2025 INFR: Diné contestants capture first round wins

By Truman Begaye
Special to the Times

LAS VEGAS, Nev.

Round 1 of the Indian National Finals Rodeo is in the books, and several Diné contestants made their mark on the opening day inside the South Point Arena and Equestrian Center.

Chinle cowgirl Erin Jones put herself in position to win the women’s all-around crown as she won the first round in the ladies barrel racing. Jones added a seventh-place finish in the breakaway roping.

In the barrels, Jones posted a quick, clean run of 15.34 seconds on her trusted horse, Hailey.

“My barrel horse can be pretty feisty toward the first (barrel)” Jones said during the INFR Round 1 Buckle Ceremony. “I was glad that she didn’t go too long and once she turned, I just had to keep up with her and I’m glad that it worked out.”

In bareback riding, brothers Cauy and Evan Betony, both of Tonalea, Arizona, opened the event with back-to-back strong rides. Cauy took the top spot with 82 points while Evan took second with 81 points, giving the Betony family an early 1-2 finish.

Cauy won the round aboard High Road, a Muddy Creek Prorodeo product.

“I really didn’t think much about my draw today,” Cauy said. “I just knew it was from Muddy Creek and I just gave it all I got.”

In steer wrestling, Tydon Tsosie of Crownpoint leads the average race with a lightning-fast 4.12 seconds in the opening round, followed closely by Hiyo Yazzie of Brimhall, New Mexico in second with 4.39 seconds.

“Well, I had a good steer but I kind of got scared at the start because I didn’t see him hesitate,” Tsosie said. “But I think I heard Matt (Jodie) hollering at me and so I knew I was good.

“When I got down, he kind of checked up so I kind of messed up on the head catch but it worked out in the end,” he added.

The ladies breakaway roping featured a heavy Navajo presence atop the leaderboard. Kassidy Dennison of Tohatchi placed second with 2.62 seconds, followed by Kadin Jodie of Church Rock, New Mexico in fifth at 3.09 seconds, Bailey Bates of Tohatchi in sixth at 3.32, and Jones rounding out the top 7 with a 3.96-second run.

In saddle bronc riding, Creighton Curley of Ganado won first after posting an 85-point ride. Lorenzo Benally of Tsaile, Arizona finished tied for fifth with a 77-point effort.

Tie-down roping saw Gavaro Harrison of Chinle placing second with a 9.75 effort while Dean Holyan of Coyote Canyon, New Mexico clocked in at 10.0 seconds for third.

In team roping, Wyatt Gibson and Ty Vaile claimed the top spot with 5.16 seconds, followed by Dwight Sells and Chance Hunter in second at 5.39 seconds. Gunner Plenty and 17-time INFR qualifier Victor Begay took fourth with a 6.04-second run.

In bull riding, Chance Thomas of Window Rock was the lone qualified rider, scoring 76 points to win Round 1.

The second round of the INFR continues Wednesday with performances at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., as contestants look to position themselves for Saturday night’s championship round.

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