Victorian-born, Mount Isa-based bull rider goes two-for-two in Orange,
while reigning champ, Queenslander Kurt Shephard wrestles back the Gold Buckle lead as Grand Finals loom
The race for Australian bull riding’s most coveted buckle has taken another dramatic turn, with reigning PBR Australia Champion Kurt Shephard reclaiming the national No.1 ranking after a huge night of bull riding in Orange, New South Wales.
Last night, the buckle belonged to Kelsey Pavlou. The Toora, Victoria-born cowboy, who now lives and works on Yelvertoft Station near Mount Isa in Outback Queensland, delivered the only perfect two-for-two performance of the night to claim his first PBR event win of the 2026 season, finishing with a commanding 168.20-point aggregate and $7,190 in earnings.
Pavlou opened his account aboard Dittmann Bucking Bulls’ Cohens Tequila, matching the bull’s 41.60-point score with an 84.40-point ride. He then backed it up when it mattered, covering Candy Paint from the Lazy G/Pakallus/Edgar Partnership for 83.80 points in the Short-Go to seal the Orange title.
While Pavlou took the event buckle, Queenslander Kurt Shephard made a major move in the season-long championship battle. The Mareeba cowboy finished second overall on 164.20 points, bouncing back from a 79.80-point opening ride aboard Coloured Past to win the Short-Go with 84.40 points on Humdinger.
That performance was enough to put the reigning champion back where he started the season, on top of the PBR Australia leaderboard. He now leads the national standings on 2,393 points, just 97 points ahead of Athol’s Zane Hall on 2,296, setting up a cracking fight for the 2026 Gold Buckle with just a few events remaining to qualify for the PBR Australia National Finals.
Brazil’s Keny Roger de Oliveira sits third on 1,849 points, followed by Heywood, Victoria’s Sam Woodall on 1,050, while New Zealand’s Rylee Ward has jumped into the top five on 1,007.25 points, bumping Clint Glass to sixth.
Dittmann Bucking Bulls’ Stetson Nirvana dispatched the in-form Ward in 6.64 seconds and was marked 43.20 points, earning Bull of the Event honours for the second consecutive weekend.
THE GOLD BUCKLE RACE
1. Kurt Shephard – Mareeba, QLD – 2,393 points 2. Zane Hall – Athol, QLD – 2,296 points 3. Keny Roger de Oliveira – Brazil – 1,849 points 4. Sam Woodall – Heywood, VIC – 1,050 points 5. Rylee Ward – Central Hawke’s Bay, NZ – 1,007.25 points
CHALLENGER SERIES RESULTS
It was also a big night for Cootamundra’s Brayden Oddy, who took the Challenger Series win after being the sole rider to register a qualified ride. Oddy covered Shoot to Thrill from K3F-Farley Bucking Bulls for 77.90 points, earning $3,250 and his first win from his first recorded event of the season.
JUNIOR RESULTS
For PBR Australia’s next generation, the pressure is even greater.
The Junior riders have just one event remaining, Mackay on October 17, to qualify for their Tamworth Finals. Orange’s Junior winners were Kaileb Hall and Clay Thomas, tied in Pee Wee on 61.50 points; Chase Berry in Juniors with 66.00; Chase Wieland in Seniors with 70.20; and Blake Cross in Rising Stars with 76.00.
UP NEXT
Friday 16 – Saturday 17 October: PBR Monster Energy Tour: Mackay Invitational
- Venue: BB PRINT STADIUM, 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.
