Back

A TAMWORTH THRILLER AS AUSTRALIA'S NEXT GENERATION OF BULL RIDING CHAMPIONS CROWNED AND OPEN DECIDED BY 0.10!

PBR AUSTRALIA

Key Facts:

Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]

A TAMWORTH THRILLER AS AUSTRALIA'S NEXT GENERATION OF BULL RIDING CHAMPIONS CROWNED AND OPEN DECIDED BY 0.10!

Junior champions crowned in dramatic Grand Finals as Victorian-born, Mount Isa-based Kelsey Pavlou wins PBR Tamworth Open by just 0.10 of a point

Images, interviews and ride vision here

 

Australia's next generation of bull riding champions has been crowned in Tamworth, with young cowboys from New South Wales and Queensland claiming national titles in a spectacular conclusion to the 2026 PBR Australia Junior Grand Finals,  before Kelsey Pavlou delivered a heart-stopping Open victory by just one-tenth of a point in a huge night of bull riding action.

 

From a nail-biting final ride to decide the Senior Championship to a pair of back-to-back Australian champions, the Tamworth arena delivered everything: extraordinary young talent, courage under pressure, championship buckles and the kind of eight-second performances that make bull riding the toughest sport on dirt.

 

The 2026 PBR Australia Can-Am Junior Academy Grand Finals brought together the country's best young riders after a gruelling national season, with $29,000 in Finals prizemoney and year-end bonuses on offer across the junior competition, and when the final bulls had bucked, four young champions had earned the right to call themselves Australia's best.

 

The Senior division produced one of the most dramatic moments of the Grand Finals, with Gympie's Chase Wieland and Boddington, Western Australia's Hunter Ross arriving in Tamworth separated by just one championship point. Ross, riding second-last, threw down the challenge with a superb 75.20-point ride aboard Watch Gard, putting the pressure squarely on Wieland, the final rider out of the chutes. With the Australian Championship on the line, Wieland delivered. The Queensland teenager conquered Fizzy for 78.05 points, winning both the Tamworth event and the 2026 Australian Senior Championship, securing back-to-back national titles in an extraordinary finish. Ross was named the 2026 Australian Senior Runner-Up after a season-long battle that went right down to the final ride.

 

In the Pee Wee division, Singleton's Clay Thomas secured the 2026 Australian Championship with a 66.30-point ride aboard I'm a Brute, holding off a determined challenge from Gunnedah's Bobby Berry. Berry produced a brilliant 67.20-point ride on Tree Gard to win the Tamworth event, but it wasn't enough to overhaul Thomas in the year-end standings. Berry finished the season as Australian Pee Wee Runner-Up, while his older brother Chase Berry ensured there would still be a national championship buckle heading home to Gunnedah. Chase was crowned 2026 Australian Junior Champion, completing a remarkable back-to-back championship double after another dominant season.

 

Barraba's Noah Lowe finished Runner-Up in the Junior division, while Walcha's Benji Provost claimed the Tamworth Junior event victory with an impressive 70.55-point ride aboard Slug.

 

For the Berry family, it was a weekend to remember: one Australian Championship, one national Runner-Up title and a Tamworth event victory between the two brothers.

 

Queensland's Rex Walker, from Miriam Vale, capped an outstanding season by claiming both the 2026 Australian Rising Stars Championship and the Tamworth event title. Walker sealed the championship in style, scoring 76.25 points aboard Tiger Claw to finish the season as Australia's No.1 Rising Stars competitor. Boorowa's Billy Fogg claimed the Australian Rising Stars Runner-Up title.

 

Meanwhile, Willow Tree's Kyle Sternbeck beat his brother to be crowned 2026 PBR Australia Challenger Series Champion, completing a strong season in the competition that provides a crucial pathway towards the elite Monster Energy Tour.

