Friday, March 29, 2024

Preparation and luck make all the difference at the Northern Navajo Fair Rodeo

Preparation and luck make all the difference at the Northern Navajo Fair Rodeo
Navajo Times | Paul Natonabah Rooster Yazzie of Coyote Canyon, N.M., took off after the speedy critter in the tie down event during the Northern Navajo Nation Fair championship rodeo on Sunday. The all-around champion posted a 19:29 run and finished fourth in the average race.

Navajo Times | Paul Natonabah
Rooster Yazzie of Coyote Canyon, N.M., took off after the speedy critter in the tie down event during the Northern Navajo Nation Fair championship rodeo on Sunday. The all-around champion posted a 19:29 run and finished fourth in the average race.

SHIPROCK

For all the work he put in during the 105th annual Northern Navajo Fair, Rooster Yazzie was rendered speechless.

The Coyote Canyon cowboy finished second in the average race in the steer wrestling (52.18) and fourth in the tie-down (34.87) event to claim this year’s men’s all-around title.

“I’m still learning,” the Tohatchi High School junior said when asked of his latest exploits.

Yazzie, who qualified for the National High School Finals Rodeo in late July, said he did not expect to be in contention in the all-around race since he broke out in the opening round of the steer wrestling event and he was long in the tie-down event.

But during Sunday’s short round he managed to stay in the hunt, as he placed high enough in both events. He finished third in the steer wrestling with a time of 27.66 and fourth in the tie-down event with a run of 19.29 seconds.

“I wanted to catch him and get him down,” Yazzie said of his draw in the steer wrestling that gave him fits when it fell on the opposite side.

As for the tie-down event, he picked a perfect time to get two draws tied as some of the short round competitors ran into trouble.

“I’m not as experienced as the other ropers so I just wanted to catch him and get him tied,” Yazzie said.

Of all the tie-down ropers that competed, it was Crownpoint cowboy Benson Charley who was the most consistent as he won the average race in 24.96 seconds, including a 12.99 run in Sunday’s short round.

“The calves were pretty much even so it was all about taking care of business,” Charley said. “It came down to the horse, groundwork, and draws.”


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About The Author

Quentin Jodie

Quentin Jodie is the Sports Editor for the Navajo Times. He started working for the Navajo Times in February 2010 and was promoted to the Sports Editor position at the end of summer in 2012. Previously, he wrote for the Gallup Independent. Reach him at qjodie@navajotimes.com

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