Gunnedah’s Chase Berry arrives in Tamworth this weekend with a commanding lead in the Junior division, as Australia’s best young bull riders chase $29,000 at what organisers call the richest junior bull riding finals in the country.
The 2026 PBR Australia Can-Am Junior Academy Grand Finals bring together riders from Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, and beyond. This year, young New Zealand riders have also crossed the Tasman to compete in the Australian junior circuit.
Entry to the Junior Grand Finals is free, with the action starting at 12pm on Saturday, 24 October. The PBR Monster Energy Tour’s Tamworth Iron Cowboy Invitational is also on that day at the Australian Equine and Livestock Events Centre (AELEC) in Tamworth.
There is $20,000 in event prizemoney and another $9,000 in year-end bonuses on the line across the Pee Wee, Junior, Senior, and Rising Stars divisions, as well as the Challenger Series.
Berry, from Gunnedah, has been the standout performer of the season. He amassed 95.5 points to build a big lead in the Junior division over Barraba’s Noah Lowe on 51 and Singleton’s Sonny Heffernan on 46.
His younger brother Bobby Berry is also among the leaders. In the Pee Wee division, Singleton’s Clay Thomas leads on 66 points, ahead of Bobby Berry on 62.5 and Singleton’s Kaileb Hall on 55.5. Another Gunnedah rider, Bailey Craig, sits fifth in the Junior division on 33 points.
The New England is well represented in the Senior division too. Gympie’s Chase Wieland leads on 75 points, just one point ahead of Hunter Ross from Boddington in Western Australia. Kootingal’s Colby Clark is fourth on 39 points and Bundarra’s Kassedy Carlon is fifth on 35. Walcha’s Lachie Provost and Willow Tree’s Cody Searle also feature.
In the Challenger Series, the important stepping stone between junior competition and the elite Monster Energy Tour, Willow Tree brothers Kyle and Cody Sternbeck hold the top two spots. Kyle Sternbeck leads on 76.5 points, ahead of Cody on 63.
Queensland riders dominate the Rising Stars division, with Miriam Vale’s Rex Walker on top with 74 points.
PBR Australia Managing Director Glen Young said the Junior Academy had grown into a genuine national pathway for young riders.
“The growth of the Junior Academy has been extraordinary. We’re seeing young riders travel from every corner of Australia to compete, and this year we’ve even had young New Zealand riders coming across the Tasman to test themselves against our best,” said PBR Australia Managing Director Glen Young.
“Just like our professional riders, these kids have put in the miles. They’ve travelled huge distances, dealt with the pressure of competition and had to perform consistently throughout a gruelling season just to earn their place at the Grand Finals.”
“These aren’t titles handed out for turning up. Whoever wins a year-end championship buckle has competed against the best young athletes in the country in their division, and to finish the season as Australia’s No.1 is an enormous achievement.”
“With $20,000 in Finals prizemoney and another $9,000 in year-end bonuses, we’re putting a serious investment behind junior bull riding. We believe this is the richest junior Grand Finals in Australia, and the level of competition reflects that.”
The season ends with the PBR Australia Grand Finals in Townsville on Friday, 13 and Saturday, 14 November.
For more information, visit www.pbraustralia.com.au.
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