Set for Global Cup
CLERMONT professional bull rider, 20 year-old young gun Aaron Kleier, currently ranked No 1 on the PBR Australian standings, has booked his place in history as one of 14 riders to be selected to compete for Australia at the inaugural home-turf leg of the PBR Global Cup in Sydney.
Running next month at Qudos Bank Arena on June 9–10, the Global Cup is regarded as ‘The Ashes’ of global bull riding, pitting the world’s premier bull riding nations Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States of America against each other in a battle for the title of ‘Toughest Nation on Dirt’.
With a unique competition format, the Global Cup is the largest team event and battle for national pride that global bull riding has ever seen. The event tours to each participating country, offering up record purses, with each national team fighting to retain the host country’s horn from the PBR Global Cup trophy – the crown jewel of global riding.
The 54kg Global Cup trophy consists of five individual horns, each designed in the country’s national colours and serving as a vessel for their home dirt.
In order to complete the trophy and proclaim world dominance, one team must win and possess each respective country’s horn – but the biggest priority for each team is securing a hometown win to retain their nation’s soil and piece of the Cup.
Sydney is the second host city on the Global Cup calendar, following the series debut in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, last November. The Sydney event will also represent the first time the Global Cup has travelled to Australia. The host status brings with it a significant competitive edge for the Australian team. In each city, the host nation receives a home-turf advantage, fielding a 14-rider team – double the size of the visiting nations’ teams.
Kleier will compete on the 14-strong Australian team alongside six-time PBR World Finals qualifier Lachlan Richardson, 2017 PBR Australia Champion Troy Wilkinson and fellow PBR Australia standings leaders Fraser Babbington, Cliff Richardson, and Cody Heffernan, as well as the top-ranked Australian rider on the world standings, Nathan Burtenshaw.
The seven remaining spots on Team Australia will be chosen by famed national coach, 1998 PBR World Champion and Queenslander, Troy Dunn, within weeks.