Cody Heffernan Wins Touring Pro Division Event in Berry to Extend Lead Atop the Race to be Crowned the 2022 PBR Australia Champion

BERRY, NSW – As the 2022 PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Australia season continued Saturday evening in Berry, New South Wales, Cody Heffernan (Singleton, New South Wales) inched closer to capturing his second national championship. Backed by a near perfect 2-for-3 showing, 2016 PBR Australia Champion Heffernan cliched his first event victory of the season, winning the Touring Pro Division’s PBR at Big Country event, to further his stronghold atop the national standings.

While Heffernan began his campaign in less-than-ideal fashion, bucked off by Mac Daddy (Diamond S Bucking Bulls – Brian Scott) in a hard-fought 5.28 seconds in Round 1, his determination and resilience was on full display as the second round began.

Climbing aboard Cowboy Cartel G Force (Shultz Bucking Bulls), Heffernan reached the requisite 8 for 80.5 points to earn one of the eight coveted positions in the championship round.

Heffernan then readied to go head-to-head against Natural Hillbilly (Throsby & Russell & JC Cattle Co.) in the final round. Matching the powerful animal athlete jump-for-jump, Heffernan reached the requisite 8 for 85.5 points, winning the round and clinching the event victory.

Compliments of the golden finish, Heffernan netted 30 national points, allowing him to extend his lead over No. 2 Aaron Kleier (Clermont, Queensland) to 64 national points.

Seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, New South Wales) was second, collecting 17 national points.

Going 1-for-3, Richardson delivered the top score at the Berry Showgrounds when he bested Velvety Elvis (Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls) for a tour stop best 86.5 points in Round 2.

Richardson gained one position in the national standings as he seeks his first PBR Australia Championship in 2022, climbing from No. 4 to No. 3. He is now within 71 points of No. 1 Heffernan.

Third was Thomas Hudson (Dungog, New South Wales).

Despite beginning the PBR at Big Country Touring Pro Division stop with back-to-back buckoffs, bested by Instigator (Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls) in 6.8 seconds in Round 1 and by Dunmore Kicker (Shultz Bucking Bulls) in 6.69 seconds in Round 2, Hudson snapped his backwards skid in the final round.

Poised aboard Broken Halo (Throsby & Russel Bucking Bulls), Hudson concluded the event with a qualified ride, scored 84 points and earning the bronze finish.

The New South Wales rider left the Berry Showgrounds having earned 13 national points. Beginning the event unranked, Hudson is now ranked No. 19 in PBR Australia competition.

Fourth was Jono Couling (Singleton, New South Wales).

Couling delivered a Round 1-best, 82.5-point ride on Midnight Special (Diamond S Bucking Bulls – Brian Scott), earning 11 national points.

Rounding out the Top 5 in fifth was Beau Willis (Bowen, Queensland), garnering 8 national points.

Going 1-for-3, Willis rode Lower Belford (Shultz Bucking Bulls) for 80.5 points in Round 1.

In the bull pen, I’m Cool (Lazy G Bucking Bulls) and Told Ya So (Throsby & Russell Bucking Bulls), bucked a level above the rest, tying for the Bull of the Event honor. Each scored 43.5 points, I’m Cool earned the score in Round 2 when he bucked off Ben Gard (Albury, New South Wales) in 1.6 seconds, while Told Ya So posted the marks in the championship round when he upended Couling in 1.9 seconds.

The 2022 PBR Australia season will continue Saturday, May 21 for the third, and final, iteration of the 2022 PBR Origin in Brisbane, Queensland. Action inside Brisbane Entertainment Centre will get underway at 7:00 p.m. AEDT.

PBR Australia Touring Pro Division
PBR at Big Country
Berry Showgrounds – Berry, New South Wales
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Cody Heffernan, 0-80.5-85.5-166.00-30 Points.
2. Lachlan Richardson, 0-86.5-0-86.50-17 Points.
3. Thomas Hudson, 0-0-84-84.00-13 Points.
4. Jono Couling, 82.5-0-0-82.50-11 Points.
5. Beau Willis, 80.5-0-0-80.50-8 Points.
6. Braith Nock, 77.5-0-0-77.50-5 Points.
Qynn Andersen, 0-0-0-0.00
Brumby Brandenburg, 0-0-0-0.00
Harry Bridges, 0-0-0-0.00
Ben Gard, 0-0-0-0.00
Oscar Leake, 0-0-0-0.00
Toby Leake, 0-0-0-0.00
Josh Dallas, 0-0-0-0.00