ProRodeo Sports News - April 16, 2021

KISSIMMEE, FLA.

$91,808 The amount of money the Texas Circuit earned at the 2021 RAM NCFR to win the team title. They held off the Prairie Circuit by less than $300. The circuit that wins the team competition gets a $500 bonus for each ath- lete from that circuit com- peting at the finals. TEAM STANDINGS 1. Texas .................... $91,809 2. Prairie ................... 91,514 3. Wilderness ........... 70,191 4. Columbia River ... 65,341 5. Southeastern ...... 61,401 6. Montana ............. 49,296 7. Turquoise ............. 43,475 8. Great Lakes ........ 38,431 9. Badlands ............. 31,634 10. Mt.n States ....... 28,357 11. California .............. 9,796 12. Maple Leaf ........... 7,632 STOCK OF RAM NCFR Bareback: Big Rafter Ro- deo’s Resistol’s Wild Valley

Clay Guardipee photo Header Andrew Ward, right, and heeler Buddy Hawkins II took home nearly $20,000 apiece from the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo, April 10.

“This is the dream,” Hawkins said. “We so appreciate Kissimmee for having this kind of event like this and adding this kind of money for us. This is what it’s about. We get to do what we want every day because of events like this.” Hawkins and Ward were outside the top 40 in their respective events. That’s not the case anymore. They each rocketed to fourth in the PRCA | RAMWorld Standings in their respective events with $23,962. “All week we have just been trying to catch as fast as we could in the easiest way we know how,” Ward said. “The last one was harder yet because there’s more pressure on you maybe, but we are SADDLE BRONC RIDING 1. Jake Finlay.............................. 88 pts. 2. Spencer Wright. ............................ 86 No other qualified rides

great at finishing and believing in ourselves.” Ward and Hawkins were second in the first round with a 5.2-second run, sixth in the second round in 5.1 seconds and third in the two-head average. They won the semifinals in 5.6 seconds and clinched the title in the finals. Their final two runs earned them $12,316 each. RAMNCFR glory is nothing new for Ward or Hawkins, but this is the first time they were victorious together. Ward and his brother, Reagan, split the 2018 RAMNCFR title with Logan Olson and Matt Kastner. DrewHorner and Hawkins captured the RAMNCFR crown in 2015, and Jesse Stipes and Hawkins took home top honors in 2017.

Saddle bronc: Hi Lo Pro Rodeo’s Toma Jo

Bull riding: Big Rafter Ro- deo’s Line Drive

Complete results/Page 46

TIE-DOWN ROPING 1. Hunter Herrin......................... 7.8 sec. 2. Trey Young. .................................. 7.9 (Tie) Kincade Henry...................... 7.9

BULL RIDING 1. Parker Breding..................... 86.5 pts. No other qualified rides

ProRodeo Sports News 4/16/2021

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