By The Numbers: Winton Way Out West Festival

As the 2023 Monster Energy Tour rolls into the Central Western QLD town of Winton this weekend for the Winton Way Out West Festival, we break down the numbers for what should be two fantastic days of PBR Bull Riding Action at the Eric Lenton Memorial Recreation Ground. 

184- 2015 PBR Australia Champion Fraser Babbington returns to the Monster Energy Tour this weekend at Winton after last making an appearance in the 2019 PBR Australia Grand Finals. The Gisborne, NZ cowboy has a massive 184 career qualified rides in the PBR and will be looking to add to that tally during Round 1 at Winton when he matches up with Living On Dreams (Colin Fry).

55.56- After going 3-for-3 in Melbourne a fortnight ago, reigning PBR Australia champion Cody Heffernan is soaring up the National Standings and is now only 126 pts back from Sam Woodall despite only having four events under his belt. Heffernan leads the Monster Energy Tour for riding percentage, with the Singleton cowboy currently holding a 55.56 riding percentage (6-9) to date in 2023.

4- Over the course of the weekend in Winton, the locals will be treated to the privledge of having four former Australian Champions go after it with the aforementioned Fraser Babbington (2015) and Cody Heffernan (2016 & 2022) suiting up, as well as Troy Wilkinson who won the Gold Buckle in 2017 and of course no one can forget four-time Australia Champion Aaron Kleier (2018,19,20,21).

See Daysheet Here

43.25- During the 2020 PBR Australia Grand Finals Lachlan Slade was matched against the beast of a bovine from Dittman Bucking Bulls by the name of Comeback Kid and it’s fair to say the out finished in the Bulls favour, picking up a 43.25-point bull score for his efforts and dispatching Slade to the dirt in only 2.83 seconds. Slade is slated for the re-match during Round 1 and will be looking to even the score on their battles and grab his first qualified ride against the Dittman bovine. 

15- Round 1 action on Friday night at Eric Lenton Memorial Recreation Ground will see fifteen bovine athletes make their PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour debut with four new bovines from Dittman Bucking Bulls and Peter Wallace who will turn out seven new bulls for this weekend's action. Colin Fry and Dunne Bulls will also give some of their new additions an opportunity to impress under the bright lights of the PBR and help push for further Contractor Standing points.

21- POA Crack The Latch from the Dittman Bucking Bulls currently holds the longest active buckoff streak on the Monster Energy Tour at 21 and will be looking to continue that momentum when the bovine will have Troy Wilkinson as a dance partner during Friday's Round 1 action. 

20- With the 2023 PBR Origin I in Newcastle less than a month away, this weekend’s event is the last opportunity for riders to put themselves into one of 20 ranking spots (10 for QLD and 10 for NSW) available and put themselves in a position to don either the Maroon of QLD or the Sky Blue of NSW on April 14 at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre.
There are still tickets available for both days, so come jump on and purchase your tickets here.