The 25th PBR: Unleash the Beast
We will begin this edition of The Final Wrap in Atlantic City, New Jersey where three Aussie bull riders took on the world’s best.
Nathan Burtenshaw entered the weekend ranked No. 21 in the world and was looking to cement his spot in November’s PBR World Finals in Las Vegas whilst Lachlan Richardson (No. 35) and Cliff Richardson (No. 39) were caught up in the Top 35 bubble race and needed to put together some qualified rides.
Round 1
Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, NSW) kicked off his weekend with 87.25 points on Mickey Mouse from Deer Prairie Creek Bucking Bulls. The 24-year-old was the early leader on a night where they rode 14 bulls. Richardson looked good during the ride after the bull turned back to the right and into the Gresford, NSW cowboy’s hand, allowing him to open up and add some sparkle to the ride.
Coonamble, NSW’s Nathan Burtenshaw had no luck in Round 1 after Blue Crush (Broken Arrow Bucking Bulls) caught out the 24-year-old with a reversal of direction. This resulted in a 3.88 seconds buck-off with the bull marked 41.25 points by the judges.
5G Farm’s Lawton was scored 42.25 points in his dispatch of Cliff Richardson. The Gresford, NSW talent couldn’t handle the bull’s sharp turn back to the left and was out the back and in the dirt in quick time.
Lachlan Richardson picked up 50 world points after splitting 2nd place in the round with Matt Triplett and JB Mauney.
Brazil’s Marco Eguchi took the Round 1 win combining with Kimes Jeans Church Bells (Hale/Wallgren Bull Co) for 87.75 points.
Round 2
After moving into 31st position on the PBR World Standings following his night 1 placing, Lachlan Richardson was first out on Championship Sunday. He faced off against Maximum Risk from Broken Arrow Bucking Bulls with the bull winning the matchup in 4.19 seconds.
Nathan Burtenshaw was up against a nice bull called Slip Out from Torres Brothers Bucking Bulls. Burtenshaw had a good seat until the bull stumbled put him out over the front for a touch at 5.08 seconds.
Cliff Richardson’s Round 2 draw was Yellowstone (Berger/Struve/Barnhard) but he was to get a re-bul after some issues in the chute. Biker Bob was the new bull from Dakota Rodeo/Berger/Struve/H&C Bucking Bulls. Richardson was once again in trouble away from his hand and the bull was scored 44.25 in the quick buck-off.
Fabiano Vieira took out the round with 87.75 points on Clover Mountain Beau.
Championship Round
Lachlan Richardson made it back for the Short Go in a tie for sixth spot and would have the 7th selection in the 15 rider draft. He selected Stretch from Dakota Rodeo/Chad Berger/Clay Struve/Heald Pro Bulls for a matchup that looked quite a good fit the rider.
Richardson looked comfortable for a long way but the bull simply had too much power in the end with the buck-off coming at 7.08 seconds with the bull awarded 44-points.
Cooper Davis took out the Championship Round with a massive 93.75-point ride on Bucking Bull of the Year contender Smooth Operator.
Ryan Dirteater was the only man to go a perfect 3-for-3 in the event, capturing the buckle with 90.25 points on Cochise in the short-go.
Standings
Nathan Burtenshaw drops back two spots to 23rd on the PBR World Standings Leaderboard with Lachlan Richardson ending up in 33rd. Cliff Richardson holds down the 39th position.
Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour
After electing to compete in Portland, Maine instead of the PBR’s Premier Tour, it was a disappointing weekend for Fraser Babbington (Gisborne, NZ). The Kiwi went 0-for-2 across the weekend and now sits 42nd in the PBR World Standings.
Jazzy from Mike Miller Bucking Bulls was Babbington’s Round 1 opponent with the bull winning in 3.19 seconds. In Round 2 the 31-year-old faced Cornwell Bucking Bulls’ Living Large who scored 42-points in the 6.01-second buck-off.
Warwick, QLD’s Lachlan Slade was a late addition to the Portland Chute Out draw and also finished the weekend without a qualified ride on the leaderboard. In Round 1 he was down early from Good Googa Mooga from J Bar W. Round 2 wasn’t much better for the 24-year-old with Hombre (Cooper Bucking Bulls) putting up a 44-point bull score in the 1.79-second ride. Slade remains ranked just outside the Top 100 in the world.
Lucas Divino (Nova Crixas Goias, Brazil) took home the buckle and was the only man 3-for-3 at the event.
Coming Up Next
The battle to be crowned PBR Australia‘s National Champion resumes this week with the Monster Energy Tour Rockhampton Invitational at Browne Park on Saturday Night. It will be a 7pm start with tickets available from the PBR Australia website. The event is actually advertised for Broadcast on the Ridepass App but not on the Website, so I will do some digging to find out either way.
The 25th PBR: Unleash The Beast stays on the east coast with Round 1 from Fairfax, Virginia starting at 8:30am Sunday for two days of action.
We will also see Real Time Pain Relief Velocity Tour action on Ridepass from Rochester, New York at 9am Sunday.