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Aussie Champions Go Head To Head in Cunnamulla

11/04/2010

CUNNAMULLA FELLA FESTIVAL PBR CHALLENGER SERIES
CUNNAMULLA, QLD
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2010

Aussie Champions Go Head To Head in Cunnamulla

Cunnamulla will rock to its foundations next Saturday night, when forty of the nation’s toughest cowboys and forty tons of rank bucking bulls go head to head for the Cunnamulla Fella Festival PBR Challenger Series.

Leading the charge for the bull riders is reigning PBR Australia champion David Kennedy, who’ll be hoping to reignite his battle with 2009 PBR Australia champion bucking bull, Wild Thing. The pair of Aussie title-holders has met on two occasions in 2010 with the results one apiece.

Twenty-six-year-old Kennedy from Kyogle, NSW ranks Wild Thing the best bull he has ever seen and marvels at the way the bull quickly learns to exploit a rider’s weaknesses.

Kennedy, however, arrives in Cunnamulla in red-hot form, having ridden eight bulls from his past eight attempts in PBR Challengers Series events. This hot streak has Kennedy leading the PBR Australia season standings by 864 points from second-placed Chris Lowe (Uralla, NSW), with teenager Troy Wilkinson (Upper Horton, NSW) a further 65 points adrift.

Round number eleven of the 2010 PBR Challenger Series, Cunnamulla is the last opportunity for these premier bull riders to stake a claim for a spot in the PBR Australia National Finals, which take place in Tamworth on November 26 and 27, so the people of Cunnamulla are assured of a massive battle between man and beast next Saturday night.

Cunnamulla also sees the famous Farley brothers from Kempsey, NSW riding together for the first time in twelve months. While eldest brother Denny has competed on the PBR Australia circuit this year, his younger brothers Jared and Pete have mixed it with the world’s best in the US PBR Built Ford Tough Series. Last month Pete Farley set the stage alight in Las Vegas, Nevada finishing tenth in the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals.

Another feature of the Cunnamulla Fella Festival PBR Challenger Series is the Mayor’s Challenge, in which seven shires from southwest Queensland and northwest NSW each sponsor a bull rider. The rider with the highest score at the end of the night wins for his shire mayor the prestigious brass statue of the Cunnamulla Fella.

Host shire, Paroo, have former Cunnumulla local Steven Jenson in their corner, while Quilpie shire have Quilpie resident Trent Minute, with Balonne shire represented by Bollon rider Trent Pointon. The remaining four shires, Murweh, Bourke, Brewarrina and Bulloo will have a PBR rider randomly selected for them. With local council pride on the line, it’s a fair bet these four mayors will have their fingers crossed Aussie champ David Kennedy’s name is pulled from the hat!

Gates at the John Kerr Park open at 5.00pm, with bull riding from 7.00pm. Topping off the atmosphere of this PBR extravaganza is the band Jericho and the Cully Boys, who will continue the entertainment through to midnight.

With Australia’s fiercest bulls, finest bull riders and the edge-of-your-seat excitement of a PBR show, the Cunnamulla Fella Festival PBR Challenger Series is one bull ride not to be missed. This is not a rodeo – this is the one and only PBR!

PBR Australia Season Standings:
1. David Kennedy Kyogle, NSW 3906.0 points
2. Chris Lowe Uralla, NSW 3041.5 points
3. Troy Wilkinson Upper Horton, NSW 2977.5 points
4. Jim Rowsell Goondiwindi, Qld 2619.0 points
5. Matt Postle Mundubbera, Qld 2457.5 points

Cunnamulla Fella Festival PBR Challenger Series
John Kerr Park, Louise Street, Cunnamulla, Queensland
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Gates open 5pm. Bull Riding action from 7pm
Pre-sale festival weekend passes available from the Paroo Shire Council Office
(07 4655 8400) or Tourist Info Centre (07 4655 8470)
Festival pass prices: adults $35, children $15, concession $25, family (2A + 2C) $75
Bull riding tickets at gate: adults $20, concession $15, children $10, family $55.