06.04.19 - News
Queensland claims state bragging rights, wins inaugural PBR Origin
The Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales duked it out for bull riding supremacy.
By PBR
Australian professional bull riding state bragging rights went to Queensland tonight, as the maroons took the inaugural PBR Origin at the ICC Sydney Theatre in front of a capacity crowd.
The PBR Monster Energy Origin saw two 11-rider teams representing New South Wales and Queensland go head-to-head in an electrifying showdown that decided the title of toughest State on Dirt.
Despite a vocal hometown crowd cheering on NSW, Team QLD turned in a dominant performance, notching a combined total score of 682.5 from eight qualified rides, well ahead of Team NSW’s total of 428.5 from five qualified rides.
The Team QLD charge was led by rider Mitch Paton (Nebo) who took out dual Cowboy of the Event honors with NSW’s Nathan Burtenshaw (Coonamble). Paton went a perfect 2-for-2 on the night to add 173 points to the maroon’s total.
Paton was followed closely by Atherton teammate Kurt Shephard, who logged 172.5 points for QLD, Brady Fielder (Clermont) who scored 169.5 points, and 2018 PBR Australia Champion Aaron Kleier (Clermont) who notched 167.5 points. Kleier turned up the heat with an 86-point ride on Rock The House in the championship round.
Coonamble’s (NSW) Nathan Burtenshaw took out Ride of the Night, making the 8 on POA Ray Ban for a monster 89.5 points. His combined score of 173 points from two qualified rides also saw him tie Mitch Paton for Rider of the Night and lead the individual point tally for Team NSW.
The blues’ second highest scorer on the night was Cliff Richardson (Gresford), who made the whistle on Down Under for an 87.5-point qualified ride. Richardson was followed by Tamworth’s Ethan Watts, who covered POA Palooka for 85 points, and Team NSW Captain Troy Wilkinson (Upper Horton) who notched an 83-point ride on POA Fully Locked & Loaded.
“Tonight, the fight for top Origin honours blew friendships apart and pitted many mates against one another as state lines were drawn,” PBR Australia General Manager, Glen Young said. “It was all about state pride, and the maroons underscored themselves as Australia’s bull riding powerhouses by taking out the first ever PBR Origin. The battles were fierce, the rides were electric, and the crowds were on the edge of their seat right until the very last second.”