Saturday evening’s Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Monster Energy Tour: Dubbo Invitational, concluded in dramatic fashion, coming down to the wire as current fourth ranked rider in the national competition and Singleton local Cody Heffernan clinched victory with a rousing 89-point ride on the final buck off of the night.
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Held at Dubbo Showgrounds in PBR’s new state-of-the-art mobile stadium before a capacity crowd, the event attracted 22 of the nation’s top riders, including the top five riders on the current Australian Standings.
Heffernan’s picture perfect final ride upon TNR’s Call Me Joe saw him narrowly pip current first placed Aaron Kleier to the Dubbo Invitational title – solidifying Heffernan as a serious 2018 title contender with only one event left until the PBR Australia Grand Finals in Townsville on November 23 and 24.
The Dubbo Invitational also attracted some of the best bulls in the sport, with superstar bovines wowing local audiences including the likes of TnR’s ‘Call Me Joe’, John Gill and Sons’ ‘High Flying Akubra’, Hempenstall’s ‘Doorman’ and Kasper’s ‘Villain’.
With the win, Heffernan sent this year’s title race into overdrive. The slimmest of margins now separates Heffernan and third ranked Fraser Babbington, with both riders also within striking distance of number one Aaron Kleier and second placed Cliff Richardson.
The PBRA now heads to Tamworth for the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Monster Energy Tour: Iron Cowboy on November 17, before the PBR Grand Finals in Townsville on November 23–24.
Nineteen years after the PBR began staging events in Townsville, the Grand Finals will bring twenty-two of the country’s best bull riders, along with international stars and champion bulls, to Townsville for a head-to-head battle that will decide the National Champion and Stock Contractor of the Year titles.
“As with previous years, we’re expecting the 2018 title battle to attract diehard PBR fans from all over Australia. It is anybody’s title this year, and with four more events to go, and the bonus points on offer at the Grand Finals, fans can expect a very tight battle,” says PBR Australia General Manager, Glen Young.