Chris Wilson: 2018 World Junior Bull Rider Champion

CHRIS Wilson today became the 2018 World Junior Bull Rider in the 14-16 year old division in Las Vegas.

In his first ride he scored 73 1/2, the second 76 and in the final ride today 83.

Watch video of the ride below…

Chris Wilton is the 2018 World Champion Junior Bull Rider.

Marie Wilson, Chris’ mum was excited to hear the news at home in Scone and said Chris was his typical understated self.

“He’s pretty relaxed and very casual about it, but you can see in the photos he’s pretty happy” said Marie.

“When asked what he’d do from here he said, ‘I’ll just ride every jump I jump,'” she said.

“We had goosebumps this morning when we heard,” she said.

“There is no pressure, whatever he chooses to do,” she said.

“He did get offered a scholarship in July, when he went over for the National High School finals and ended up ninth in the world in that and he’s had a lot of help from everywhere,” she said.

“He started out when his uncle gave him some spurs and some rope and said, ‘right it’s time to learn to ride calves’, which was my brother.”

“He’s had a lot of help from so many people, financial from his grandparents, his mates have been good towards him, sponsors, people who have trained him and the Doak family who organised for him and three other Australian boys to go over and compete at the Junior NFR,” Marie Wilson said.

At 16, Chris has also won four titles from the Australian Bushmen’s Campdraft and Rodeo Association and placed 9th in the world at the National High School finals in United States in July.

Brendan Kelly, also from Scone had two rides, but wasn’t lucky enough to get into the short ride in the 16-18 year old division.

Fellow team mates, Colby Edgar from Tamworth placed 9th in the 10-11 mini bull and Koby Usmar from Glen Innes placed 5th in the world for the 12-13 bull ride.

Jade Smith, president of the Scone Rodeo said the world title is a big feather in Chris’ cap and a great thing for Scone.

“It’ll open plenty of doors for him now, I would say someone would have already offered him a scholarship to go to college over there, if you’ve got talent, no matter what sport you are in doors will open and this is only the beginning really,” said Mr Smith.

“He’s certainly turned a few heads and opened a few eyes up that’s for sure,” he said.

“I’ve known him all my life and as a Rodeo Association we’ve also sponsored him to go overseas for the high school finals and he’s on our committee,” he said.

“He’s been doing it all of his life and stepped up to the bulls a couple of years ago,” he said.

“It’s born and bred in him, his uncle used to be pretty good and he’s just mad on it, it’s just all he wants to do,” he said.

“His mental side of it is as good as there is and that’s what you have to have,” Jade Smith said.

Watch more of the Australian team ride on the Doak Bucking Bulls Facebook page.

WATCH VIDEO OF CHRIS’ RIDE: