State O-Mok-See slated Aug. 30-31

Smith Valley Saddle Club of Kalispell will host the 2008 Montana State O-Mok-See. It will be held at the Flathead Valley Fairgrounds in Kalispell over the Labor Day weekend, Aug. 30 and 31. Starting time is 8 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

O-Mok-See is the Indian way of saying "speed games on horseback."

The event expects more than 350 riders from all over the state — competing for high-point awards and buckles. There will be free admission for spectators. The awards will be presented following Sunday's competition in the Fairgrounds Expo Building.

Participants must belong to a Montana saddle club to be able to ride in the event. There will be games such as Western jumping, speed barrels, pole bending, team arena, pair sack and a lot more fun with fast games on horseback. The age groups are under-8, 8-11, 12-15, 16-30 women, 31-45 women, 46-plus women, 16-39 men and 40-plus men. The team events are for adults and ages 12-15. Mini pair is for under 8.

The first Flathead Valley O-Mok-See was held in 1949 in Columbia Falls. The Rocky Mountain Riders Saddle Club of Columbia Falls held the 1972 Montana State O-Mok-See. The Smith Valley Saddle Club held the 1990 Montana State O-Mok-See at Julie's Arena west of Kalispell, and the Eureka Saddle Club hosted the Montana State O-Mok-See in 1996. The last state O-Mok-See held in the Flathead Valley was 12 years ago.

There will be concessions provided by Cut Back Java Shack, Glacier Shaved Ice and the Cutting Board, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Smith Valley Saddle Club of Kalispell will also be hosting the 2010 National O-Mok-See at the Flathead County Fairgrounds in July of that year.

For more information, call Sue Kelly at 257-2005 or Laurel Gates at 257-8689.