Mount Isa's Donnie Rutherfurd goes 3-for-3 to take the PBR Beaudesert Invitational buckle
Mount Isa's Donnie Rutherfurd delivered a masterclass in consistency and composure over two massive bucking nights, with a flawless 3-for-3 to claim the buckle at the PBR Monster Energy Beaudesert Invitational.
In front of a fired-up capacity, Rutherfurd was the only cowboy to cover all three bulls, sealing victory with a thrilling Championship Round ride to finish with an event aggregate score of 247.40 and 96 event points.
The Beaudesert Invitational marks Rutherfurd's second event win of the 2026 season, following his triumph at the PBR Sandstone Point Touring Pro on December 31. He now sits No. 2 in the National Standings with 532.50 points, firmly in the hunt for this year's Gold Buckle and a spot in the coveted Queensland team for the Origin Series.
It was a dominant showing for the Sunshine State, with Ethan Coster of Miriam Vale second on an event aggregate score of 160.50, and 2025 Gold Buckle champion Mareeba's Kurt Shephard third on 154.80.
The YETI Bull of the Night title honours went to Stetson Nirvana from Dittmann Bucking Bulls, delivering a powerhouse performance for a 43.50-point bull score.
With the first two-day Monster Energy Tour event of the season complete, the national leaderboard is beginning to take shape, and the pressure is mounting for riders with aspirations of pulling on a Queensland or New South Wales jersey later this year in the PBR Origin arena.
National Standings (Top 5)
- Zane Hall – Athol, QLD
- Donnie Rutherfurd – Mount Isa, QLD
- Kurt Shephard – Mareeba, QLD
- Kelsey Pavlou – Toora, VIC
- Fraser Babbington – Gisborne, NZ
In the Challenger and Junior Results, Queensland's Taj Everingham (Bajool near Rockhampton) delivered a standout weekend. He claimed the first night buckle with a 79.50-point ride aboard Dirty Socks, before backing it up on Saturday night to win the Rising Stars division with a 74.10-point ride.
Across a record number of junior nominations, the next generation of Australian bull riding talent also shone, buckle winners include:
- Pee Wee Division – Kaileb Hall (Singleton, NSW)
- Junior Division – Nate Wilson (Calliope, QLD)
- Senior Division – Hunter Ross (Boddington, WA)
- Rising Stars – Taj Everingham (Bajool, QLD)
The Monster Energy Tour now heads south, with action continuing in Nowra on May 9 with tickets on sale this Friday March 6 (also for Cairns, Melbourne and Adelaide).
WHERE AND WHEN TO SEE AUSTRALIA'S BEST BULL RIDERS IN 2026
All event detail can be found here: Schedule — The Professional Bull Riders
TICKETS ON SALE: www.pbraustralia.com.au
- PBR Origin Series: Newcastle, Brisbane and Sydney tickets on sale NOW
- Nowra, Cairns, Melbourne and Adelaide events on sale 6 March
- Grand Finals on sale 20 March
ABOUT PBR AUSTRALIA
Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is one of the fastest-growing sports properties in the world, with tours across the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. A subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings —which also owns UFC and WWE— has transformed bull riding into a premier international sport since its founding in 1992. The organisation features over 1,000 riders globally and hosts more than 200 events annually worldwide. In Australia, Professional Bull Riders Australia (PBRA) stages more than 20 events each year, attracting over 75,000 fans. PBRA showcases key events and tours such as the Monster Energy Tour, PBR Origin Series, and PBR Grand Finals, while also partnering with regional event organisers through the PBR Touring Pro Division. The organisation supports emerging talent through its Can-Am Junior Academy and serves as an international pathway to the United States circuit for both Junior and Open competition athletes.
