North Queensland's cowboys dominate as the bucks stay north and now head to Townsville
In an epic night of bull riding that saw 13 qualified rides, Shephard held off a charging field of Australia's best to claim the buckle with an event aggregate score of 174.90 points, collecting 254 event points and more than $21,000 in prizemoney.
The victory further strengthens Shephard's hold on the national title race, with the reigning champion now sitting at the top of the PBR Australia National Standings on 1,607.00 points, extending his lead to 328.50 points over Brazil's Keny Roger de Oliveira.
But the Queensland charge didn't stop there.
Rockhampton's Caiden Sandilands came within touching distance of victory, finishing runner-up with an aggregate score of 173.40 points after producing the biggest ride of the night — a massive 89.30 points aboard Last Post (Dunne Bulls) in the Championship Round. The monster score brought the Cairns crowd to its feet, but wasn't enough to overtake the hometown hero, with Shephard and Sandilands the only two riders of the night to successfully cover both bulls.
North Queensland's rising talent also delivered, with Leith Malone recording a huge 86.10-point ride aboard Cowboy Way (Kleier Bucking Bulls) in Round 1.
On the bovine side of the battle, El Chappo from Dittmann Bucking Bulls claimed YETI Bull of the Night honours with an impressive 44.70-point bull score.
THE BUCKS STAY IN NORTH QUEENSLAND – next up is Townsville on July 11
There's no rest for Australia's toughest cowboys, with the bulls staying in the north and bucking into Townsville this Saturday as PBR Australia joins the action at the NTI Townsville 500 on Saturday, July 11.
The PBR Monster Energy Tour will then turn its attention to Sydney, where one of the biggest rivalries in Australian sport reaches its finale, the PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin Series Final.
PBR Australia National Standings
- Kurt Shephard — Mareeba, QLD
- Keny Roger de Oliveira — São Paulo, Brazil
- Ethan Coster — Miriam Vale, QLD
- Zane Hall — Athol, QLD
- Donnie Rutherfurd — Mount Isa, QLD
THE REMAINING SEASON
Saturday 11 July: Touring Pro Division: Supercars Townsville 500
- Venue: Townsville, QLD / Reid Park from 5pm
- Booking: PBR | Touring Pro Division: Supercars Townsville 500
Saturday 1 August: PBR Australia Monster Energy Origin III
- Venue: TikTok Entertainment Centre, Sydney, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Monster Energy Origin III tickets | TikTok Entertainment Centre | Ticketek Australia
Saturday 15 August: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Melbourne Invitational
- Venue: John Cain Arena, Melbourne, Victoria
- Booking: PBR Melbourne Invitational Tickets
Saturday 22 August: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Adelaide Invitational
- Venue: Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, South Australia
- Booking: PBR Adelaide Invitational Tickets
Saturday 29 August: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Caboolture Invitational
- Venue: Queensland State Equestrian Centre (QSEC), Caboolture, Queensland
- Booking: PBR Caboolture Invitational Tickets
Friday 4 – Saturday 5 September: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Hawkesbury Invitational
- Venue: Hawkesbury Showground, Clarendon, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Hawkesbury Invitational Tickets
Saturday 12 September: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Coffs Harbour Invitational
- Venue: Coffs Harbour Showground, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Coffs Harbour Invitational Tickets
Saturday 19 September: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Orange Invitational
- Venue: Orange Showground, Orange, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Orange Invitational Tickets
Friday 16 – Saturday 17 October: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Mackay Invitational
- Venue: Mackay Showgrounds, Mackay, Queensland
- Booking: PBR Mackay Invitational Tickets
Saturday 24 October: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Tamworth Invitational
- Venue: Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC), Tamworth, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Tamworth Invitational Tickets
Friday 13 – Saturday 14 November: PBR Australia Grand Finals
- Venue: Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, Townsville, Queensland
- Booking: PBR Australia Grand Finals Tickets
