The Great Western Hotel Rockhampton hosted the 2006 PBR Australia (PBRA) Touring Pro Finals held on 30th & 31st December 2006. Competing in this first ever PBRA Touring Pro Finals were the top 40 bull riders on the PBR Australia tour.
Kempsey NSW bull rider Denny Farley was the first round winner with an 87 point ride on 2006 PBR Australia Bull of the Year Runner-up Glenn Brodie’s Ban Dee Doe.
20 of the 40 bull riders recorded first round scores - a great effort considering that seven stock contractors brought only their best bulls to the event.
The Sunday night New Years Eve performance was again well-attended and the riders and bulls put on a great show. From the first section it was clear that the bulls were on top of their game. The bulls dominated until the third section when first round winner Denny Farley recorded another 87 point ride, this time on Fred Kleier’s Wicked Way.
The short go was loaded with exceptional bucking bulls to include, 2006 PBR Australia Bull of the Year Cloud Nine of Kent Hansen’s, Diamond J’s un-ridden great bull Oneway or Another, and award winning Wild West of Shane Iker’s. The bulls were electric, with no qualified rides recorded in the final round.
Denny Farley ended the night as the 2006 PBR Australia Touring Pro Finals Champion.
The following awards were presented to cap off a successful first season for the PBR Australia tour.
2006 PBR Australian Champion Tim Wilson
2006 PBRA Bull of the Year Cloud Nine - Kent Hansen
2006 PBRA Rookie of the Year Michael Cross
2006 PBRA Protection Athlete of the year Dale Spannagle
2006 PBRA Touring Pro Finals Champion Denny Farley
2006 PBRA Rookie Bull of the Year Titanic - Paul Stephan
2006 PBRA Venue of the Year Atherton Bull Ride
The night also witnessed the retirement of two great bulls - Diamond J Rodeo Co’s Rock You and 2003 BA Bucking Bull of the Year Gold Buckle Daybreak. Also, five-time BA Australian Champion Protection Athlete Shane ‘Maddog’ Simpson announced he will be retiring after the international bull riding event in Townsville in May.
PBR Australia Touring Pro Finals Results:
First Round: 1. Denny Farley (Kempsey NSW) – 87 points on Glen Brodie/Diamond J Rodeo Co Ban Dee Doe, 2. Mark Douglas (Kingaroy Qld) – 86 points on Fred Kleier’s Gravel Rash, 3. Shaun Fitzgibbons (Townsville Qld) – 85 points on Kent Hansen’s Cloud Nine, 4. Kevin Connolly (Townsville Qld) – 84 points on Glen Brodie/Diamond J Bucknaked.
Second Round: 1. Kevin Connolly (Townsville Qld) – 88.5 points on Shane Iker’s Little Hopper, 2/3. Denny Farley (Kempsey NSW) – 87 points on Fred Kleier’s Wicked Way, 2/3. Tim Wilson (Orange NSW) – 87 points Kent Hansen’s Booger Red, 4. Matt Postle (Emerald Qld) – 86 points on Kent Hansen’s Pearl Jam.
Overall Event Results: 1. Denny Farley (Kempsey NSW) – 174 points $3,529.47,
2. Kevin Connolly (Townsville Qld) – 172.5 points $2,576.26, 3. Tim Wilson (Orange NSW) – 170.5 points $1,468.47, 4. Matt Postle (Emerald Qld) – 163.5 points $875.93.
2006 Year End Standings: 1. Tim Wilson (Orange, NSW) – 5936.5 points $11,873.81, 2. Budd Williamson (Ayr, Qld) – 4465.5 points $10,092.73, 3. Matt Postle (Emerald, Qld) – 3811.5 points $10,940.28, 4. Kevin Connolly (Townsville, Qld) 3090.5 points $7,152.77, 5. Ryan Storey (Emerald, Qld) – 3081.5 points $6,026.01.
The 2007 PBR Australia tour will resume in February with the first event taking place on February 24th in Cooyar Qld.
