Game Notes – Camden

K-RANCH GETS RANK – This weekend PBR Australia will travel to Camden, New South Wales, and K-Ranch for the first time in history. As the 22^nd event of the 2022 season, the PBR Monster Energy Tour K-Ranch Invitational will buck into K-Ranch on Saturday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. AEDT. 

RELATED: Click here for the complete Camden Game Notes.

THIS WEEKEND’S FORMAT – The PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour’s K-Ranch Invitational at K-Ranch will feature two rounds of bull riding. All competing bull riders will attempt one bull each in both Round 1 and Round 2. The event champion will be determined by the rider with the highest total score from their two draws.

KLEIER RIDES UNRIVALLED – Through the last five PBR Australia events, including the most recent Monster Energy Tour event in Maryborough, and rider has won each – Aaron Kleier. And Kleier earned his most recent victory in commanding fashion. Going a perfect 2-for-2, including delivering a monstrous 90-point ride on the previously unridden Roid Rage, Kleier won his sixth consecutive event title, furthering his stronghold on the No. 1 rank in the race to be crowned the 2022 PBR Australia Championship. Kleier began his march to victory in Round 1 when he conquered Blonde Bomber for 85.5 points. In the second round, the stoic Queensland rider then readied to face the powerful Roid Rage who entered the showdown unridden in 19 outs in PBR competition. Kleier, however, cracked the animal athlete’s code, matching Roid Rage jump-for-jump and becoming the first rider to reach the requisite 8. As the capacity crowd erupted in cheer, Kleier was awarded an event-best 90 points. The 90-point score is Kleier’s PBR-best second of the season. Marking his sixth consecutive event win, Kleier’s latest golden finish earned him a crucial 77 national points. Furthering his stronghold on the No. 1 rank in the national standings, Kleier now leads No. 2 Cody Heffernan by an increased 256.5 points. After tying David Kennedy for most Australian national titles won by one rider in history in 2021, each now with four, should Kleier win his unprecedented fifth consecutive national title at season’s end, he would become the winningest bull rider in PBR Australia competition. This weekend at K-Ranch, Kleier will attempt Shotgun Willy in Round 1, followed by a rubber match with Mr. Buckmore in Round 2.

HEFFERNAN REMAINS IN THE HUNT – While Cody Heffernan may have lost ground to No. 1 Aaron Kleier at the most recent event in Maryborough, he remained in the hunt for the 2022 PBR Australia Championship compliments of a runner-up finish. The 2016 PBR Australia Champion was unrivaled in the opening round of action, covering Volatile for 87 points. Heffernan, however, was unable to conclude the event with a score, bucked off by POA Reload in 4.77 seconds. The runner-up effort earned Heffernan a much-needed 55 national points. Remaining No. 2 in the nation, Heffernan is 256.5 points behind No. 1 Aaron Kleier as the Monster Energy Tour’s K-Ranch Invitational begins. Heffernan will face Instigator as the first rider out in Round 1, followed by Kit Carson as the last man out in Round 2.

FAMILIAR WATERS – After no familiar showdowns in the opening round of the PBR K-Ranch Invitational, one rider will attempt a past opponent in Round 2. Four-time and reigning PBR Australia Champion Aaron Kleier will be locked in a rubber match with Mr. Buckmore. After Kleier covered the bull for 87 points during their first meeting in 2018 during the Touring Pro Division stop in Blackall, Queensland, the bovine athlete got the better of the stoic Queensland rider in their most recent meeting in 2019 during the developmental event in Sydney, New South Wales, sending Kleier to the ground in a hard-fought 7.37 seconds.

BULL PEN – During the opening round of the PBR K-Ranch Invitational, eight bovine athletes hailing from Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls, Maynes Bucking Bulls and Diamond S Bucking Bulls will make their PBR debut. Those animal athletes are: Hard 2 Love (vs. Lachlan Richardson), Rambling Roo (vs. Kelsey Pavlou), Neon Dream (vs. Jake Cutt), Great White Hunter (vs. Oscar Leake), Navajo (vs. Qynn Andersen), Scar (vs. Clint Glass), Chili (vs. Phillip Braga) and Village Idiot (vs. Jono Couling).

Several animal athletes will also begin the event having never been ridden. Those bulls are:

• Round 1: Smokeshow (1-0) vs. Toby Leake; Yella Belly (2-0) vs. Will Purcell; and Life Plus 20 (4-0) vs. Thomas Hudson.
• Round 2: Kick Start My Heart (5-0) vs. Kelsey Pavlou; Born For This (4-0) vs. Phillipi Braga; Say When (3-0) vs. Braith Nock; Mayne Man (3-0) vs. Tyson Smith; Canadian Club (2-0) vs. Jono Couling; Everest (4-0) vs. Lachlan Richardson; Bex (3-0) vs. Oscar Leake; Rolling Thunder (6-0) vs. Qynn Andersen; and Feldt Jacket (4-0) vs. Will Purcell.

PROVIDING PROTECTION – This weekend’s protection athletes are Nick Allen, Eric Richardson and Nick Wilson.

NEXT UP – The 2022 PBR Australia season will continue Saturday, October 8 for the Touring Pro Division’s PBR Kilkivan in Kilkivan, Queensland. Action at Kilkivan Showgrounds and Equestrian Centre will get underway at 7:00 p.m. AEDT.

CAMDEN COMPETITORS BY COUNTRY

Australia (16) – Qynn Andersen, Chris Borghero, Taran Chirgwin, Jono Couling, Jake Curr, Clint Glass, Cody Heffernan, Thomas Hudson, Aaron Kleier, Oscar leake, Toby Leake, Braith Nock, Kelsey Pavlou, Will Purcell, Lachlan Richardson, Tyson Smith.

Brazil (2) – Italo Aguilar, Phillipi Braga

BREAKDOWN BY STATE –

New South Wales – Chris Borghero, Jono Couling, Clint Glass, Cody Heffernan, Thomas Hudson, Oscar Leake, Toby Leake, Braith Nock, Lachlan Richardson, Tyson Smith; Queensland – Qynn Andersen, Taran Chirgwin, Jake Curr, Aaron Kleier; Victoria – Kelsey Pavlou, Will Purcell.