While the bull power for the 2019 Queanbeyan Invitational will not match what the cowboys faced last weekend in Mackay, the mix of bulls contracted should guarantee a very entertaining event.
Here is my 2019 Queanbeyan Invitational Event Preview
Most riders face a tricky path through the two rounds of competition. Here is the breakdown:
Round 1
We get things underway with a run of buckers from Maynes Bucking Bulls. Matty Pfingst will lead the cowboys off against Twisted X (2-4, PBRA) with Jay Borghero next to go, taking on Sin Bin (2-0, PBRA) from the left delivery.
Walking Wounded (4-0, PBRA) is unridden in his short career, and Robert Hicks will attempt to become the first rider to make the whistle.
Budd Williamson will look to back up his strong finish in Mackay against Amigo (1-2, PBRA) with Daniel Rogan looking to aiming to maintain the rider’s perfect record against Midnight Hour (0-2, PBRA) intact.
Train Wreck (9-3, PBRA) will be the first Throsby & Russell Bucking Bull out in the round when he faces Lachlan Richardson. Justin Robards will be hungry to make up for missing Mackay, and he has drawn Twisted T (1-0, PBRA) with Sam Woodard next to go aboard Told Ya So (1-0, PBRA).
Our first rematch of the night closes out the first run of TnR bulls. Bailey Woodard and Red Man last met up in Newcastle back in 2017 where they combined for 83-points in the first long round.
Will Purcell will look to snap his buck-off streak against Diamond S Bucking Bulls’ Western Ways (3-2, PBRA) while Ethan Watts has drawn penmate Buck (8-5, PBRA). Watts and Buck have history, with the bull winning their Global Cup matchup in 4.10 seconds with a bull score of 42.5 points.
Aaron Kleier faces Cowboy Tough (0-1, PBRA) in the opening round with Troy Cross out next against Eye of the Storm (0-1, PBRA) who is the last of the Diamond S set.
In a battle of the veterans, Eric Yates’ Chocolate Thunder will take on Troy Wilkinson for the second time this season. The bull won their previous matchup in Yass with the buck off recorded at 4.72 seconds and earned a 42-point bull score.
Oscar Leake will do battle with George Hempenstall’s regularly ridden Windy Gate (4-11, PBRA) with penmate Air Blade (4-1, PBRA) facing Lane Mellers in a rematch from Newcastle in 2018. The bull holds a 1-0 record against Mellers with the buckoff coming at 3.57 seconds.
Brady Fielder and Cliff Richardson have drawn a pair of Hempenstall buckers who make their debut in Queanbeyan. Fielder will take on Original Sin (0-0, PBRA) and Richardson goes against Taco (0-0, PBRA).
Wayne Crisp matches up with the seldom ridden Gill & Sons bull Dark Destroyer (13-1, PBRA) for the second time in PBR competition. At Yass in 2018, the bull was marked 41.5 points in the 2.14-second battle.
Picking up the plum draw of Ransom 2 (6-6, PBRA) is Lawson Nobbs who will be the first left-handed rider to attempt the bull in PBR competition.
Josh Cavanagh closes out the round with an exciting matchup with Stir Crazy (9-4, PBRA). This battle has the potential to deliver a round winning score, but the bull has bucked off his last five riders with an average bull score of 43-points.
Round 2
The second round kicks off with Sam Woodard taking on TnR’s Full Noise (2-0, PBRA).
Justin Robards will attempt to become the first rider to cover Southern Man (3-0, PBRA) while Cliff Richardson will look to keep the cowboys perfect against Matt Black (0-1, PBRA).
A couple of veteran John Gill & Sons bulls are out next with Coors Light (11-5, PBRA) and High Flying Akubra (13-11, PBRA) going up against Lawson Nobbs and Budd Williamson.
Lane Mellers and Black Amigo (1-0) will follow from the right delivery.
Will Purcell will aim to push the cowboys ahead when he takes on Maynes’ Ranch Hand (2-2, PBRA) with Matty Pfingst out next against California Gold (2-0, PBRA). Oscar Leake should be looking forward to his matchup with Hazmat (5-2, PBRA) who is expected to turn back into his hand.
The Gill pairing of Homicidal 2 (12-4, PBRA) and Down Under (10-6, PBRA) will finish off the run of Riverina bulls with they go up against Robert Hicks and Josh Cavanagh.
A nice run of TnR bulls begins with Ethan Watts drawing the exciting rookie bull Let’s Party Marty (1-1, PBRA).
Brady Fielder gets his crack at conquering the unridden oOh! Kit Carson (9-0, PBRA) in what looks to be the matchup of the round. Troy Cross will be aiming to become the first rider to hear the whistle aboard Crackalackin (4-0, PBRA).
TnR’s On Point (18-11, PBRA) looks to be a friendly draw for the right-handed Lachlan Richardson before we head back into a strong run of George Hempenstall bulls, beginning with Aaron Kleier facing Maximum Rat (13-5, PBRA). Kleier has been 86-points aboard this bull previously, and we could see similar numbers to what he achieved in 2018 at Newcastle here in Queanbeyan.
Wayne Crisp is next to go aboard Eight Gauge (13-3, PBRA) and he will be followed by Bailey Woodard and Stealth (10-4, PBRA).
We close out the night with the three strongest bulls in the pen, and they all come from TnR’s yard.
Daniel Rogan has been set the task of facing oOh! Call Me Joe (19-8, PBRA). The pair met up in Yass earlier this season with the bull needing to post 44.5 points to dislodge Rogan at the 4.59-second mark.
Jay Borghero and oOh! Night Hawk (17-4) will also do battle for a second time after the bull won their matchup in quick time at Grafton four weeks ago with a 42-point bull score.
The final bull match of the evening will feature Troy Wilkinson and oOh! Mr Buckmore (8-4, PBRA) who is one of the most unpredictable bulls we will see. The beast has bucked off his last five opponents with an average mark of 43-points.
Predictions
It’s tough to go past the top three bull riders in the 2019 PBR Australian National Standings once again this week.
I am leaning towards Lachlan Richardson. It is hard to believe that we have not seen Richardson collect an event champion buckle on Australian soil since 2016. He has once again drawn very well, and I think it will take something special from Aaron Kleier or Brady Fielder in their Round 2 matchups to get by him.
Kleier and Fielder have drawn bulls with limited PBR experience in the opening round, but both are riding well enough to get by just about anything.
We can expect these three guys to continue slugging it out right up until the Championship Round on Saturday night at the PBR Australia Grand Finals.
I think Lawson Nobbs was unlucky not to finish with two scores on the board last weekend in Mackay. He has drawn well here and could potentially post two excellent ride scores.
For in-depth analysis of the highlight matchups for the 2019 Queanbeyan Invitational, check out Ride The Rage or the PBR Australia website on Saturday for The Morning Line.
Don’t forget I will be providing updates in the Ride the Rage Score Center from 7 pm AEST on Saturday or check back on Sunday for my wrap-up.