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CONNOLLY BACK IN FORM

03/01/2011

CONNOLLY BACK IN FORM

(Feb 28, 2011) – North Queensland’s Jock Connolly arrived in South Australia on a mission and left with the victory at the Aldinga Home Improvements Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Challenger Series stop in Marrabel, South Australia on Saturday night.

The Marrabel Rodeo Grounds shook to their foundations as over 4000 fans roared with appreciation as 40 of the nation’s elite bull riders took on a pen of the nastiest bovines in the land. When the last bull had exited the arena it was the 2005 Australian Bull Riding Champion from Charter Towers’ Jock Connolly who emerged with the winners buckle and the lion’s share of the $10,000 prize money.

The night started in blistering style when the first rider out, Troy Wilkinson from Upper Horton, NSW burst from the chutes and with an 80 point ride on Biddle’s bull “Hillbilly”.

Throughout the long round a further eleven riders would record qualified rides. Round highlights included two 89 point rides from Queenslander’s Jason Mara from Rockhampton who made a sensational ride aboard Carly Supa Glue, and Beau Willis from Bowen who rode the high point money bull of Ron Woodall’s Ariats Two Tone.  Connolly’s first round 86 point ride on Evil Eye put him in a great position splitting third and fourth in the Round.

In the championship round Troy Wilkinson set the pace with 86 points on a fast spinning bull by the name of Chaos, whilst  Jim Rowsell was the next to post a score when he desperately hung down the side of his bull to record a score.  However it would be Jock Connolly’s night as he stepped up to take the lead with spectacular 91-point domination on the Frank Biddle owned “Blue Dog Toyland”.   Connolly retained the lead for the remainder of the event as the remaining riders all tasted south Australian Soil and falling short of the 8 second qualifying time giving Connolly his second PBR Marrabel victory of his career.
 
There wasn’t a happier man on the grounds than the 34 year old Connolly who had travelled from Cairns north Queensland with his twelve month old son.   Connolly’s son joined him in the arena for the buckle presentation.  “I am so happy to win Marrabel, it is such a great event and this one is special as I get to share it with my son, Tyler.  With a family it makes it difficult to get down the road and travel across the country but a win like this makes it all worthwhile”.

The Professional Bull Riders Challenger Series Tour now heads to Julia Creek in North Western Queensland on Saturday, April 16 for stop number three on the tour.

Run in-conjunction with the Julia Creek Dirt n Dust Festival, Round number 3 is shaping up to be one of the do or die events for the riders on the tour with it being the last qualifying event to secure a position in the lucrative PBR Australian Cup Series Tour scheduled for June & July.

For more information on the PBR, please visit www.pbraustralia.com or become a fan and join www.facebook.com/pbraustralia
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Final Event Results:
Professional Bull Riders Challenger Series Marrabel Results:
1. Jock Connolly Charters Towers, Qld 177 points
2. Troy Wilkinson Upper Horton, NSW 166 points
3. Jim Rowsell Goondiwindi, Qld 160 points
4. Michael Ford Orange, NSW 89  points
5. Jason Mara Rockhampton, Qld 89  points

2011 Professional Bull Riders Championship Standings:
1. Jim Rowsell Goondiwindi, Qld 802   points
2. Beau Willis Bowen, Qld 602.5points
3. Jock Connolly Charters Towers, Qld 552   points
4. Michael Ford Orange, NSW 549.5points
5. Sam Larsen Mundubbera, Qld 503   points

For the latest PBR point standings go to www.pbraustralia.com

Southern Cross Media Dirt n Dust PBR Challenger Series Julia Creek
Town & Country Club, Julia Creek Qld
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Bull Riding action from 7pm
Tickets available at www.dirtndust.com