Tennessee-born rodeo entertainer Kyle “Hashtag” Lamon to bring American swagger to the arena
The future of Australian bull riding will share the dirt with the sport’s biggest names when the PBR Australia Monster Energy Tour bucks into Caboolture this Saturday night, with the Can-Am Junior Academy returning to competition as part of a massive program of bull riding action.
At the elite end, 25 bull riders will compete, headed by reigning Australian Champion and current National No.1 Kurt Shephard (Mareeba), alongside some of the hottest riders of the 2026 season. Fresh from victory in Adelaide, Zane Hall (Athol) will arrive in Caboolture with momentum firmly behind him, while the field also features Ethan Coster (Miriam Vale), Donnie Rutherfurd (Mount Isa), Sam Woodall (Heywood, VIC), Kelsey Pavlou (Toora, VIC), Caiden Sandilands (Rockhampton) and international stars Keny Roger de Oliveira, Alison Aguiar, Luan Camara and Rylee Ward.
And there’s plenty of Queensland firepower deeper in the field, including Ben Bode, Dan Ruhland, Dawson Foden, Ky Borghero, Leith Malone and Thomas Triplett.
Bringing some American rodeo swagger is Tennessee-born rodeo entertainer Kyle “Hashtag” Lamon, who returns to PBR Australia after wowing crowds at the 2025 Townsville Grand Finals. The US Army veteran and former bull rider has swapped riding bulls for commanding the arena, combining trick roping, comedy and pure showmanship in a high-energy performance that has made him a crowd favourite across the United States, and after Townsville, Australia too. Part cowboy, part comedian, part trick-roper and ALL showman, Kyle “Hashtag” Lamon will hit the dirt at Caboolture between the bull riding action, bringing a little Tennessee to the PBR arena and ensuring the entertainment doesn’t stop when the bulls leave the chutes.
NEXT GEN BACK ON THE DIRT
Before the big guns battle for championship points, the spotlight will turn to the next generation, with 65 entries across the Can-Am Junior Academy Pee Wee, Junior, Senior and Rising Stars divisions, plus a 10-rider Challenger field. And there are already some very familiar names among them.
Chase Berry (Gunnedah) and Jasper Wieland (Gympie), who tied for the Pee Wee event win at the 2026 season finale in Tamworth, return to competition, while Nash Goddard (Glendon Brook), Judd Thomas (Glendon Brook), Wylie Roots (Duaringa), Chase Wieland (Gympie), Nate Wilson (Calliope) and Kassedy Carlon (Bundarra) are among a seriously talented junior field. Queensland’s BELLA BRINNER returns as the only female rider.
There are siblings everywhere too: Chase and Bobby Berry, Chase and Jasper Wieland, Judd, Dustin and Clay Thomas and Noah and Brax Lowe, making Caboolture something of a family affair as another generation works its way towards the professional ranks.
The Challenger Series, introduced in 2026 as the crucial stepping stone between the Can-Am Junior Academy and the Monster Energy Tour, will feature 10 riders, including Baylee Proctor, Cody and Kyle Sternbeck, Darcy Fogg, Christian Richmond, Leo Smith, Jaxsen Tremayne, Jordan Britt, Harry Armitage and Trace Mellers.
For fans, it means the opportunity to see the entire PBR pathway on the same dirt, from some of Australia’s youngest mini-bull riders through the Challenger ranks and ultimately to Australian champions. professionals.
UPDATED 2026 PBR AUSTRALIA NATIONAL STANDINGS
- Kurt Shephard – Mareeba, Queensland – 1,969 points
- Zane Hall – Athol, Queensland – 1,650 points
- Keny Roger de Oliveira – Brazil – 1,500.50 points
- Ethan Coster – Miriam Vale, Queensland – 894 points
- Sam Woodall – Heywood, Victoria – 887 points
NEXT UP:
Saturday 29 August: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Caboolture Invitational
- Venue: Queensland State Equestrian Centre (QSEC), Caboolture, Queensland
- Booking: PBR Caboolture Invitational Tickets
Friday 4 – Saturday 5 September: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Hawkesbury Invitational
- Venue: Hawkesbury Showground, Clarendon, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Hawkesbury Invitational Tickets
Saturday 12 September: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Coffs Harbour Invitational
- Venue: Coffs Harbour Showground, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Coffs Harbour Invitational Tickets
Saturday 19 September: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Orange Invitational
- Venue: Orange Showground, Orange, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Orange Invitational Tickets
Friday 16 – Saturday 17 October: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Mackay Invitational
- Venue: Mackay Showgrounds, Mackay, Queensland
- Booking: PBR Mackay Invitational Tickets
Saturday 24 October: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Tamworth Iron Cowboy Invitational
- Venue: Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC), Tamworth, New South Wales
- Booking: PBR Tamworth Invitational Tickets
Friday 13 – Saturday 14 November: PBR Australia Grand Finals
- Venue: Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre, Townsville, Queensland
- Booking: PBR Australia Grand Finals Tickets
ABOUT PBR AUSTRALIA
Professional Bull Riders (PBR) is one of the fastest-growing sports properties in the world, with tours across the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico. A subsidiary of TKO Group Holdings -which also owns UFC and WWE- has transformed bull riding into a premier international sport since its founding in 1992. The organisation features over 1,000 riders globally and hosts more than 200 events annually worldwide. In Australia, Professional Bull Riders Australia (PBRA) stages more than 20 events each year, attracting over 75,000 fans. PBRA showcases key events and tours such as the Monster Energy Tour, PBR Origin Series, and PBR Grand Finals, while also partnering with regional event organisers through the PBR Touring Pro Division. The organisation supports emerging talent through its Can-Am Junior Academy and serves as an international pathway to the United States circuit for both Junior and Open competition athletes.
