Battle of the nations Five of Australia’s best head to Edmonton in Canada for rodeo
TROY Wilkinson, Aaron Kleier, Lachlan Richardson, Kurt Shepard and Sonny Schafferius have secured their position to represent Australia at the inaugural Global Cup, which will take place in Edmonton, Canada, from November 9–11.
PBRA general manager Glen Young said in bull riding, the Global Cup was the ultimate expression of national pride on the world stage.
“It’s transforming an individual performance-based sport into a team-based battle for national pride,” he said.
At the centre of PBR’s international growth strategy, the Global Cup will be the largest event staged in any one of the PBR’s international territories and the only event in each country – Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the USA, to feature the top riders coming for a single event to claim the title of Toughest Nation on Dirt.
The prestigious Global Cup trophy will be awarded to the team with the highest aggregate score over the course of the event, based on each team’s best 14 qualified rides.
The Global Cup trophy emphasises native soil as the object of national pride.
It consists of five individual horns, featuring each country’s colours and serving as a vessel for each nation’s dirt. In order to complete the trophy and proclaim world dominance, one team must win and possess each respective country’s horn.
“Being able to compete for
your country is always something that will mean a lot to me, it’s where I’m from and it’s who I am. To be one of five chosen out of all Australian bull riders is actually an honour. I can’t wait to compete for my country and make everyone proud back home,” said newly crowned PBRA champion Troy Wilkinson, who is back in the USA competing and on track for the PBR World Finals.
2017 PBRA Rookie Champion and bull riding sensation Aaron Kleier was also proud to have the opportunity.
“I am very excited to qualify for the Global Cup in my first season of riding with the PBR. It’s a great feeling to be given the opportunity to represent my country,” he said.
Riders will earn money based on the team’s performance. In Canada the winning team will collect $400,000. This is scaled back in the placings, with the fifth placed team taking home $42,000.
On top of that, each rider will also have the opportunity to win an additional $100,000 with their individual performances.
With five Australian team riders confirmed, two additional riders are yet to be announced. One will be from accumulative points last season and this season to October 8. The other rider will be a coach’s pick so the battle continues.
Each country will host a Global Cup event so Aussie fans will not miss out. An announcement is soon to be released with all the details.
To keep up to date with all the latest PBRA news, results and standings go to www.pbraustralia.com.au.
The winning team will collect $400,000.