Westbrook bred bucking bull Soulja Boy has made history being the first bucking bull to take out three competition divisions in three consecutive years in Australia, an accomplishment never achieved before in Australia.
Bucking Bulls Australia named the four-year-old as the Derby Champion at the 2024 presentation in Blaney on May 10. In 2023 he took out the futurity age division and the year before the yearling.
Soulja Boy is the first bull in Bucking Bulls Australia history to not only take out the three competitive titles but to do so consecutively.
To his owner and breeder, Brad Heffernan from Heffernan Bucking Bulls, he is just a good bull. Calm in the chutes and the yards, easy to manage at home and fed by hand by Brad’s kids but wary of those he doesn’t know well.
The journey to the title could never have happened without the backing of those who love the sport.
Brad’s 10-year-old son, Sonny, is a strong competitor in his bull riding age division. Sonny is currently leading the PBR title in under 10s. Between full-time shift work and the need to be at one bull riding competition with Sonny and another with Soulja Boy, the love of the sport shone through with others putting their hand up to ensure Soulja Boy received the accolade he deserved.
Fellow bucking bull breeders, Jared and Hayley Farley from K3F Bucking Bulls knew Brad’s challenge to be in two places at once would be impossible but also recognised Soulja Boy’s enormous talent.
They offered to collect Soulja Boy to transport him, alongside their own competitive bulls, to compete at rodeos when Brad was unable to.
“Without them Soulja Boy would never have been able to achieve what he has,” Brad told The Hunter River Times.
“In all honesty, my bull was competing against theirs but they still put their hand up knowing Soulja deserved the opportunity and I am so grateful,” Brad said.
Jim Eastley from Jerrys Plains also helped in 2023.
Brad began his bucking bull breeding program in 2016 deciding it was a path his family wanted to take. From the moment Soulja Boy first competed many could see his potential.
He is calm when he needs to be but has the competitive spirit when competing. He is a wonderful role model to the other young bulls and seems to have a calming spirit over them when they are waiting in the yards prior to competition.
It is no easy sport to be involved in. Over the past 11 months Soulja Boy has competed at 17 rodeos throughout New South Wales and when the season kicks off again in July, there will be plenty of eyes on our home grown Soulja Boy.
To date, Soulja Boy remains an unridden bull, he has bucked every rider off and no one has had a qualified time on him yet.
Congratulations and special acknowledgement to all motivated to see the sport experience success for not only riders, but the animals who help make it happen.
-DI SNEDDON
