Old foes Rocky McDonald and the never-before-ridden Jungle Rumble went head-to-head in the first of the 2011 Professional Bull Riders Australian Cup Series at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre last night – and McDonald won.
Hot off a winning streak that saw the 31-year-old Mexican bull rider take the Canadian Montreal title two weeks ago, McDonald last night bagged the Brisbane Invitational champion buckle – the first of Australia’s four-stop elite bull riding competition – and leapfrogged almost 20 spots in the world standings, possibly edging him into the PBR Top 40 World Finals qualifiers.
The first rider to ever score on the 9-year-old Jungle Rumble, McDonald opted for the fiery bull in the championship round draft for a “rematch,” he said, to settle a four-year grudge.
McDonald last met the “unrideable” bull at the PBR World Cup on the Gold Coast in 2007 and actually rode him to the whistle, but didn’t score because he slapped him.
“It was an old wound,” said McDonald. “I’m glad it’s now healed.”
Landing in Brisbane the morning of the competition, nothing could stop the Mexican, and Aussie fan-favorite, who has ridden in every one of the elite PBR Australian competitions since its inception in 2007.
The only one in the 22-rider competition to cover three bulls, McDonald went into the Brisbane Invitational championship round (Top 8 qualifiers) with 171 points – second to Rothbury’s Jason O’Hearn with 172.5.
First out of the gate in the first round, McDonald got all sauced up covering Hot Dogs for 83.5. It was good pickings for him again in the second, with a score of 87.5 on Bad Booger. He held the lead until O’Hearn romped in with 89 points on Big Brian. In the first round, O’Hearn had ridden light as a bird on Danger Mouse, equalling McDonald’s 83.5.
Only 12 riders scored in the 52-buckout night, and Missouri’s Luke Snyder was the only other cowboy beside McDonald and O’Hearn to cover both bulls in the first two rounds.
Snyder went into the championship round in third place with a combined score of 168.5 (81 on I’m Wild Too in the first round and 87.5 on Rattle Ya Cage in the second).
Oregon’s Cody Campbell, Ayr’s Jock Connolly and Uralla’s Duncan Elks all headed into the championship round with an equal score of 87.
Campbell locked in on his second bull Trigger. Elks got two re-rides in the second round, and finally brushed off any moves from the spidery Arachnophobia to earn his spot.
Connolly lost out to White Noise in the first round and in the second The Down Side literally put his own rump in the dirt to give Connolly a re-ride.
Connolly screamed out his 87 on the little bull with a “lot of go”: Little Secret.
Rockhampton’s Jason Mara earned his place with 86.5 on Strike Force in the first round. Next in line was a toss-up between equal point scorers, brothers Jared and Pete Farley, who were 86 each on Beau Duke (Jared) and Cruel Intentions (Pete). The decision went to the back judges, and it was older brother Jared who moved into the championship round.
Third to ride and first to score in the championship round, Connolly dominated with a pistol packin’ 85.5-point ride on Great Western Slinger, the bull he’d conceded after Campbell chose That’s Gold, the bull Connolly had wanted. “I been on him twice, but only scored on him once. I wanted another go at him.”
Rubbing salt into the wound, Campbell came out fifth on the creamy yellow beast and became only the second rider in history, after Connolly in 2009, to cover the bull, who took out the night’s champion bull title. Campbell rode him for an awe-inspiring 90.5, the highest score of the night.
McDonald came out seventh, the second-to-last ride of the night, and took the lead with his 88.5 on Jungle Rumble.
O’Hearn, the leader going into the championship round, was the last to ride in the nail-biting finish.
He blazed on Up In Smoke, but the bull stubbed him out and McDonald finished the winner.
“Anyone could have been the winner here tonight,” said McDonald. “You get on some bulls, you ride them and anything can happen.
“But it worked for me tonight and I feel good.”
McDonald pocketed $11,115 of the $40,000 payout. Not previously in contention, he moved to third in the PBR Australian Cup Series standings.
Defending Australian Champion David Kennedy’s hopes were dashed on Dark & Stormy in the first round, leaving him with more than a hangover. Kennedy aggravated his injured shoulder, had to sit out the night and is out for the Townsville competition.
Connolly’s performance keeps him in the No. 1 spot. Jason Mara is in second.
The PBR Australian Cup Series continues with the Troy Dunn Invitational at the Townsville Entertainment Centre on Saturday.
— Courtesy PBR Australia
