(Times photo - Donovan Quintero)
A steer rider has a close look at the animal as he falls Saturday during the kids' rodeo at Red Rock State Park in Church Rock, N.M. |
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The final four showdown was the highlight of the 60th Annual Lions Club Rodeo this past weekend.
The top four finishers in saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding competed on Saturday night.
The winner in the saddle bronc and bareback would receive $1,500. In the bull riding, the winner had a chance to win $4,500.
Bull riders Raynell Harvey of Tsaile, Ariz., Jason Young of Kayenta, Ariz., Kevin Salazar of Montezuma Creek, Utah, and Hershel John of Rough Rock, Ariz. all had their chance.
But all four couldn't hang on for the mandatory eight seconds. It was the fourth year in a row that there won't be a winner in the event. Next year's jackpot will be $6,000.
Raynell Harvey qualified for the final four on Saturday with a near perfect ride when he edged out his brother, Tyrell Harvey, for the final spot into the final four. Raynell scored an 86 to Tyrell's 83.
"I feel pretty good right now. I really needed this win," Raynell Harvey said. "I was struggling for about a couple of weeks now. I want to get back up there, up to where I want to be. It's the first time on that bull, Gun Slinger."
In the bareback showdown, Nelson Tsosie of Farmington won with an 82 score. Tsosie outlasted Stetson Herrera of Marvel, Colo., Forrie Smith of Capitan, N.M., and Dalon Husley of Luna, N.M.
"It feels good. This is what I've been waiting for and it paid off," Tsosie said. "This is what it's all about. Everyone expects to win and I'm one of those favorites to win. It feels great."
Besides the $1,500 final four showdown win, Tsosie also earned an extra $826 after winning the bareback event with 78 points on Friday night. Herrera was second with a 75-point ride on Thursday night and took home $620. Forrie Smith was third with a 72 score and took $413.
In the saddle bronc, Kevin Cox of Tome, N.M., won the $1,500 showdown prize with the best score. But in the final standings, Cox f.
In the final standings in saddle bronc, Darrel Triplett won the event with a 72 and won $785. Sisto Hernandez of White River, Ariz., and Herman George of Keams Canyon, Ariz., tied for second, each winning $582.
April Willie of Standing Rock, N.M., won the breakaway roping with a time of 3.12 seconds, earning $1,139. In the barrel racing, Twilla Jones of Twin Lakes, N.M., finished fourth with a time of 4.26, winning $550.
In the steer wrestling, Tohatchi cowboy Kyle Dennison won with a 5.31-second time, enough to edge out Brimhall, N.M., cowboy Donovan Yazzie who had a 5.51. Dennison's win earned $1,280 and Yazzie won $1,059.
Tyrone Tsosie of Crownpoint was third with a 5.71 and $838 and Tohatchi's Nate Bitsoie was fourth with a 6.07 and $618.
Julie Plummer won the barrel racing with a combined total time of 63.926 during the four days. She won $1,000. Kyle Elkins was runner up with a 64.399 and $828.
Sunny Storer finished third with a 64.808 and $655. Shana Headsting finished fourth with a 65.855 and $483.
Team ropers Eric Rogers and Vanoy Yazzie won $3,514 with a best time of 4.35. Second were Brandon and Tim Gonzales with a 5.12 and $2,863.
Travis and Tyler Whitlowe were third with a 5.28 and $2,342.
Rudy Piano, chairman of the Lions Club Rodeo, said the rodeo went great.
"On Saturday night, it was one of the largest crowds during the rodeo," he said. "They packed the whole parking lot. It was one of the largest crowds we had in a long time."






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