Singleton’s Cody Heffernan is the toast of the Hunter Valley after being crowned the 2022 PBR Australian champion at the weekend.
However, he didn’t get it all his own way at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre, with the season finale going down to the wire.
In the end, the 32-year-old not only secured the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Monster Energy Tour Grand Final title but also the national honours.
“I can’t really remember it, I was just hanging on,” Heffernan said of his ride on Cattle King Boogers Beach.
“I knew I had to ride him and do anything after Aaron (Kleier) rode that bull (Mystery).
“I just knew I had to ride him if I wanted to have a shot at winning it.”
Starting the event 72.5 points behind reigning champion Kleier (Clermont, QLD), Heffernan dominated the second evening covering all three of his bulls in front of a sold-out crowd.
Unable to cover Bang and Grind and Mystery on night one, Heffernan put on a bullriding masterclass that kept the entire arena on its feet and asserted his dominance on the sport’s biggest night.
In round three, he posted his first score of the grand finals with an 86.5 on Blondies Bomber.
The 2016 national champion then bettered that, riding End Game for 87.5, and moved within 42.5 points of Kleier in the national standings.
The Townsville crowd was on the edge of its seat after the Queenslander posted a 90-point ride on Mystery, the bull which bucked Heffernan off the night before.
But, the Tamworth Iron Cowboy event winner dug deep with his third eight-second ride atop Cattle King Boogers Beach.
The 2021 YETI Bull of the Year was tamed by Heffernan, garnering him 92 points, the highest score of the event.
This launched him into first place on the leaderboard, overtaking fellow Hunter Valley bullrider Lachlan Richardson from Gresford.
The Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre then held its collective breath to find out whether Kleier would snare a fifth consecutive national title or if Heffernan would earn his second golden buckle.
Ultimately just 2.5 points separated the two riders, with the local taking home a $68,500 pay day.
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