ICYMI: Perfect Richardson takes Sydney Meatstock

As the PBR Meatstock Sydney Invitational returned for the 2024 edition across the weekend, New South Welshman Lachlan Richardson walked home with the event flask and a paycheck to match his efforts in the Harbour City.  

With three days of action en route at the Sydney Showgrounds, Friday's Round 1 action started with PBR veteran Will Watson able to find the whistle for an 81.5-point marker, with Bex (Maynes Bucking Bulls) providing a low-spin trip into the hand of the Swan Hill Cowboy. 

Sky High (Morgy's Cattle Co) extended his buckoff streak to five, dislodging Kiwi phenom JC Davis in 2.59 seconds with an impressive trip, roaring out of the chutes with ferocity. Davis could not match the trip around to the left, with the 42.5-point Bull Score being the equal high for night one. 

It was a much better experience inside the Sydney Showgrounds on Friday for fellow New Zealander Klay Ward, who was able to weather the early storm of Elmargio (Morgy's Cattle Co) coming out backwards to settle into a trip into the southpaw's hand for 81 points, to collect his first PBRA qualified ride. 

Diego Galdino dos Santos also joined Ward in collecting his first PBRA qualified ride, dealing with Wonderboy's (MC Bucking Bulls) decision to turn back halfway through the out, collecting 81 points on the judge's scoresheets. 

Lachlan Richardson successfully started his weekend, declining a re-ride opportunity on Bad Boy (MC Bucking Bulls) to hold a 77.5-point tally heading into night two at Homebush. 

Two-time New Zealand bull riding champion Rylee Ward broke a 14-out buckoff streak on the PBR Australia tour with a picture-perfect trip into his hand on Vertical Limits (Lazy G Bucking Bulls), taking the Round 1 win with 82.5 points. 

Rounding out night one, Jono Couling found himself in a strong position heading into Saturday's action, gaining a score on Crooked Intentions (Morgy's Cattle Co) with an 80.5-point ride. 

Full Event Results: Sydney

Australia's #1 ranked bull rider, Boston Leather, quickly reminded the Sydney locals that he's the man to beat on Saturday, taking Canadian Club (Maynes Bucking Bulls) away from his hand for an impressive trip of 84.5 points.

Lachlan Richardson sat 2-from-2 after Saturday's Round 2 action, avenging Kick Start My Heart (Diamond S Bucking Bulls) after the bovine got the better of the Gresford native in last year's PBR Australia Grand Finals. Lachlan dragged 84 from a trip that never went consistently in either direction for the eight seconds. 

Brazilian long-stay Phillipi Braga was also able to open his account for 2024. He opted not to take the offer of a re-ride for poor performance, taking the 76.5-point total offered by the judges sharing the chute with Rusty Latoon (Lazy G Bucking Bulls).

Rylee Ward again showed his class on back-to-back rounds, with Wild Jacket (Morgy's Cattle Co) showing the 19-year-old a half turn to the left out of the chutes before settling into a clockwise trip that Ward dominated for 85.5 points, which was enough to take the event lead heading into Round 3.

Extended Highlights: Sydney

Sunday's action started with the Cowboys being kept incredibly quiet by the animal athletes, with the first 13 outs of Round 3's action ending before the eight-second required journey for a score.

The buckoff streak was then broken by Bryn Francis, who gave Wonderboy (MC Bucking Bulls) a second black mark of the weekend, taking the bovine all the way for 81 points and opening the floodgates for the riders to follow. 

Zane Hall also ensured he walked away with a piece of it, grabbing an 81-point marker in his eight-second trip with Money Time (MC Bucking Bulls).

Canadian Club (Maynes Bucking Bulls) used the opportunity to feature in Sunday's action due to a re-ride chance for Jono Couling and put up an impressive 43-point out, getting the Singleton cowboy down in 3.92 seconds to collect the High Mark Bull of the event.

Braydon Wellby ticked over qualified ride five of the season and moved to third on the PBRA standings, scoring 82 on Tough Walk (Maynes Bucking Bulls) to earn another placing this calendar year. 

Lachlan Richardson continued his perfect event during Sunday's Round 3 action, earning the Round and Event win with an 83.5-point effort on (Maynes Bucking Bulls), taking his event aggregate to 245 with a perfect 3-from-3 weekend. Richardson walked away with $8.8k for the weekend and 131 PBRA points.

 

Box Score:

Professional Bull Riders - Sydney Meatstock 22/04/2024 7:38:27 PM
Sydney, NSW, 2024 - Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points) ...
1. Lachlan Richardson, 77.5-84-83.5-245.00-131 Points.
2. Rylee Ward, 82.5-85.5-0-168.00-106 Points.
3. Boston Leather, 0-84.5-0-84.50-54 Points.
4. Braydon Wellby, 0-0-82-82.00-39 Points.
5. Will Watson, 81.5-0-0-81.50-35 Points.
6. Bryn Francis, 0-0-81-81.00-21.8 Points.
(tie). Zane Hall, 0-0-81-81.00-21.8 Points.
(tie). Lachlan Slade, 0-0-81-81.00-13.8 Points.
(tie). Diego Galdino dos Santos, 81-0-0-81.00-22.3 Points.
(tie). Klay Ward, 81-0-0-81.00-22.3 Points.
11. Jono Couling, 80.5-0-0-80.50-16 Points.
12. Phillipi Braga, 0-76.5-0-76.50-8 Points.
Lane Mellers, 0-0-0-0.00
Thomas Hudson, 0-0-0-0.00
Clint Glass, 0-0-0-0.00
Brumby Brandenburg, 0-0-0-0.00
Josh Grant, 0-0-0-0.00
Bradley Wheeler, 0-0-0-0.00
Sam Woodall, 0-0-0-0.00
JC Davis, 0-0-0-0.00
Riley Eade, 0-0-0-0.00
Dan Ruhland, 0-0-0-0.00
Italo Aguilar, 0-0-0-0.00
Darryl McPherson, 0-0-0-0.00
Luke Wicks, 0-0-0-0.00
Toby Adams, 0-0-0-0.00
Clint McAughtrie, 0-0-0-0.00