Lion's Club Rodeo
Jones captures $9,000 bull-riding jackpot
By Quentin Jodie
Navajo Times
CHURCH ROCK, N.M., June 23, 2011
(Times photo - Leigh T. Jimmie)
Spud Jones wins the Final Four Ride-off and the $9,000 prize last Saturday at the Lions Club Rodeo at Red Rock Park in Church Rock, N.M. Jones scored an 86 on his final ride.
That was the response Spud Jones made after winning the Final Four Ride-off at the 63rd annual Lions Club Rodeo on Saturday night.
"I just had to get into the final round and for me it was just riding bulls and having fun," Jones said.
That attitude paid dividends for the Tohatchi, N.M., bull rider as he ended a long hiatus of riders that failed to make the required eight-second ride in the showdown for the last five years.
Because of that, this year's payoff was worth a hefty $9,000.
"I have never rode here before," Jones said, adding he had only competed in the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association events. "I've always been rodeo-ing out in the PRCA, but I heard that it was for nine grand, so I had to come this way."
Before coming to Red Rock State Park, Jones said he hit two pro rodeos in Utah with some success, but it couldn't top what he did on Saturday night.
"I drove all Friday night to get here and I knew the bulls would be bucking," he said. "I knew it would be good so everything just worked out, just the way I planned it."
After suffering a tear in his ACL two years ago, Jones said he's been working his way up to his former self. But in assessing his win on Saturday night, he said it should help change his outlook for the rest of the season.
"I going really hard now and my knee is fine," he said. "It's feels good to be healthy and this helps my confidence."
Jones was the last of three qualifiers to make the showdown as he scored a 78-point ride on Point Break during Saturday's regular performance. But in the showdown, the 22-year-old set his bar higher and came up with an 86-point ride on the bull they call Two-Face.
That score was two points better than Tuba City cowboy rider Lane Granger, who rode Top Rail to a crowd pleasing 84-point ride.
"I did what I could," Granger said. "I didn't think I was going to ride him because he was just so big. But I thought I gave it a good ride and that's all I could ask for."
Although he didn't win the showdown, Granger didn't go home empty-handed as he placed second in the rodeo's main draw with an 81-point ride.
"I still got paid," said the 16-year-old prodigy who pocketed $1,804.
Thursday qualifier Andy Sells ended up as the top rider for the regular performance and pocketed $2,165. In the showdown, however, Sells was bucked off.
In other events, Rough Rock, Ariz., cowboy Benny Begay made it a clean sweep in the bareback event. After winning the rodeo with a 79-point ride, Begay came through in the showdown with flying colors to take home the $1,500 prize money.
"This is my third time winning the showdown," Begay said. "I always made a qualified ride, but in the past I didn't draw to good until this year."
All together, Begay hauled away $2,526 with $1,025 of it coming in the regular performance.
In the saddle bronc, Brandon Biebelle won the event with a 73-point effort and received a $914 paycheck. He earned an extra $3,000 by topping the field in the showdown.
Other top performers at this year's rodeo included April Willie, of Standing Rock, Ariz., who turned in a 2.21 run in the breakaway roping that paid her $1,472.
Her run on Saturday night displaced National High School Finals Rodeo qualifier Bailey Bates, who recorded a 2.37 run. Nonetheless, Bates took home $1,200.
Teri James ($1,426) blazed through the cloverleaf pattern in 15.594 seconds for the win in the open barrel racing. Alicia Sandoval ($1,129) came in a close second with a 15.618. Ruth Bitsui ($739) captured the incentive barrel racing with a 16.297, ahead of Sealee Walraven's ($535) time of 16.308 seconds.
Kyle Smith ($1,293) took top honors in the steer wrestling with a 5.5 run and held off Victor Martinez and Dean McIntyre for the win. The latter two were paid $957 each after turning in a pair of 6.4 runs.
In the calf roping, Roy Begay survived a competitive field with an 8.5 run that netted him $1,460. JoDan Mirabal ($1,189) was clocked in at a close 8.8 seconds. The incentive portion of the event went to Blaine Garley as he roped and tied his draw in 17.3 seconds for a $502 paycheck.
Aaron Tsiningine and Victor Begay won the open team roping as the pair netted $1,886 each after recording a 5.6 run on Friday night. Roderick Tso and Angelo Bennallie took home $1,536 each for their 5.9 run.
In the incentive, Logan and Quint Wescott were paid $1,159 each with their 7.4-attempt while Teri James and Clint James earned $763 by winning the mixed team roping.
In the rookie bull riding, Cody Johnson came away with a whopping $2,296 on his 68-point ride. Incidentally, he was the only rider to cover his bull.