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Show r B1 Wednesday, August 1, 2007 Q-Mk-S(s O-Mok-See, patterned after the traditional Blackfoot Indian riding big dance, is an adrenaline-loaded horse competition. Last week, the National Saddle Clubs Association O-Mok-See was hosted by Vernal's Western Park and, if you missed any of the competition, here are some of the highlights. Roughly, 230 competitors from across the country came to Vernal to race either individually or in relay teams around barrels, kegs, and poles. Others flew over over jumps, exchanged mounts in saddle events, raced bareback bare-back in "rock-n-roll contests," performed speed rescues, and dragged each other on the devil's own cowhide. In between, participants found time to reconnect with 0-Mok-See family-members, dive into an ice cream social, dance to live music, have an awards dinner, and crown royalty in this seven-day event. Contestants from Idaho, Kansas, Kan-sas, Minnesota, Montana, Texas, Washington, and, of course Utah, vied for championship winnings like saddles, high points, ribbons and crowns. Competition is not the only thing that makes an O-Mok-See its central message is family, a unit of kinship and friendship. Some families raced tiree generations of participants, par-ticipants, ranging in age from younger than 8 to older than 70 years. Others, like newlyweds on the scene at Western Park, raced together for the first time. Some come for the family reunion; others, to spend time with their extended family. "We love the O-Mok-See and its family orientation," said Sharolyn Davis, NSCA public relations director and participant at five years. Sharolyn Sharo-lyn traveled from Boise, Idaho, with her daughter Brittany, 13, who was riding Sunny, her late grandmother's O-Mok-See horse. "The competition is a family-tradition." "We have been coming to O- Mok-See: " Sfifl ffltfffijftP'fo fnr 22 years," says Sandi Petersen, NSCA historian from Bently, Kan. "It's one big extended family," fam-ily," which the Petersens have contributed to with three kids, four horses, and two adults in competition. "My daughter was 5 weeks old at her first O-Mok-See and ajunior princess at 5years," says Petersen. This year's junior princess, Darin Holmes, smiles broadly. A Vernal resident and member of Rising Star Rides, Holmes, age 9, explained, "I raised over $2,000 in donations locally," for the NSCA Royalty Contest and NSCA scholarship Program. Crowned NSCA's 2007 Junior Princess, Holmes' award is well deserved. rieuv-m-umn. nniKa a ana Pretty-in-pink, Mikaila and Boi fun Rnn' . rplehrato hirthHaw BOOmer CeieDrate Dirtnaay It's not all speed and jumps. Sometimes, you've just got to take a S5 HomfttrnhbtoM J) ''TVi' ' ifr' r ' J m 3 V. 4 t 8 "I'm looking to place winners in three generations of family competitors," said Bob Neilson, from Gouerde Alene, Idaho. "We come here for the competition and for the comradery." Bob's granddaughter Mikaila from Missoula, Mont., found her pony Boomer painted and bedecked with pink ribbons for her eighth birthday. Boyd and Janette Pepper, Arlington, Wa., residents, have been competing for the last five years. At 75, Boyd is the oldest O-Mok-See contestant. He is riding Bodie, a 9-year-old gelding, but his wife had "to borrow a horse to run a heat as her horse came up lame." v . Their daughter Vicki Mcln-nally Mcln-nally from Idaho arrived with the Pepper's two granddaughters, who also raced. "This is our time to be together," saidMcInnally of the children and grandparents. . "This is our passion," said Walt and Laurie Werner, of Whidbey Island, Wa.Heisahorse shoer and she is a horse trainer from the northwest coast. They have been coming to the O-Mok-See for eight years and at 70, Walt says his "goal is to win a saddle at 80." The tradition passes on as newlyweds Stacey and Mitch Hymas from Nampa, Idaho, join the competition. Stacey rides Lexie, a 5-year-old mare, while Mitch handles Hank, a 9-year-old gelding, which, he said, "I did not name." Riders are all young, either in years or in heart, but the average horse is not. Kid-horses like Darin's horse Joey is 13 or Mikaila's horse Boomer is 26, and many of the older riders prefer older horses. Mike Owens Ow-ens of Kuna, Idaho, explains it this way, "The horse needs to be right-minded. Take Striker, my 13-year-old gelding, he's