Seven-Time PBR World Finals Qualifier Lachlan Richardson Wins Third Home Nation Event of 2020 in Beaudesert to Expand Lead atop PBR Australia’s National Standings

BEAUDESERT, Queensland – Competing on his 28^th birthday, seven-time PBR (Professional Bull Riders) World Finals Qualifier Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, New South Wales) had extra cause to celebrate Saturday evening at the Beaudesert Showgrounds, winning his third home nation event of 2020 at the Monster Energy Tour’s PBR Beaudesert Invitational, furthering his stronghold on the No. 1 ranking in the PBR Australia national standings.

As the lone rider to go a perfect 2-for-2, Richardson swept the event.

First dominating Round 1 with an 86-point ride on Going Under (Dunne Bulls), Richardson concluded the night’s action with the high-marked ride of the tour stop in the championship round when he reached the 8 aboard Big Buck Hunter (Stuart Timm) for 89 points.

Richardson, who is seeking his career-first PBR Australia Championship in 2020, earned $2,439.84 and 80 national points compliments of the victory allowing him to further distance himself from No. 2 Aaron Kleier (Clermont, Queensland).

Beginning the event with a 102.5-point lead, Richardson is now 148.5 points out front with just four regular-season events remaining prior to the 2020 PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals on Nov. 20-21 in Townsville, Queensland. At the season-culminating event, the nation’s Top 22 riders will battle it out one final time in an effort to be crowned the 2020 PBR Australia Champion.

Kleier was also on-hand for the PBR Beaudesert Invitational, tying for third to earn $701.04 and 34 national points.

Marking his eighth Top-5 finish of the season, two-time and reigning PBR Australia Champion Kleier rode Personal Space (Dunne Bulls) for 83.5 points in Round 1, but was bucked off by Rockslide (Dunne Bulls) in 2.91 seconds in the championship round.

Should Kleier once again win the PBR Australia Championship in 2020 he would become the first rider in league history to win the nation’s championship in three consecutive seasons.

Additionally, Kleier would be on the precipice of tying David Kennedy (Kyogle, New South Wales) for winningest rider in Australian history. Kennedy is a four-time PBR Australia Champion, winning the title in 2009-2010, 2012 and 2014.

Lane Mellers (Mundubbera, Queensland) parlayed an 85.5-point ride aboard A Force (Stuart Timm) in Round 1 into a second place finish, earning him $1,225.44 and 52 national points.

The 21-year-old’s third Top-5 finish of the year allowed him to gain three positions in the national standings. Attempting to qualify for his third consecutive PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals in late November, Mellers climbed from No. 9 to No. 6, now 390 points behind No. 1 Richardson.

World Finals qualifier Kurt Shephard (Mareeba, Queensland) tied for third alongside Kleier to collect $921.84 and 37 national points.

The 26-year-old was brought down in an ever-close 7.1 seconds by Little Thunder (Stuart Timm) in Round 1, but had his hopes of victory renewed when he was the lone rider to advance to the championship round on time. Seizing the moment, Shephard covered Song & Dance (CMC Rodeo Company) for 83.5 points to claim his bronze finish.

Shephard maintained his No. 5 rank in the national standings, now 344.5 points behind the top spot as he looks to his third career appearance at the PBR Australia Grand Finals on Nov. 20-21 in Townsville.  

Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was Bailey Woodard (Dingo, Queensland).

Woodard began the event with an 82-point trip on The Pet (Stuart TImm) in Round 1. Competing in form to challenge Richardson for the victory, Woodard’s quest for the win came to a crashing halt when he narrowly missed the whistle in the championship round, brought down by Shotgun (Stuart Timm) in 7.47 seconds.

Ranked No. 21 prior to the event, the 21-year-old is now No. 15 ahead of the PBR Toowoomba Invitational double-header on Saturday, November 7, 457.67 points behind the top ranking.

In the bull pen, Big Buck Hunter’s trip with event winner Richardson earned him the high-marked bull of the event honor, scored a head-turning 44 points.

Five additional bovine athletes were also scored in excess of 43 points. Bud Buster (JD Bucking Bulls), Home Grown (Dunne Bulls) and Big Dipper (Stuart Timm) posted 43-point scores in Round 1, while Ariat’s Flaunt It (Dunne Bulls) and Arm Chair (Stuart Timm) delivered the marks in the championship round.

Fans can relive all the action for the 2020 PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour’s Beaudesert Invitational on RidePass starting at 8:00 a.m. AEST on Sunday, November1 at RidePass.com or via the RidePass app available on iOS, Android and Roku.

The PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour is anticipated to next travel to Toowoomba, Queensland, and the Indoor Arena at the Toowoomba Showgrounds with the 2020 PBR Toowoomba Invitational on Saturday, November 7. The tour stop will once again feature a double-header competition, with action getting underway at both 1:00 p.m. AEST and 6:00 p.m. AEST. Stay tuned to PBRAustralia.com.au for the latest event information.

PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour – PBR Beaudesert Invitational 2
Beaudesert Showgrounds – Beaudesert, Queensland
Event Leaders (Round 1- Round 2-Event Aggregate-Payout-Australian Points)
1. Lachlan Richardson, 86-89-175-$2,439.84-80
2. Lane Mellers, 85.5-0-85.5-$1,225.44-52
3 (tie). Aaron Kleier, 83.5-0-83.5-$701.04-34
Kurt Shephard, 0-83.5-83.5-$921.84-37
5. Bailey Woodard, 82-0-82-$231.84-16
6. Joseph Down, 80.5-0-80.5-$0-9
7. Zane Halle, 79.5-0-79.5-$0-7
8. Kelsey Pavlou, 79-0-79-$0-5
Ben Gard, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Brady Fielder, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Brody Woodard, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Budd Williamson, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Caiden Sandilands, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Cameron McLennan, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Dan Ruhland, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Harry Bridges, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Jack Keats, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Jackson Gray, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Jake Curr, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Jay Borghero, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Lachlan Slade, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Lawson Nobbs, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Michael Smith, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Rohan Markham, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Sam Champ, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Sam Woodall, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Tyler Morgan, 0-0-0.00-$0-0
Bryn Francis, 0-0-0.00-$0-0