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Champion holds onto his lead in Condobolin

10/03/2011

Champion holds onto his lead in Condobolin

(Oct 3, 2011) – Two time Australian Champion David Kennedy arrived in the Western New South Wales town on a mission and left with the victory at the Condo Chutes and Utes Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Touring Pro Division in Condobolin, on Saturday night.

The Condobolin Committee early Saturday morning made the difficult call to proceed with the event even though it was still raining at the time.  The rain lifted after lunch and the very wet arena was always going to pose a problem.  Doing what they could they were able to make the surface safe for both riders and livestock.

A crowd of over 1500 braved the conditions to come out and witness a great night of extreme bull riding action and family entertainment.

The night started at a blistering pace when, Mat Ladhams from Cooma, NSW exploded from the chutes with an 85 point ride on Hempenstall’s money bull, “Hell Boy”.

New Zealander, Fraser Babbington continued to demonstrate the new found consistency with an 82.5 points score on Swervan Mervan and Cargo’s, Jake Wilson went one better in the third section with an 82.5 point score on L&M Rodeo Company’s City Homicide to take out second place in the long round.

Throughout the long round a further ten riders would record qualified rides and Kennedy could only muster a 80.5 points score on his bull, Duck Creek, which was enough to secure him a bull in the Championship Round. When this is achieved at a PBR event it is inevitable with the high calibre of bulls on offer that there won’t be too many riders that will be successful with an 8 second ride.

Sam Larsen from Katherine in the Northern Territory just scrapped into the Championship Round but made the most of the opportunity riding the fast spinning grey Brahman Johnny Horn for 82 points and a combined total of 159 points.

Rider after rider were hurled into the mud and it looked liked Larsen’s would be the only man to record a score in the final shoot out. 

After being fouled on the gate Kennedy was rewarded a re-ride on a bull by the name of Planet Hollywood, this would be his fourth ride of the night.  The champion seized the moment and dominated the bull for an 85 points score and the overall lead in the event.  

Cooma cowboy, Mat Ladham’s was the only one that could spoil the party but he had drawn the 2010 Australian Champion bucking bull Lab Rat and despite the conditions, Lab Rat was electric and threw Ladham’s back into the chute.

David Kennedy received a beautiful award buckle and winner’s cheque for his effort and has admitted that he has dedicated himself to the PBR Australia tour and is working on a strong finish to the year so he can qualify for the elite PBR Built Ford Tough Series in the USA for the start of the 2012 season.

The Condobolin Rodeo Committee again delivered an amazing event for the region and the PBR are looking forward to returning to Condobolin in 2012.

The excitement machine that is the Professional Bull Riders Touring  Pro Division now heads to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland on Saturday, October 15 for stop number three on the tour.   With Australia’s rankest beasts, toughest sportsmen and the edge- of-your-seat excitement of a PBR event, the Beach & Bulls Classic PBR Touring Pro Division is one bull-ride not to be missed. This is the PBR – toughest sport on earth.


Professional Bull Riders Touring Pro Division Condobolin Results:
1. David Kennedy        Kyogle, NSW                165.5points
2. Sam Larsen        Katherine, NT            159   points
3. Mat Ladhams        Cooma, NSW              85.5points
4. Jake Wilson        Cargo, NSW                   83.5points

2012 Professional Bull Riders Championship Standings:
1. David Kennedy        Kyogle, NSW                1119.5 points
2. Sam Larsen        Katherine, NT               919   points
3. Fraser Babbington    Gisborne, NZ                   854.5points
4. Mat Ladhams        Cooma, NSW                494.5points
5. Chris Lowe        Uralla, NSW                    413.5points

Beach & Bulls Classic PBR Touring Pro Division Sunshine Coast Qld
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Bull Riding action from 7pm