Beshbetoh saddle bronc rider seeking second consecutive Ceremonial crown
Special to the Times | Lee Begaye
Many Farms, Ariz., cowboy Ryan Nez Bitsui stays center on Thursday during Saturday afternoon's performance at the 102nd Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Rodeo. Bitsui scored a 62-point ride and made Sunday's short round.
CHURCH ROCK, N.M.
Creighton Curley is well aware of the opportunity he has in front of him.
The Beshbetoh, Arizona, saddle bronc rider is seeking his second consecutive title at the prestigious Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Rodeo in today’s short round performance at Red Rock Park.
“This rodeo is pretty awesome,” Curley said. “It’s been going on for 102 years, so it’s something happens every year, and it’s something you want to win.
“I hope that I can defend my title,” he added. “I think going back-to-back would be pretty awesome.”
On Thursday night, the 27 year-old cowboy took his first step in seeking that objective by covering his horse. He rode Grey Area, a horse from Key Ranch for a 66-point ride.
Special to the Times | Lee Begaye
Rooster Yazzie of Coyote Canyon, N.M., grimaces as he slides onto his steer on Saturday during the 102nd Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Rodeo. Yazzie posted a 13.10 run to make Sunday’s short round.
“I drew one Jacob McCabe’s new horses, and he was pretty good,” Curley said.
Curley was the lone cowboy to earn a qualified ride as the Ceremonial rodeo committee drew back nine other contestants to fill in today’s short round which starts at 11:30 a.m. with the wooly riding event.
The rest of the day will featured 16 other events from bull doggin’, bareback, calf roping, ladies breakaway, ladies barrel racing, open team roping and bull riding.
The major event winners will receive a buckle and a saddle.
The program on Sunday will also feature Old School events from men’s and women’s frybread pan throwing contests, ranch broncs, pony express race, hide race, wild cow milking and buffalo riding.
As an added attraction, the Ceremonial rodeo will have a wild horse race. The winners of the minor event and Old School Event champions will be awarded jackets.
“It’s the only rodeo that I ever go to that has those extra events,” Curley said of the Old School Rodeo. “It’s pretty awesome to watch. It’s good place to spend Sunday with family.”
In the bareback event, Clay Ramone leads the pack with a 71-point ride. Ramone posted a 71-point ride during Friday’s performance on Desert Hawk.
On Saturday, Ryan Nez Bitsui and Michael Peters joined Ramone in the short round with qualified rides.
Special to the Times | Lee Begaye
Crownpoint cowgirl Latasha Murphy completes her run in the breakaway event during Saturday’s 102nd Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Rodeo. Murphy roped her calf in 3.50 seconds to make Sunday’s short round performance.
Bitsui rode Thursday for 62 points while Peters took Skydancer for a 58-point spin.
“I got my horse covered, so I get to come back for short go,” Bitsui said. “He came out pretty good. He was pretty stout and he was pretty heavy in the front.”
The other leaders in today’s short round include Cameron Haumen (5.01, bull doggin’), Kadin Jodie (2.28, breakaway), Noah Haven (13.38, tie-down), Faith Holyan (18.523, barrel racing), Caleb Begay/Lambert Yazzie (5.42, open team roping) and X-Man Antez and Luke Mackey (79 points, bull riding).
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