Kleier Becomes Second Australian to Win Back-to-Back Titles; Richardson Wins Australia Grand Finals
By: Justin Felisko
PUEBLO, Colo. – Aaron Kleier had stated continuously throughout 2019 that his ultimate goal was to win a second consecutive PBR Australia championship. On Saturday, he was able to see that objective come to fruition.
Kleier went 1-for-4 to finish 12th overall at the 2019 PBR Australia Grand Finals to barely edge past Lachlan Richardson for the 2019 PBR Australia championship.
Richardson went 4-for-5 to win the PBR Australia Grand Finals event title, winning three out of the five rounds in the process. However, Richardson still fell 402.5 points shy of Kleier in the final PBR Australia standings.
Kleier may have struggled some in Townsville this weekend, but that does not take away from his overall dominance in Australia this year. Kleier led PBR Australia in qualified rides (39), riding percentage (65%) and Top-5 finishes (18).
“It feels great to come up here to Townsville and get the win,” Kleier told Will McCoy on RidePass. “Not such a good weekend, but it is good my family is up here, and friends, and all my supporters. I am glad they all come up.”
The two-time PBR Australia champion joins four-time winner David Kennedy as the only riders to win back-to-back PBR Australia titles. Kennedy won his first two championships in 2009 & 2010. Kevin ‘Jock’ Connolly is the only other Australian to win multiple PBR Australia titles.
Kleier concluded 2019 ranked No. 22 in the world standings, but he was ineligible for the 2019 PBR World Finals after choosing to stay in Australia once he became seeded on the Unleash The Beast. Kleier has not set a timetable as to when he may decide to ride in the United States full-time, but he continues to show he is one of the top riders in Australia.
“I definitely plan on going over there soon,” Kleier said. “I suppose I will figure it out next year.”
On the opposite end of the spectrum, Richardson came to the United States at 18 years old and won his debut premier series event in Uncasville, Connecticut, on April 27, 2012.
The 27-year-old decided this year that, following seven consecutive World Finals appearances and being a constant rider on the premier series, he would stay in Australia with his family.
2019 was the first time Richardson competed solely in Australia, and he capped his season with his first PBR Australia Finals event title.
Richardson defeated 2018 PBR World Champion Kaique Pacheco for the PBR Australia Finals event title by riding Black Tuxedo for 88.25 points in the championship round.
“I was just cool and focused,” Richardson said. “It is the same as every other bull, you have to take it the same. I have let situations like that before get to me so I have a bit of experience. You can’t expect anyone else to falter, so I knew I had to do my job until the very end and it worked out.”
Richardson ended the weekend by winning three of the final four rounds of competition after Cattle King Ted bucked him off in 2.79 seconds in Round 1.
The Gresford, Australia, native won Rounds 2, 3 and 5 with rides on King Kong (88.25 points), Ooh Call Me Joe (86.75 points) and Black Tuxedo.
Pacheco was impressive in his first event back from left elbow (free arm) reconstructive surgery in June. He went 4-for-5 (332.50) and fell 18 points short of defeating Richardson for the Australia Finals title. After turning down a second re-ride option in Round 2 (79 points on Drag Iron), Pacheco rode his final three bulls – Code Blue for 82.5 points, Annihilation for 86.5 points and Berzerk for 84.25 points.
Rounding out the Top 5 in the event standings was 2017 PBR Australia champion Troy Wilkinson (3-for-5, 257.75 points), 2015 PBR Australia champion Fraser Babbington (3-for-5, 255 points) and Cliff Richardson (3-for-5, 254.75 points).
This weekend was Babbington’s last event before retiring from professional bull riding. He is the only New Zealand native to ever qualify for the PBR World Finals, doing so in 2017.
Brady Fielder won the 2019 PBR Australia Rookie of the Year title after an Australian-best six wins and finishing third overall in the standings.
“It feels great,” Fielder said. “We got a couple of bulls rode here. I would like to just thank my family and friends for helping me out through the year. It has been a great year.”
Lachlan and Cliff continue to show why they were selected, along with Ky Hamilton, to 1998 PBR World Champion Troy Dunn’s Team Australia for the 2020 WinStar World Casino and Resort Global Cup USA, presented by Monster Energy.
Cliff just recently went 3-for-5 at the 2019 PBR World Finals in Las Vegas, and he has historically served as Dunn’s team captain. Meanwhile, Lachlan is the most experienced rider in Australia when it comes to competing in the United States.
Dunn still has three roster spots, including one alternate, left to fill before the Global Cup USA takes place on Feb. 15-16 in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium.
Professional Bull Riders – 2019 PBR Australia Grand Finals
Townsville, Queensland, 2019
Event Leaders (Round 1-Round 2-Round 3-Round 4-Round 5-Event Aggregate-Event Points)
1. Lachlan Richardson, 0-88.25-86.75-87-88.25-350.25-2137.5 Points.
2. Kaique Pacheco, 0-79-82.5-86.5-84.25-332.25-875 Points.
3. Troy Wilkinson, 83-0-0-88.25-86.5-257.75-870 Points.
4. Fraser Babbington, 86.25-83-85.75-0-0-255.00-680 Points.
5. Cliff Richardson, 83.75-0-84-87-0-254.75-495 Points.
6. Nathan Burtenshaw, 85-86-0-82.75-0-253.75-305 Points.
7. Brady Fielder, 0-87.75-82.25-0-0-170.00-212.5 Points.
8. Ethan Watts, 86-0-83.25-0-0-169.25-277.5 Points.
9. Eduardo Aparecido, 80.75-86.5-0-0-0-167.25-135 Points.
10. Lawson Nobbs, 0-87.75-0-0-0-87.75-162.5 Points.
11. Sam Woodard, 0-86.25-0-0-0-86.25-75 Points.
12. Aaron Kleier, 0-85.5-0-0-0-85.50-25 Points.
13. Lachlan Slade, 85.25-0-0-0-0-85.25-125 Points.
14. Lane Mellers, 0-0-0-85-0-85.00-75 Points.
15. Cody Rodeo Tyler, 83.75-0-0-0-0-83.75-57.5 Points.
16. Mitchel Paton, 83.25-0-0-0-0-83.25-25 Points.
(tie). Jay Borghero, 0-0-83.25-0-0-83.25-87.5 Points.
Rubens Barbosa, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Brady Sims, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Will Purcell, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Justin Robards, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Budd Williamson, 0-0-0-0-0-0.00
Follow Justin Felisko on Twitter @jfelisko
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