Sonny Heffernan might be pint-sized… however, his record and grit are anything but.
The 11-year-old bull rider from Singleton will not only chase another ride at the PBR Caboolture Invitational this weekend, he’s set to make history.
When the mini bull chutes swing open on Saturday 30 August, he’ll become the first competitor to reach the 50 PBR Junior Academy event milestone.
And, Heffernan hasn’t just shown up, he’s shone.
From his 50 outings, he has covered 33 bulls, making the whistle more than two-thirds of the time.
Thirty of those rides resulted in top five placings, too.
After the weekend, he’ll swap mini bulls for boarding passes, flying out to the International Mini Bull Riding Association (IMBA) World Finals in Ogden, Utah (3-6 September).
It won’t be his first taste of the global stage either.
Back in 2019, at the age of five, he represented Australia in Las Vegas and finished 11th.
But, bull riding runs in his blood.
He’s the nephew of PBR NSW Origin coach and two-time national champion Cody Heffernan.
With such a great pedigree, the youngster’s won the 2024 Peewee Australian Title and, perhaps dearest to his heart, helped the mighty Blues break Queensland’s domination in 2025.
PBR announcer Simon Mallory admitted the PBR Junior Academy, which kicked off in 2021, was a vital part of Australia’s rider development program.
“It’s dedicated to creating pathways for young bull riders to progress all the way to the national and international stage,” he said.
“Watching guys like Sonny shine in front of sold-out crowds at the PBR Origin Series has been incredible.
“The entire PBR community can’t wait to cheer him on in Caboolture for his 50th junior event… and, internationally.
“With 60 juniors, some as young as eight, competing in Caboolture for a chance to reach the Junior Grand Finals in Tamworth this October, the future of the sport has never looked brighter.
“The success of the program wouldn’t be without the parents who give up their entire weekends to bring their kids from across the country to compete.
“It’s truly an amazing thing to see.”
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