BY BRETT NIERENGARTEN @PRORODEOBRETT
After not getting to rodeo’s biggest stage until 29-years-old, Andrew Ward enters the 2023 NFR with four straight qualifications, including an NFR Average win in 2021 alongside partner Buddy Hawkins.
Roping with Hawkins once again, Ward is looking to continue a run that has seen him finish in the Top 7 with at least $160,000 the last three years.
He is the No. 10 header in the world entering Las Vegas this year.
BIGGEST PAYDAYS
Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, $26,200
Ward/Hawkins placed in Bracket 1, Round 1 and Bracket 1, Round 2 with a 5.7 and 6.1-second run respectively and only got better from there. The pair was 4.8 seconds to win the Second Semifinal before turning a 3.9-second run in the Finals to win the rodeo.
San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, $8,500
During the second stop of the Texas, Ward/Hawkins won the Third Round of Bracket 2 and the Semifinal 1 to advance to the Finals and earn $8,500 for the rodeo. Both their round-winning times were 3.9 seconds or faster.
FASTEST RUNS
Snake River Stampede (Idaho), 4.1 Seconds
All of Ward/Hawkins’ run faster than 4 flat this year came during the Texas Swing, they turned in a pair of 4.1s during the Summer Run, however. At the Snake River Stampede, 4.1 was good for seventh in the Second Round as the pair took home over $3,000 for also finishing fifth i the Average.
Durant Pro Rodeo (Oklahoma), 4.1 Seconds
On June 3, Ward/Hawkins won the Durant Pro Rodeo by just one tenth of a second to collect $1,600. They also won the Duncan Pro Rodeo in Oklahoma a month prior.
NOTABLE WINS
RAM Prairie Circuit Finals, 14.4 Seconds on Three
Back in October of 2022, Ward/Hawkins turned in three runs of 5.4 seconds or faster to win the Average by 1.3 seconds over Jake Clay/Billie Jack Saebens. The win earned them $7,358 toward the 2023 regular season.
Red Bluff Round-Up (California), 27.0 Seconds on Four
The Okie made the trip out to California worth it by placing in the last three rounds and winning the Finals with a 6 second flat run. Ward/Hawkins made about $8,500 for the rodeo and were victorious by 1.4 seconds in the Average.
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