the Bluedog Fences Bull Fighting Team. For further information on Bluedog Fences Australia go to www.bluedogfences.com.au

See below for profiles on the Bluedog Fences Bull Fighting Team members.

With the nation’s fiercest beasts and the world’s toughest athletes combined with rock concert-style music, lighting and pyrotechnics, monster video screens for instant replays and the wall-to-wall excitement of a PBR show, the 2010 PBR National Finals is one sporting event not to be missed.

2010 Professional Bull Riders National Finals
Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC)
503 Goonoo Goonoo Rd, Hillvue (Tamworth), NSW
November 26 & 27, 8.00pm
Tickets from: Tourism Tamworth on 02 6767 5300 or www.visittamworth.com
Ticket Prices: Platinum $80, Gold $60, Silver $40, Bronze $20

THE BLUEDOG FENCES BULL FIGHTING TEAM:

BRENDON ALLEN
Rockley, NSW – 36 years old – 175cm – 74kg
Reigning PBR Australia Champion Bull Fighter
Brendon Allen is one of the most likeable blokes in Australian bull riding – full stop. A former bull rider, Allen has concentrated on the noble art of bull fighting for the past seven years, capturing the past two PBR Australia titles. Still supremely fit, Brendon Allen uses his speed, agility and quick mind to out-step and out-think Australia’s massive beasts in the line of duty.

SHANE “MAD DOG” SIMPSON
Mackay, Qld – 35 years old – 187cm – 94kg
Shane “Mad Dog” Simpson these days works in the mines of central Queensland and pursues his love of bull fighting on a part time basis, but for three years he worked fulltime on the ultimate bull riding stage, the PBR Built Ford Tough Series in the US. Mad Dog is still considered amongst the top bull fighters in the world and is a true character of the sport. Mad Dog’s brash exterior belies the caring heart of a man who puts his life on the line for his mates every time he steps inside a bull-riding arena.

DARRYL CHONG
Rockhampton, Qld – 25 years old – 165cm – 72kg
Having grown up in western Queensland, Darryl Chong has been around cattle his whole life. A vibrant, enthusiastic character, Darryl goes about his work with the bravery and daring of youth, mixed with a good turn of speed. That pace across the ground was needed earlier this year when Darryl had to run at full pace and leap the arena fence to avoid a rampaging bovine at the Townsville Entertainment Centre. While the audience thought it was all part of the show, Darryl revealed the bull in question had also taken exception to him in Julia Creek a few weeks earlier and left him with a few nasty bruises for his trouble!