Begay regains winning form at Ahoohai Days
By Manuel Jesus
Special to the Times
WINDOW ROCK, July 2, 2009
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(Times photo - Paul Natonabah)
TOP PHOTO: Coyote Canyon, N.M., roper Donovan Yazzie loops and ties the speedy critter in 7.6 seconds but he was accessed a 10-second penalty for breaking the barrier June 28 during the Ahoohai Days rodeo.
BOTTOM PHOTO: Justin Silversmith scores 58 points in the junior bull-riding event Sunday during the Ahoohai Days rodeo at Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena.
After weeks of biting the dust and nothing to show for it, Garrison Begay finally ended his winless drought with the all-around championship at the Ahoohai Days Rodeo at Dean C. Jackson Memorial Arena.
The all-around title was the first this year for Begay but, more importantly, it was his first win in three weeks.
On Sunday, Begay finished first in the steer-wrestling and tie-down roping events to claim the all-around title.
"It makes you feel good," Begay said, "because I know it pays well. It was just a matter of being consistent and it was just a matter of which rodeos you win."
Begay's last win was June 7 at the Beshbetoh rodeo when he placed second in steer wrestling.
"... I was just having a hard time winning," he said. "Like I said, anybody can win these events. It was just a matter of luck and today luck went my way. I'm just thankful for the Lord."
The week before Ahoohai Days, Begay was shutout of any winnings at the Lions Club Rodeo.
"I didn't get nothing," he said. "It's been three weeks that I didn't win anything. So I had to either just to do it or find another job."
Begay was skeptical about his chances at Ahoohai Days.
"I came in here feeling low and not feeling good," he said. "I thought I wasn't going to win, but things worked out great for me. Yeah, I was worried. But things got better, I guess. It's a great day to be alive."
Begay went against some of the toughest competitors with notable names such as Bates, Jodie and the Boyd.
"They are some of the best talents around here," he said. "The Bates, the Jodies, the Boyds and I guess many other names that you can name. I know the competition is tough, just as tough as the pro rodeo."
In the steer wrestling, Begay had Sheridan Jodie (4.7), Harold Mike (4.9) and Brandon Bates (5.0) ahead of him.
Begay turned in 4.4 seconds to earn $1,282.
In tie-down roping, Begay set the stage with an 8.6 time. Runner-up Tyler Whitlow was timed in 7.6 seconds and Begay won another $1,282.
"It's one of those days that it went my way," Begay said. "I know that this was a tough competition and if things go your way it's always better and but sometimes it's tough out there."
Begay knows that he needs to keep pace with the rest of the cowboys for the rest of the season.
"I'm just trying to hang in there," he said. "It's a tough business right now with the way the economy is. And if you can't win and not make any money, you fall behind. I look at it as more of a business than a hobby now."
Ahoohai Days Rodeo final results
At the Navajo Nation AIRCA Ahoohai Days Rodeo was held June 27-28, each event champion received a custom embroidered vest.
There were a total of 503 entries and a total payout of $43,901, according to an AIRCA press release.
The final results are as follows.
Steer Wrestling
1. Garrison Begay, 4.0, $1,282.
2. (tie) Jacob Antone and Trevor Duhon, 4.5, $950.
3. Sheridan Jodie, 4.7, $619.
4. Harold Mike, 4.9, $398.
5. Brandon Bates, 5.0, $221.
Tie Down Roping
1. Garrison Begay, 8.6, $1,141.
2. Tyler Whitlowe, 9.6, $944.
3. (tie) Lucius Sells and Ty Pablo, 9.8, $649.
4. (tie) Lance Boyd and Wayne Muskett, 10.0, $275.
Bareback
1. Larry Carter, 74, $447.
2. Wilfred Kaye, 72, $298.
Saddle Bronc
1. Herman George, 71, $938.
2. Jeb Loney, 68, $703.
3. Ace Long, 67, $469.
4. Leander Thomas, 61, $117.
5. Alonzo Yazzie, 61, $117.
Bull Riding
1. Raynell Harvey, 76, $1,033.
2. Ace Yoe, 74, $861.
3. Troy James, 71, $689.
4. (tie) Jaran Martin and Kyle Charley, 69, $430.
Ladies' Breakaway Roping
1. Angela Nay, 2.3, $1,158.
2. April Willie, 2.4, $959.
3. Kelsi Pablo, 2.5, $759.
4. Sammi Jo Boyd, 3.1, $559.
5. CJ Tallsalt, 3.4, $359.
6. Raquel Jones, 3.5, $200.
Ladies' Barrel Racing
1. Charmayne Gene, 17.432, $1,141.
2. Lake Mehalic, 17.473, $944.
3. Becky Mahoney, 17.492, $747.
4. Jeri C. Yazzie, 17.499, $551.
5. Charmayne Smith, 17.557, $354.
6. Sunny Storer, 17.575, $197.
Open Team Roping
1. John Boyd III/Preston Williams, 5.1, $2,210.
2. Todd Howell/Clay Parsons, 5.2, $1,830.
3. OJ Williams/Cody Hunter, 5.3, $1,448.
4. (tie) Chuck Sells/Lamuel Yazzie and Jake Barnes/Byron Wilkerson, 5.6, $876.
5. Marco Sells/Lucius Sells, 5.9, $382.
No. 9/No. 12 Team Roping
1. Lucius Sells/Clayton Slick, 5.6, $2,578.
2. Clifford Williams/Cordell Williams, 5.8, $2,166.
3. Daniel Robbins/Loren Kinlicheenie, 6.2, $1,752.
4. Gerard Gibson/Randy Thomas, 7.0, $1,444.
5. John Arviso/Walter Livingston, 7.5, $1,134.
6. (tie) Robert Largo/Aaron Begay and OJ Williams/Alvin Largo, 8.2, $618.
Senior Breakaway Roping
1. Karl Dennison, 2.3, $614.
2. John Boyd Jr., 2.8, $460.
3. Melvin Jackson, 2.9, $307.
4. Ickes Benallie, 3.1, $153.
Junior Barrel Racing
1. Deven Descheny, 17.317, $516.
2. Destinee Dale, 17.824, $387.
3. Jareth Hale, 18.028, $258.
4. Tia Begay, 18.053, $129.
Junior Bull Riding
1. Justin Silversmith, 58, $332.
Information: www.aircarodeo.com.
