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MARA BEST IN THE WEST

04/24/2012

MARA BEST IN THE WEST

(April 23, 2012) – One of the biggest crowds in Dirt and Dust history was in attendance Saturday night at the Town and Country Club to witness an unbelievable night of bull riding.  It would come down to the final bull of the night for the overall event winner Jason Mara to claim the title. 

New South Wales bull rider Luke Nichols set the bar high earlier in the first section of competition when he went head to head with the award winning bull Wild Thing for a 90 point ride.   Lachlan Richardson who returned to the USA on Sunday to compete on the PBR’s ultimate tour the Built Ford Tough Series showed why he has earned himself a spot on tour  and is a true contender for the 2012 Australian Title when he rode the tough Brandenburg bull Western Rock for 86 points.

After finishing second at the Horseworld PBR in Sydney last weekend Brett Hanrahan is riding healthy and with confidence scoring a solid 80.5 point score on Knock Out, whilst Jason Mara had to wait until the final bull in the long round to test if his injured ribs would hold up under the pressure, they did and he recorded the second highest score in the round of 88 points on Boss Hog. A number of riders were on the receiving end of some heavy blows inflicted by the massive bull power on hand.  

The Championship Round was loaded with talent and match ups.  The stage was set for something special to unfold.   Two times PBR Australian Champion David Kennedy qualified into the short go in 9th position and would need a big score to put him into contention.  Arachnophobia was just the bull to get him there.  Kennedy scored 88.5 points and became the first rider to cover two bulls in the competition. 

New South Wales bull rider Mick Ford wasn’t going to miss the opportunity aboard Suicidal Blonde, he scored 87 points and put him in an equal share of the lead with Kennedy.   This was all Brett Hanrahan needed to fire him up and dominate the big strong yellow bull Big Brian, originally from Inverleigh Station in Normanton for 90.5 points.   The next five riders would come up short of the eight second hooter.  

Cloncurry’s Jason Mara who was injured two weeks earlier at a rodeo contemplated not riding at Julia Creek because of his rib injury.  One of the smallest bull riders on the PBR tour showed he has one of the biggest hearts to not only attempt to ride injured but to also muscle up to the former Australian Champion bucking bull Wild Thing.  Mara had always wanted to get on the electric bull from Blackall and made the most of it matching every move for an outstanding high mark ride of 92 points. 

“It is one of the most difficult things to do,” said former Cloncurry resident Jason Mara, “to ride well at a PBR event in practically my home town in front of my family and friends.  The expectation is enormous.”

The PBR Tour heads north for its debut in the Northern Territory for the Darwin PBR Touring Pro then will return to western Queensland in on June 22nd and 23rd for the Mount Isa Show inaugural PBR Bull Ride.

2012 Julia Creek Results:
1st Jason Mara, Rockhampton Qld       180 points
2nd Brett Hanrahan, Rockley NSW    171 points
3/4th David Kennedy, Kyogle NSW    167 points 
3/4th Mick Ford, Orange NSW        167 points
5th Luke Nichols, Jerrys Plains NSW      90 points

2012 PBR Australia Championship Standings
1st David Kennedy, Kyogle NSW        3244 points
2nd Lachlan Richardson, Gresford NSW    2542.5 points
3rd Chris Lowe, Uralla NSW        2386 points
4th Fraser Babbington, Gisborne NZ    2061 points
5th Sam Larsen, Mundubbera Qld        1917.5 points