The 21-year-old returns to Julia Creek for the Professional Bull Riders event at the Dirt n Dust Festival, fresh from honing his skills with one of the best in the bull riding business. 

Bridges has been working with three-time Australian and last year’s Julia Creek Champion, Dave Kennedy, in New South Wales.

Bridges says he can’t thank Kennedy enough for the opportunity to refine his skills around one of the sport’s leading riders.

Much of the focus has been around Bridges staying positive on a bull.

And it’s something he knows needs work, especially after having a nasty injury about eight months ago.

A bull jumped on his stomach in practice, injuring his spleen, pancreas and collapsing a lung.

The return to Julia Creek is Bridges’ second event back from the accident.

“Hopefully I can get a win in front of my family,” Bridges said.

His mother, father, sister, grandma and a number of cousins live in Julia Creek and will be front and centre to watch Bridges compete.

He has drawn Pathfinder, a bull Bridges is confident he can rack up a big number on once the chutes open.