Old School Rodeo brings new challenges

CHURCH ROCK, N.M.

With his body squared up to the rawhide, 8-year-old Darium Peshlakai looked like a pro in the Hyde Race on Sunday afternoon.

But after nearing the finish line he had to hold on for dear life to beat out three other competitors on the final day of the 95th annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Ceremonial.

Peshlakai won the Hyde race with a time of 15.22 seconds, beating out Matt Davis of Pinehaven during the Open All Indian Rodeo and Old School Days at Red Rock Park.

“I kind of got chills when my cheii (Dave Peshlakai) was going to turn,” said Peshlakai as they rounded the barrel at the other end of the arena.

At that point, the younger Peshlakai almost lost his grip and on the final leg back his feet were dragging.

“It was a lot of fun but I almost fell off,” said the young cowboy from Naschitti.

The Peshlakai clan made Sunday’s event a family affair with Darium’s father, Alonzo Begay, taking part in the buffalo riding event.

His father, however, lasted only 2.88 seconds on his draw.

Gallup cowboy Genaro Mariano was the overall winner as he rode his buffalo for 26.09 seconds before his animal experienced some fatigue.

“I was planning to stay on it a little longer but he got tired,” Mariano said.

An avid bull rider, Mariano said he was intrigued when the Ceremonial decided to bring back buffalo riding as part of their old school rodeo.

“My nalí said he rode a buffalo back in the day so I thought this was a perfect time to try it,” he said.

Mariano said buffalos buck somewhat but they mostly run while bulls are notorious for their high leaps and spins.

“It’s pretty much the same but without the kicks and the turnarounds,” he said when asked to compare the experiences of riding both animals.

The Old School Rodeo also had a Pony Express race and a wild horse race as part of the themed event.

The team of Marshall Allen, Travis Allen and Clay O’Brien Gibson won both rounds of the wild horse race on Sunday.

In the opening round they had a much easier time getting their wild bronc around the barrel. Though in the second round, they had their work cut out as they barely edged the Ak-Chin team based out of southern Arizona.

“It looked like Ak-Chin was going to win the round and I got real nervous,” Marshall said.

The longtime participant said he was proud with how the Ak-Chin finished since they took part in a one-day wild horse clinic in mid-June provided by Allen, Randy Stewart and Josh Lair.
“It’s good to see those guys out there,” Marshall said.

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