Holyan, Yazzie emerge as Ceremonial all-around winners

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Aug 15, 2024 | Rodeo |

CHURCH ROCK, N.M. – Rooster Yazzie and Faith Holyan prevailed as the men’s and women’s all-around champions, respectively, following Sunday’s short round performance at the 102nd Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial Rodeo at Red Rock Park.

Yazzie finished the all-around race accumulating 49 points as contestants vying for the coveted title had to enter in both the standard and Old School events.

Holyan secured the women’s all-around title with 31 points, which included a first-place win in the barrel racing. She also earned a top 10 finish in the Pony Express Race.

Special to the Times | Lee Begaye
Coyote Canyon, N.M., cowboy Rooster Yazzie throws his lasso in the tie-down roping event during Sunday’s short round performance at the 102nd Annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial Rodeo at Red Rock Park. Yazzie claimed the men’s all-around title by accruing 49 points.

“I knew I had a chance to win the all-around, but to have that chance I had to enter an old school event,” Holyan said.

Initially, the Coyote Canyon, New Mexico, cowgirl was supposed to run the Pony Express Race with Cody Jesus, her fiancé, but his flight from New York was delayed on Sunday.

With Jesus stuck in New York, Holyan competed the Pony Express Race with Jon Arviso.

“I think we did OK,” Holyan said. “I was kind of afraid that I was going to fall off because it was a long way back.”

In her signature event, Holyan earned a clean sweep aboard her five year-old horse, Happy. The pair won the long-go round with an 18.523 run.

They posted the rodeo’s fastest run of 18.126 in Sunday’s short round en route to the average crown. Her two-run aggregate totaled 36.649, which bettered the runs turned in by Carli Jones (37.388), Raynell Holgate (37.576) and Brandi Sanchez (37.821).

“This means a lot,” Holyan said of winning her first Ceremonial barrel racing and all-around crowns. “I have to thank God for helping me find this horse. We’re still getting used to each other, so we’re kind of hit or miss sometimes but he was really excited to be here at Ceremonial.”

As the high-call back, Holyan was the first barrel racer to attempt her run on Sunday, taking advantage of the packed grounds.

“That was a bonus,” Holyan said. “I think that’s an advantage because the grounds wasn’t too deep for him.”

Yazzie made it back into Sunday’s short round in the bull doggin’ and tie-down roping events after having so-so results the previous day.

The Coyote Canyon cowboy posted second-place runs of 6.00 and 16.20, respectively, in the bull doggin’ and tie-down roping on Sunday afternoon.

Those runs helped him to a third-place finish in the aggregate race in the tie-down (41.26) and a fourth-place effort in the bull doggin’ (19.10).

“It was a long day, and I just did the best I could,” Yazzie said. “I think I could have done better, but I kept hustling and it worked out.”

For his old school event, Yazzie competed with Kesley Phillips and cousin Hiyo Yazzie in the Wild Cow Milking event under the team name Triple C.

The trio placed second behind event winner Grasshopper Ranch.

“The only Old School event I got into was the Wild Cow Milking, so I didn’t think I would have a shot,” Yazzie said of winning the men’s all-around. “I just tried to do my job in my other events, and I guess it worked out.”