More than 2,000 spectators passed through the gates at the Dittmann Bull Pit at Bloomsbury as 91 open and junior competitors delivered two days of PBR action on July 17 and 18.
The weekend combined junior competition, professional bull riding, live music, camping and family entertainment, drawing riders and spectators from across Australia and overseas.
The Professional Bull Riders competition attracted 40 open riders, while another 51 young competitors took part in the Can-Am Junior Academy.
Competitors travelled from Western Australia, New Zealand and Brazil for the chance to ride at the Dittmann Bull Pit north of Mackay.
Organisers said the quality of the field reflected the event’s growing reputation.
“To bring this level of competition to our region and see the crowd get behind it was a huge result for us,” said a Dittmann spokesperson.
“We had some of the best riders in the country here, along with international competitors, and the standard across the weekend was exactly what we hoped for.”
The field included leading Australian competitors Ben Bode and Clint Glass, as well as Brazil’s Keny Roger de Oliveira.
When the final scores were counted, local cowboy Ky Borghero and New Zealand rider Rylee Ward could not be separated. The pair shared first place with an aggregate score of 169.70 points each.
Borghero scored 85.20 points aboard Evil Eyes before adding 84.50 points on Alcatraz in the championship round.
Ward recorded the highest score of the opening round with 85.70 points aboard Or What, then followed with 84 points on Zyon.
Thomas Triplett was the only other rider to complete both of his bulls, finishing third with 163 points.
Brazil’s de Oliveira produced the highest individual score of the championship round, earning 85.40 points aboard Seven Eleven.
The bulls also had their chance to take centre stage.
Stetson’s Nirvana was named the YETI Bull of the Event after recording the highest bull score of the competition. The bull received 43.20 points after bringing Luan Crystian Camara’s ride to an end in 2.94 seconds.
Before the professional competition, the Can-Am Junior Academy gave young riders the chance to compete in the same arena and build experience in front of a large crowd.
“The junior academy was one of the best parts of the weekend for us.
“To see so many young riders step into the arena showed there is real depth coming through the sport, and we want to keep giving them opportunities to grow.”
The Dittmann family operates Dittmann Bucking Bulls and has developed its Bloomsbury property into the Dittmann Bull Pit, a dedicated bull riding venue. The family also supplies bucking bulls to PBR competitions across Australia.
Dates are yet to be announced, but the Dittmann Bull Pit PBR is expected to return in 2027, with plans already underway to make the next event bigger.
