Stephen Clark from Maitland NSW is a member of PBR Australia and a dedicated competitor who was having the season of his career; he had consistently rode 10 of the 12 bulls he had competed on with a riding percentage of 83% which was almost 10% higher then any other bull rider on tour. Clark traveled more miles then most journeying to North Queensland events from Sydney NSW every weekend whilst holding down a full time job.
After his event win at Superbull 7 held at the Great Western Hotel Arena Rockhampton Clark looked unstoppable, then tragically two weeks later at the PBR Australia Touring Pro Event at Caloundra Queensland it all ended. Clark was successfully riding his bull when the bull crashed him into the arena panel; he sustained a serious injury to his riding arm. He was rushed to the Nambour hospital where it was discovered he had numerous fractures and dislocation of shoulder and arm. Due to the severity of the break he also sustained serious nerve damage. The prognosis was not good, not only was he unable to work for up to 12 months his bull riding future was also unknown.
Troy Dunn immediately felt for the tough bull rider from Maitland NSW and wanted to do something to assist Clark as his whole world had turned upside down in a flash. Recently retired, Dunn was booked to go to the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas accompanying Australia’s Heath Shrimp from Leyburn Qld. Shrimp had won the right to compete at the prestigious event through qualification from PBR Australia events during the 2006 season.
Dunn approached fellow bull riders and good friends who 12 months early he had competed along side, with his plans to start a fund to help bull riders like Steven Clark in Australia. They all agreed to help by signing the shirt. The PBR has a fund in the USA for this particular reason. The Resistol Relief Fund was set up in 1999 when Resistol pledged over $1US million to start the non-profit organization, the fund operates on donations. It continually grows bigger and better each year, and comes to the aid of many bull riders from High School level through to Professionals of the sport.
Ross Peoples from the Running Bear Company joined in the crusade when he had the shirt professionally mounted and framed. People who deal in sports memorabilia were extremely excited with the piece knowing how rare and exclusive the item really was.
WORLD CHAMPIONS IN THE SPORT OF BULLRIDING
With the unprecedented growth of bull riding in the USA both in event attendances and television exposure Bull Riding Memorabilia has become highly sort after. Dedicated fans go to extreme lengths to obtain signatures from top bull riders on the Professional Bull Riders PBR Tour.
That is why what we are offering is so special. This beautifully presented piece contains a Professional Bull Riders PBR competition shirt that has been personally autographed by some of the biggest legends both current and past in the sport of bull riding. That is the reason for the naming of this piece, ‘World Champions in the sport of Bull Riding’
Adriano Moraes, Three time PBR World Champion (1994, 2001 & 2006), Chris Shivers, Two time PBR World Champion (2000 & 2003), Michael Gaffney 1997 PBR World Champion, Troy Dunn 1998 PBR World Champion, Rob Smets 5 x time World Champion Bullfighter and 7 x time PBR World Finals Bullfighter and Cody Snyder 1983 PRCA World Champion Bull Rider.
As well as 2006 PBR World Finals Qualifiers - Australian’s Greg Potter, Brendon Clark and Jared Farley.
This one off piece will be auctioned at the PBR Australia Touring Pro Finals at the Great Western Hotel Arena on the 31st December. With proceeds raised from the sale of this exceptional piece going towards a fund set up to assist bull riders who are seriously injured whilst competing.
In the sport of bull riding it is often said that it’s not if you are injured but when and how bad. We hope this will start off much needed fund raising so bull riders will have some financial assistance in time of need.
The piece would be a good investment with the sport of bull riding set to explode. It will be on display to the public at the Great Western Hotel through the week leading up to the
Finals.
For more information on this release please contact Jackie Dunn on (07) 49454450 or email jackie@pbraustralia.com
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