HISTORY was made, on Saturday night, at the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals.
At just 19 years old, Boston Leather was crowned Rookie of the Year and also 2024 Australian Champion, taking home more than $90,000 in prize money, with his older brother standing by his side as the runner-up.
Ky Borghero, from Proserpine, and Beau Willis, from Bowen, also competed in the Grand Finals, held in Townsville. Ky placed in the top 10.
While Boston only scored one qualified ride over the two nights, on Cattle King Volatile (Dittmann Bucking Bulls), scoring 84.50, his stellar season gave him the edge he needed to secure the championship title and $75,000 in prize money, 123.85 points ahead of second place.
Going into his rookie season with the hopes to win ‘Rookie of the Year’, worth $15,000 in prize money, he said he never imagined he would also be taking home the gold buckle, for 2024 Australian Champion.
“I tried to rest this weekend and not put too much pressure on myself, but I think it’ll sink in over the next few days and I’ll be jumping,” Boston said.
“I didn’t expect to be here, I’m very grateful for that and I’m excited to see what’s next.”
It was a big night for Calliope’s Leather brothers, with Boston following in his older brother’s footsteps, in another move for the history books.
For the first time in Australia, siblings have achieved consecutive victories, with Macaulie Leather being crowned the 2023 Australian Champion, last year.
Following an injury that saw 23-year-old Macaulie unable to compete earlier in the season, he came back with a vengeance and took home the event win, as the rider with the highest average, over the two nights.
“I couldn’t be happier for him,” Boston said.
“He’s an absolute unit – he just goes out and does what he does best and loves every bit of it.
“All credit to him. To be honest, if he didn’t have four months off, at the start of the year, he’d be standing here doing this interview.”
Starting the Grand Finals in no.4 on the national standings, Macaulie was the only rider to make four qualified rides, and his outstanding performance saw him work his way up the leaderboard, to also secure 2024 Australian Champion Runner-up.
His final ride, in the championship round, on Revolver (Dunne Bucking Bulls) saw his highest score across the two nights of 88.0 points.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome, to be a runner-up to my little bro’, there’s no better feeling,” Macaulie said.
“He’s our standard. From the time he was getting on calves, I knew he’d be something special and he’s proved it to everyone, all year, and proved it to everyone here tonight.
“He’s a superstar in the making and I’m super proud of him for it.
“He deserves everything and I’m happy with the way I rode and just stoked to be here.”
It was international rider Daniel Keeping who took home the highest score of the night, with 88.25 on Razor Sharp (CF7 Bucking Bulls).
Riders aren’t the only athletes in the PBR and, with lots of buck-offs, it was a great night for the bovine athletes.
It was Dittmann Bucking Bulls’ Mr T who took home the YETI Bucking Bull of the Year.
Mr T’s highest scoring ride of the night was 44.0, bucking off Boston Leather in 55.56 seconds.
Australian Contractor of the year went to Colin Fry (CF7 Bucking Bulls).
With a sold-out crowd of more than 10,000 fans across the two nights, Macaulie said the PBR Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals were the best event of the year, and the crowd brought an electric atmosphere e to finish off the season.
“It’s unreal,” Macaulie said.
“You don’t really feel it while you’re on the bull, you don’t hear it.
“But you know when you step off, and you made a good ride, you can’t hear anything in the world – everyone’s hollering, there’s no better feeling.”
PBR general manager Mr Young said it was a great way to end the 2024 PBR Monster Energy Tour.
“It’s the first time, in history, we’ve seen a ‘Rookie of the Year’ also win champion of the year and, to top it off, with his brother coming first and second, it was a very special night for the Leather family,” Mr Young said.
“This year saw a number of international riders join the PBR Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals, which truly is a testament to the quality of riders we are producing in Australia.
“It was great to welcome some of the world’s best riders to compete with us, it was a huge international event, and it was still our Aussies riders who took home most of the wins.
“We’re not quite finished just yet, with our two rookies Ben Bode and Boston Leather taking on the PBR Canada National Finals, next weekend.”
Mr Young said PBR Australia will be back in Townsville for the 2025 PBR Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals, and fans better get in quick.
“We take this tour all over Australia, from Cairns to Bendigo, giving fans a taste of a PBR event, but it’s nothing like Townsville, and they want to see a grand final.
“We sold out last year and we sold out this year, so my advice would be, get in quick if you want to be a part of something special next year, and keep an eye out for the 2025 tour dates, so you can get in early.”
