Stepping up Australia's Jones survives cut, might make World Cup

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (March 9, 2010) - Fans have always loved his celebratory dances, but Ben Jones hasn't always had much worth celebrating. Most of his professional career has been marred by issues that have nothing to do with bull riding.
 
After competing in three events in the PBR’s top level in 1998, he returned home to Australia. Visa issues kept him from returning stateside for the next decade.

And, of course, he’s also been a self-identified wild man.
 
“I think I took it too easy,” he said, “and when it come down to this weekend [in Kansas City] and getting cut, it was time to show the world what I can do.”
 
He covered three of four bulls at the Built Ford Tough Invitational, including two for 90 points on Sunday afternoon, and finished the event in third place.
 
If there was ever a time he needed a big weekend, that was it.  
 
Jones came into the event ranked 33rd in the world standings. He needed to be in the Top 30 by Sunday night to avoid being cut.
 
“It’s been my best day on the Built Ford Tough since I’ve been on there,” said Jones in the moments after his second 90-point effort. “I just can’t say any more.
 
“If I got cut, I was pretty much going to have to go home to Australia, and I wasn’t about to let that happen.”
 
In the opening round, Jones bucked off Ricochet before covering Brass Cat in Round 2. On Sunday, he qualified for the short go with his first 90-point ride when he made the whistle on RFD-TV.
 
During the draft for the championship round, he had his eye on Big Tex, but on the advice of Ednei Caminhas, selected Kabookie. His second 90-pointer put him in the lead until Jordan Hupp, then Austin Meier took the top spot.
 
Jones credited Caminhas for his success.
 
“I can’t lie, I’ve always lived a wild life and been sort of a wild man,” Jones said, “but it’s time to change my ways, and Ednei is trying to bring me back around to see the joy of life.
 
“There’s a lot more to life than just going to the bars and everything like that, so Ednei has really taken me under his wing. He’s taken me home at night, and we’re getting up in the morning – like this morning we went to church – and I just can’t thank him enough.”
 
Prior to this weekend, Jones had only covered seven bulls all season, and his riding average was below 33 percent. He’s now he’s raised that average to 38.5 percent, and he’s ranked 23rd in the standings.
 
His resurgence couldn’t come at a better time.
 
This past weekend, Team Australia captain Troy Dunn named Pete and Jared Farley as the first two members of his 2010 World Cup team. The remaining members are expected to named this coming weekend, during the Versus broadcast of the Glendale Invitational.
 
“Troy rang me through the week and asked me how I was riding,” Jones recalled. “I had to be truthful, and I said, ‘Not that good, Troy.’ He said it was time to step up to the plate. I said, ‘I know you’ve got it in you, so it’s time to step up and do it.’
 
“I was lucky enough to grow up with Troy, and I’ve had Troy’s guidance for the last 10 years, and Troy just knows the right things to say to switch me on at the right time.”
 
—by Keith Ryan Cartwright

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