QUEENSLAND bull rider Aaron Kleier, Clermont, has won a history-making third consecutive PBR national title in front of an excited crowd at the Townsville Entertainment Centre, Qld.
Making the record-breaking win even sweeter, it came after Kleier made the decision to cut short his debut season on the US circuit when the introduction of COVID-19 quarantine rules saw him return to Australia early this year.
"It was exhilarating to see him turn a bad situation into a good one, it's one of the lessons of life," PBR Australia general manager Glen Young said. "He rode with a purpose, to claim another Australian title, when he had to return home, and he realised his goal."
After being named the PBR Australia Rookie of the Year in 2017, Kleier claimed the number one spot on the national standings early in 2018, maintaining it throughout for his first national buckle.
He defended his title in 2019, fighting off a strong challenge from Gresford rider Lachlan Richardson, and it was the same rider that gave him a run for his money in the grand final rounds this year.
While the 22-year-old Kleier entered the season-culminating event on top in the national standings, his lead was decimated on the opening night of competition when No. 2 Richardson led the field of 22 riders with a perfect 2-for-2 performance.
Kleier's lead shrank from 56 to 29 points as a result of Richardson's efforts but the fierce battle came to a heart-breaking conclusion when Richardson wasn't able to compete on the final night of action due to a back injury.
While Kleier's fourth consecutive appearance at the Australian grand finals ended in a buck-off, bested in 2.37 seconds, his third place finish at the event earned him a critical 87 national points, allowing him to clinch the 2020 PBR Australia Championship and a pay cheque for $11,700.
Fellow Clermont local Brady Fielder, last year's Rookie of the Year, delivered a near perfect 4-for-5 performance to win the prestigious 2020 PBR Australia grand final event title.
The victory earned him 155 national points and $5150, as well as the overall No. 4 position in the national standings.
Mount Isa's Jake Curr was crowned the 2020 PBR Australia Rookie of the Year at the grand final, outlasting Jackson Gray from Barcaldine, Qld,
Marking a career-first appearance at the grand finals, Curr finished 8th in the event, and the 16 points saw him finish the season at No. 5 in the national standings.
Gray failed to record a qualified ride at the grand final, ending 2020 at No. 9, 191 points behind Curr.
A return to the heartland, regional Australia, was how PBR Australia weathered the disruption that was 2020, according to Glen Young.
"We kept dropping events until the tour as it was couldn't happen anymore," Mr Young said.
"We had to restructure, although Townsville was always the grand final whether we had a crowd or not."