RODEO

Indian National Finals Rodeo

INFR unveils first Hall of Fame class

By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Nov. 17, 2011

L Last year, Indian National Finals Rodeo officials saluted all past champions dating back to 1975 when the association began.

Tohatchi, N.M., cowgirl Kassidy Dennison was one of those contestants honored, having won three women's all-round titles.

At this year's final, Dennison was the outright winner since she was the only contestant to make it in two events - barrel racing and ladies breakaway.

But this year's final was marred by mishaps. Nonetheless it was guest announcer Joe Beaver who said it best.

"You know, she didn't have the best finals in the world, but being an all-around champion is earned," Beaver said at the presentation of the award. "It's never given to you because you have to work hard at it and I should know because I've won it a few times."

Despite her difficulties, Dennison was undeterred by the chain of events and was happy about defending her title.

"You know it's kind of funny," she said. "I wasn't as successful as I wanted to be, but it was the hardest one I've worked for. And I think this was well earned."

And by winning the all-around she was awarded a horse trailer, which was icing on the cake.

But to top things off, the Dennison clan witnessed the unveiling of the first class of the INFR Hall of Fame, which included Kassidy's late grandfather Dean C. Jackson.

Five other founding members were also inducted in the inaugural class, including Pete Fredericks, Fred Gladstone, Mel Sampson, Bob Arrington and Jay Harwood.

"That is really awesome and I was really happy that he got inducted," Dennison said of her grandfather. "He was great ambassador for Indian rodeo and it was his dream for it to be successful.

"Indian rodeo has made who I am and it makes me want to try hard," she added.

Besides Dennison, Rollie Wilson was also awarded a trailer for his efforts in the bareback and saddle-bronc events.

Wilson, from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, won the saddle-bronc event with a four-day average of 289 points.

But early on, he didn't feel like he was in contention as his scores weren't high enough.

And coming into the final round, he trailed Montana cowboy Jess Colliflower by 15 points.

"There were some boys doing a lot better than me," Wilson admitted. "They were drawing a lot better than I was, but some of them had bad mishaps."

But after Wilson completed his 87-point ride in the final round, Colliflower was bucked off.

"I thought he was going to win it," Wilson said of Colliflower. "I was just kind of hanging around getting some lower checks, but I had a real good final day and that paid off."

In the bareback event, Wilson placed fourth overall with 284 points. Benny Begay of Rock Point, Ariz., won the title.

And just like Begay, Donna Small came through with flying colors in the barrel racing.

"I am kind of old and this has been a long time coming," Small said of winning her first world title.

She did that with her horse Boogie as they toured the cloverleaf pattern in 16.49 seconds in Saturday night's final round.

That run ultimately pushed them ahead of Raynell Holgate, who finished second after leading for the first three rounds.

"I bought him when he was a three-year-old in 2005 and he's been awesome," Small said of her award-winning horse. "From the very beginning he loved to do barrel racing and he's been really consistent."

But late this summer, her horse got hurt and Small wondered if he would be able to make this year's finals.

"I was a little worried because I had to stay off him for two months," she said. "But since he's been back, he's been as stronger as ever."