consistent and strong enough to run in 16 events." Makes sense as Owen's and Striker have won three saddles in the past three years at O-Mok-See.. . On the Jcal. iTnt,rJ3erin: Holmes, Jackson Woodward, and Amberlee Patridge, all of Vernal, placed in the competition. Holmes won the Junior NSCAA Princess crown, and placed fifth overall in her division, competing in 15 events. Woodward earned enough points to place ninth in his division with Kaia Bowden right behind him in tenth. Partridge Par-tridge did well in her events and was chosen as the 2007 National Miss Congeniality for NSCA. ouyu rejijwi, o-yeais-oiu, snows the barrei in the two-harrel flan raw d i n -rr u " - - ..v to graD tne nag pole. iZZTZTTTT '- ! - I : : : : : 1 i in ii n . 1 pftesQ'ions I"- "J"' ' j IM r:- ,.r, - - jr fxrvy ' llcj B mZSZ V3 3f O d f-' Daren Jones and Chris O'Neill, cowhide. Their winning run was If' vs. H f' i in i n 0 Atop a long-legged steed, a youngster races over a jump. t. . ,. em now u is oone. Rounaing Penner ftdnos RnHie Hnacr vwv vprprw whvw wwiw w WW w break and meet the locals. Familie.Q find WW Wi Wm & sport of horse racing b both from Idaho, make a near record breaking run on the devil's 11.5 seconds mere hundredths off the record set in 1997. 4 4 5C M . .tvrf. CA Darin Homes reaches for the flag Oft ner tall norse Joey. It t hr mc k. ik IUUIV I Id U II 11 ICS. UU1 Slin still placed. A I fun in cry a k O Darin Holmes, of Vernal, is crowned as the 2007 Jr. Princess Prin-cess of the NSCA O-Mok-See. K wl" ".f ' I 23t3l r - m I ' Jackson Woodward competes cleanly. K. 5 1 rt. uf - Vi 1 If A Cil fcca cancer alone. Cc3 COO-ACS-2345 or log on to www.cancer.org 247 for information or to find free services available in the Uintah Basin. August The Utah Field House of Natural History is hosting the Range Creek Archaeological Exhibit through August. Please call the museum for more information, 435-789-3799, or stop by 496 East Main, Vernal. Kindergarten Readiness Workshop at the Uintah County Library every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Parents and children are asked to attend. Starts June 6 and runs all summer long. Contact the library, or Connie Cook at 790-7678. The Utah Field House is offering a series of "Wednesday Walks" on natural history, geology, botany and wildlife in the Uintas. Bring water and wear hiking shoes. Meet at the Field House at 8 a.m. to return by noon. For more information, call Mary Beth Smith,789-3799. Community Bible Study at the home of Dave Jolley every Monday evening at 7 p.m. For more information 789-2305. 15th Annual Quilt Show, Western Heritage Museum, at 302 E. 200 S., Vernal. Call 789-7399 for more information. August 1 : Vernal City Council Meeting, Vernal City Chamber, 447 E. Main.f Vernal at 7 p.m. Open to the public. ; August 2 'Alive After Five', at Cobble Rock Park, downtown' Vernal. Call Teena 790- 0098 for more information. August 3 to 4 USTRC Roping Dallying for Dinosaurs at Western Park, Vernal. Call 789-7396 ffwmonHnfofmation. - August 6 Uintah High School Volleyball Try Outs Monday August 6 and Tuesday August 7 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. August 6 to 24 Quitters on the Edge annual quilt show at Western Heritage Museum at Western Park in Vernal. Admission is free. Museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call Janna Peterson at 789-9484 789-9484 for information. August 8 American Legion will host a free workshop for veterans to help understand VAbenefits, including compensation, pension, hospitalization and education. Attendees do not need to be members of the American Legion to receive assistance. Workshop will be at the Roosevelt Department of Workforce Services, 140 W. 425 South, from 1 0:30 to 1 1 :30 a.m. and at the Vernal DWS office, 1050 W. Market Drive from 1 to 3 p.m. Attendees should bring DDform 214; marriage and divorce papers; birth, adoption and death certificates; and children's social security numbers. August 9 4-H Fashion Revue Rehearsal in the Western Park Indoor Arena in Vernal at 2 p.m. Call 789-7396 for more information. Talent Find Applications are due by 5 p.m. at USU Extension Office, State & County Building, August 11 Uintah County Fair 2007, at Western Park, Vernal. Open Horse Show, Miss Uintah County Paaeant. and XRQ's Crossfade Concert. Call 789-7396 for more information. |