 

AUSTRALIA'S 2026 JUNIOR CHAMPIONS

PEE WEE

Australian Champion: Clay Thomas — Singleton, NSW

Australian Runner-Up: Bobby Berry — Gunnedah, NSW

Tamworth Event Winner: Bobby Berry — 67.20 points on Tree Gard

JUNIOR

Australian Champion: Chase Berry — Gunnedah, NSW (back-to-back champion)

Australian Runner-Up: Noah Lowe — Barraba, NSW

Tamworth Event Winner: Benji Provost — Walcha, NSW — 70.55 points on Slug

SENIOR

Australian Champion: Chase Wieland — Gympie, QLD (back-to-back champion)

Australian Runner-Up: Hunter Ross — Boddington, WA

Tamworth Event Winner: Chase Wieland — 78.05 points on Fizzy

RISING STARS

Australian Champion: Rex Walker — Miriam Vale, QLD

Australian Runner-Up: Billy Fogg — Boorowa, NSW

Tamworth Event Winner: Rex Walker — 76.25 points on Tiger Claw

CHALLENGER SERIES

2026 Australian Champion: Kyle Sternbeck — Willow Tree, NSW

Runner Up Challenger 2026 series: Cody Sternbeck — Willow Tree, NSW

Challenger Tamworth Event Winner: Brayden Oddy - Cootamundra NSW

 

PAVLOU WINS TAMWORTH OPEN BY THE NARROWEST OF MARGINS” “one bull at a time”

If the Junior Grand Finals had the crowd on the edge of their seats, the PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour Tamworth Iron Cowboy Invitational ensured they stayed there.

In an extraordinary finish, Victorian born, Mount Isa based Kelsey Pavlou claimed the Open title by just 0.10 of a point, edging out a dead heat for second between Australian No.2 Zane Hall and American newcomer Hayes Weight.

 

Pavlou went a perfect two-for-two, posting a 170.45-point aggregate to secure the victory and take home $12,800 in prizemoney. Hall and Weight were almost inseparable, both finishing two-for-two on 170.35 points, just one-tenth behind the winner. Pavlou said he was feeling good moving into finals mode, and was taking it “one bull at a time”.  

 

For Utah cowboy Weight, the result continued an impressive introduction to Australian bull riding, following his Friday night victory and $5,000 bonus at Mackay the previous weekend. For Hall, the Tamworth performance delivered another significant milestone, with the Athol, Queensland cowboy passing $100,000 in season earnings as he continues his pursuit of the Australian Gold Buckle.

 

There was plenty for the hometown crowd to cheer about, with Tamworth's Colby Edgar producing a qualified ride in front of local supporters, building valuable confidence ahead of the Grand Finals. Ky Borghero delivered the highest-scoring ride of the night, conquering Conquistador for 86.35 points, while Thumper, from Australian Western Sports, was named Bull of the Weekend with a score of 42.50 points.

 

With the 2026 PBR Australia Grand Finals in Townsville now just weeks away, the national championship race continues to deliver extraordinary drama. Reigning Australian Champion Kurt Shephard, from Mareeba, remains No.1 on 2,758 points, but Zane Hall's Tamworth performance has narrowed the gap to just 156.50 points. Meanwhile, Pavlou's victory has propelled him from fifth to fourth in the national standings, adding another contender to the pointy end of the championship leaderboard.

 

UPDATED PBR AUSTRALIA NATIONAL STANDINGS

1. Kurt Shephard — Mareeba, QLD | 2,758 points
2. Zane Hall — Athol, QLD | 2,628.50 points
3. Keny Roger de Oliveira — Brazil | 1,970 points
4. Kelsey Pavlou — Victoria | 1,512.50 points
5. Rylee Ward — Central Hawke's Bay, NZ | 1,255.50 points

 

2026 PBR AUSTRALIA GRAND FINALS

November 13–14 | Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre

Tickets and information: www.pbraustralia.com.au

 

ABOUT PBR AUSTRALIA

Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is one of the fastest-growing sports properties in the world, with tours across the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. A subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings —which also owns UFC and WWE— has transformed bull riding into a premier international sport since its founding in 1992. The organisation features over 1,000 riders globally and hosts more than 200 events annually worldwide. In Australia, Professional Bull Riders Australia (PBRA) stages more than 20 events each year, attracting over 75,000 fans. PBRA showcases key events and tours such as the Monster Energy Tour, PBR Origin Series, and PBR Grand Finals, while also partnering with regional event organisers through the PBR Touring Pro Division. The organisation supports emerging talent through its Can-Am Junior Academy and serves as an international pathway to the United States circuit for both Junior and Open competition athletes. For more information, visit www.pbraustralia.com.au.

 

For media information, contact Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email [email protected]