ROHAN Markham has his sights set on competing at the “Olympics” of bull riding and is hoping Saturday night’s Bendigo Invitational will take him another step closer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Markham will be among 29 riders who will put their skills to the test in a battle of man versus beast at the Professional Bull Riders Australia event at the Princes of Wales Showground.
The 25-year-old has been bull riding for four years and is determined to earn a berth in the Australian team of 14 for the coveted Global Cup in June.
“The Global Cup is like the Olympics for us, so to make the team would be a fantastic accolade,” Markham said on Thursday while visiting Saint Peters Primary School with fellow bull rider Michael Smith.
“That’s my goal for the year and I’ve just got to keep performing well.”
Markham is currently ranked No.9 in Australia and says spectators can expect an action-packed night of entertainment in Bendigo for what will be PBR Australia’s first event held in regional Victoria.
“You’re either going to see a really great ride or a really get wreck… there are great athletes and great bulls,” Markham said.
“There’s probably more of a following of the bulls these days than the riders. There will be 35 of the best bulls and 29 of the best riders in Australia, so you put those together with all the pyrotechnics as well and it’s a great night.”
Markham – who has been competing professionally for four years – is drawn in the opening round to ride “Hot Dots”, which has an average buck-off time of five seconds.
“I’ve been on him twice and he has bucked me off a second before the qualifying time (eight seconds), so I’m looking forward to, hopefully, getting a bit of revenge on him,” Markham said.
As well as Hot Dots, Saturday night’s show will also feature bulls such as “Freight Train”, “Dark Destroyer”, “Buck Howdy”, “Homicidal 2” and “Train Wreck”.
Plus, one of the baddest on the circuit – the 2016 PBR Bucking Bull of the Year, Hillbilly Deluxe, for the championship round.
“It’s a huge adrenaline rush riding a bull. We had some of the guys from Nitro Circus a few years ago get on a bull and have a go and said it was the biggest adrenaline rushes they’ve had,” Markham said.
“For those guys who do mad stuff every day to say bull riding is the most adrenaline they’ve had says a fair bit about it.
“You’ve got a 1000 kilogram animal under you and when you ride that bull properly there’s no better feeling. It’s an addictive sport, but there is also the fear side of things.
“With how long I’ve been riding for now, I’ve worked through a lot of the fear barrier, but it’s a sport where you need to have a fair bit of ticker because it does come with quite a few injuries.
“If you can’t work your way through injuries and get back on that bull then you’re not going to go far in the sport.”
Markham suffered his worst injury last year in Rockhampton when a 950 kilogram bull stood on his stomach.
“I split my liver in five places, bruised my pancreas and broke two ribs,” Markham said.
“That probably sounds like serious injuries, but for bull riding it’s not… six weeks later I was back competing again.”
Saturday night’s Bendigo Invitational starts at 7pm and will be held in a world-first, purpose-built 3500 capacity mobile stadium that has been in development since 2010 and features a custom-built mega screen.
Tickets are on sale at www.pbraustralia.com.au
PBR Australia Bendigo Invitational competitors:
Ky Hamilton
Round 1 bull –
Sporty Spice
……………………………
Ethan Watts
Night Hawk
……………………………
Daniel Rogan
Sweetpro’s Chrome
……………………………
Matthew Bee
Dippin Dots
……………………………
Sonny Schafferius
Bee Sting
……………………………
Wayne Crisp
Smash & Grab
……………………………
Sam Champ
Hipster
……………………………
Kyle Maskiell
Coffee Time
……………………………
Lane Mellers
Reverend Mr Black
Cash
……………………………
Lachlan Slade
Train Wreck
Stir Crazy
……………………………
Fraser Babbington
Bad Apple
Caught Fire
……………………………
Michael Smith
White Ice
……………………………
Aaron Kleier
Speed to Burn
Alco Pop
……………………………
Beau Willis
Down Under
……………………………
Jacob Linwood
Silverback
……………………………
Justin Paton
Buck
……………………………
Cliff Richardson
Twisted X
Outlaw
……………………………
Will Watson
Buck Howdy
……………………………
Budd Williamson
Wallaby Bob
……………………………
CJ Foxlee
Claybo
……………………………
Cody Heffernan
Homicidal 2
Triple Shot Of Jack
……………………………
Jason Mara
Terrible Tom
……………………………
Ryan Storey
Ransom 2
……………………………
Bailey Woodard
Dark Destoyer
……………………………
Rohan Markham
Hot Dots
……………………………
Sam Woodall
Uncle Si
……………………………
Roy Dunn
Street Wise
……………………………
Sam Payne
Rooster
……………………………
Malcolm Woodard
Freight Train
