Northern Navajo Fair: Pablo, Nahkai rope all-around titles

Posted by Quentin Jodie | Oct 10, 2024 | Rodeo |

SHIPROCK – Malachi Pablo had to do a little “fishing” on Sunday afternoon.

The Bloomfield, New Mexico, cowboy didn’t quite get his calf roped in the tie-down event at the 111th Annual Northern Navajo Fair Open Rodeo in Shiprock. But a flip of the wrist helped solve that problem as the 26-year-old cowboy needed that run to stay in contention to win the men’s all-around race.

Special to the Times | Donovan Quintero
Sagebrush, N.M. cowgirl Lariat Nahkai poses with her buckle she won in the 111th annual Northern Navajo Fair and Rodeo in Shiprock on Sunday. Nahkai won the ladies breakaway and women’s all-around title.

“It’s awesome,” Pablo said of being named the men’s all-around champ. “It’s a great rodeo; great rodeo committee. It’s good to win big before the (INFR) finals.”

The women’s all-around title went to Lariat Nahkai as the Sagebrush, New Mexico, cowgirl also expressed her appreciation.

“It was a lot of fun,” Nahkai said. “Thank you Shiprock, thank you Kim Jim, and thank you for the 111th annual. It was definitely a good rodeo.”

With no qualified rides in the bareback and bull riding events, the rodeo committee awarded the men’s and women’s all-around champions a $1,000 bonus.

“It’s a big blessing because it’s been a rough year for me,” Pablo said. “It’s feels really good to win.”

Despite having a slight mishap in the tie-down event, Pablo completed his run in 11.78 seconds as he placed fourth overall.

“I had to do a little fishing deal to get my rope around the calf’s neck,” said Pablo, who collected $600. “Once I got him roped, I slowed down a little bit and I made sure I tied him right.”

Later that afternoon, Pablo turned in another fourth-place effort in the team roping event with heading partner Roy Begay of Twin Lakes, New Mexico. The duo stretched their draw in 6.36 seconds as the two cowboys were paid $994 each.

“You know, Roy went out there and scored,” Pablo said. “I just had to finish my end. We did the best we could because no one timed on that steer.”

Those two events helped Pablo to his first-ever men’s all-around title at the annual Northern Navajo Fair as he pocketed $1,594, which was $44 more than Church Rock, New Mexico, cowboy Matt Jodie.

Nahkai was also a first-time all-around champion as she collected $1,950 for winning the breakaway event and placing fifth in the barrel racing event.

Nahkai won the breakaway event with a smooth 2.88 run on the opening night of the Northern Navajo Fair on Friday night.

“I had to play it smart because the calves were fast,” Nahkai said. “I saw my calf go and I took my shot. I felt like I broke the barrier, so I turned around. I was clean and I was like, ‘That’s all I needed.”

The following day, the 18-year-old cowgirl posted an 18.239 run in the barrels despite running into some trouble with her run.

“I almost tipped the second (barrel),” Nahkai said. “It was going down, and so I had to reach down to push it back up with my fingers. That really saved me to win the all-around.”

Other winners include Matt Jodie (steer wrestling), Dennison Boone (tie-down), Riana James (barrels), Bill Dahozy/Lucius Sells (open team roping), Cory Baker/Roy Begay (No. 10 roping), Darryl Ben/DJ Ben (master’s team roping), Kameron Jodie (junior breakaway roping), Jeff Jim (master’s breakaway roping) and Tracker Jim (junior barrel racing).