TC cowboy wins bull riding with 80 points
By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times
C0RNFIELDS, Ariz., May 24, 2012
A s a first-time entrant at the 9th Annual Eagle Ridge Rodeo, Justin Granger had to wait a full day before getting paid.
The Tuba City bull rider set the bar in his event with an 80-point ride aboard High Rollers in the slack performance of this AIRCA-sponsored event Saturday morning.
And after watching 20 other bull riders take their plunge in the afternoon performance, Granger waited patiently behind the bucking chutes as none of the other riders matched his score.
"I guess it was well worth the wait," Granger said, who was paid $515 for his efforts. "For my first time being out here it was a good turnout."
Admittedly, Granger thought that second-place finisher Hernald John would have beaten his score as the Lukachukai cowboy counteracted every move his bull - Got Money - dished out.
"I thought he should have won it," Granger said of John, who ended up with a 78-point score.
John was paid $386 while all-around cowboy Kyle Charley and Arviso James both were handed $193 for their 75-point rides.
In the junior bulls, Semis Vicenti collected $161 and received all the ground money since he was the only rider to complete the eight-second ride.
The saddle-bronc title went Kane Kee as he produced the top score of 69 points on the horse they call Show Time.
Robert Burbank netted $215 and finished behind Kee with a 67-point ride ahead of Jamore Maryboy, who collected $144 on his 63-point effort.
In the bareback, Earl Tsosie nabbed top honors with a 68-point ride despite being nailed to the ground during his ride.
"The horse just fell with me, but I just stayed on him," said Tsosie, who collected $183 on his draw, Carlos.
All-around champion Kyle Charley picked up the second-place prize of $122 in the bareback with his 58-point ride.
In the barrel racing, Raynell Holgate covered the cloverleaf pattern in 16.02 seconds and finished ahead of the pack. The 2010 Page High graduate won $431 while Paige Dale netted $287 on her 17.25 run.
In the junior barrels, Dale added another $96 to her loot as she placed third behind event winner Cortney Jensen (16.91) and Nizhoni McCray (17.47). Jensen left the Cornfields rodeo with $240 while McCray collected $144.
In the breakaway roping, Mesalands Community College freshman Bailey Bates fished her way to a first-place finish with a 3.7 time and walked away with $462. Renee Tolino finished a close second with a 3.9 run and cleared $308.
The senior breakaway title was decided between the final four ropers as Victor Begay eked out the win with a 2.2 run. The Seba Dalkai cowboy took home $198 ahead of his peers Ickes Benally (2.3) and Larson Largo (2.8). Benally pocketed $119 while Largo won $79.
In the team roping, Marco Sells and Lucius Sells split the top prize of $1,080 for their 6.7 run. In second place, DeWayne Sells and Kevin Yazzie each took home $324 as they stretched their steer in 7.9 seconds. Marco Sells and Kevin Yazzie rounded out the money winners with an 8.9 run. Both ropers collected $216 each.
Gerald Hobbs and Delbert Smith shared the top prize of $924 as they won the incentive team roping with a time of 8.4 seconds. Their run was nearly two seconds ahead of the team-roping combo of Brent Jodie and Avery Jodie as the latter two produced a 10.2 run and split the second place prize of $616.
In the steer wrestling, Kyle Smith ($360) won the event with a 5.7 run and barely beat out Brandon Bates, who turned in a 5.8. Bates was paid out $246.
Marvin Tolth of Farmington picked up the tie-down title with a winning time of 10.5 seconds and picked up a $411 paycheck.
"I don't know these calves so it was hard to score," Tolth said. "I just had to make sure that I didn't break out of the roping box."
Roessel Jackson ($247) came in next with a 12.0 run followed by Tyler Donald, who was paid $164 on his 13.4 run.