PROFESSIONAL bull rider Ben Jones is back from the USA. He’s back Down Under to visit his family and to compete in the Australian Professional Bull Riders [PBR] finals in Tamworth from November 27 to 28.
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For the last 10 months he has been riding in the PBR Built Ford Tough series for the top 40 bull riders in the world. Jones won his first ever PBR Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) event on August 17, a full 12 years after making his debut in the USA on the ultimate bull riding stage.
The win saw Jones leave Nashville US$45,710 wealthier and sitting at number 22 in the BFTS rankings.
At that point in the season Jones had pocketed more than AUD$100,000 for the 2010 season and had secured his place in the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas in October.
According to Jones while the prize money may seem a lot, with the cost of travel from coast to coast in the US and all places in between plus accommodation there was not much left over.
“In total for the year I earned about US$122,000 but it cost over US$90,000 for accommodation, travel and entry fees,” Jones said.
“When I won the Nashville Ride I received US$45,710 but the bull owners received US$250,000.”
Jones competed in 32 rodeos plus the finals of the Built Ford Tough series but there were plenty occasions when he finished out of the money and considerably out of pocket.
“I am really grateful to a lot of local people for their support this season particularly Christie Rigby and her family,” Jones said.
Jones’ life in the US consists mainly of living out of a suitcase while competing against the top bull riders in the world, however the local rider said he still enjoys his job.
Many of the other competitors on the PBR circuit in the US have sponsors and Jones is looking for a one of several local sponsors to help him to continue his US campaign.
“It would be a dream come true to secure a national sponsor particularly considering the Built Ford Tough series has been televised on free to air TV in Australia this year,” he said.
“I was lucky this year that Christie (my fiancée) was able to come over for the finals in Las Vegas.”
The 31-year-old’s maiden victory in August was at the Jack Daniel’s Invitational after an impressive weekend in Nashville, Tennessee.
Jones finished second in the first round on Super Hou, a beast from the Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls ring with 88.75 points, before taking another second in round two riding Maverick, a bull from Lufkin Ranch & Rodeo, with 87.25 points.
Then in the vital championship round, Jones went the eight-second journey on Buffalo Hump, another bull from Jeff Robinson Bucking Bulls, for a magnificent 90.25 points to close out the event win. Ben Jones will be back in the States to ride at Madison Square Garden on January 6.
