11/04/2024
Newspaper story.
Saddle Club News
The Cut Bank Saddle Club awards banquet was held Nov 3 at the Clubhouse. The High Point awards were given for the local O-Mok-Sees held throughout the 2024 summer. 60 riders competed at the O-Mok-Sees with awards given to the top 6 in each age group. Buckles were awarded to High Point & Reserve Champions with sometimes only 5 points separating the top 2.
In Under 8 there were 5 riders placing in the High Points. Lennix Johnson, daughter of Chad & Cassie Johnson; rode 2 horses to earn top honors, her Mom's 'Dolly' and a big brown ex-dogging horse named 'Jessie'. She had 1035 points after dropping her lowest score. Piper McComb, daughter of Kelley & Jesse McComb of Conrad was Reserve with 900. She rode her Palomino horse, Lilly. Lindzie Johnson (Cassie & Chad) was 3rd with 745 points on Vegas, Emmitt Norman (Jack Norman & Haley Gilligan) 4th with 265 riding Top Gun and 4 yr old Maci Peterson 5th with 25 points earned in the Mini Pair Race.
The 8-11 Age group had 8 very competitive riders. The High Point Champion was Adley Emrich riding her old faithful 'Kisses' to earn 840 points and top honors. Adley is the daughter of Jacob & Katrina (Aspevig) Emrich of Gt Falls. She and her sister Avery have spent their summers O-Mok-Seeinng in Cut Bank with their grandparents. Reserve Champion was Beau Dagel with 775 points. Clint & Shellisa Dagel are Beau & Wesley's parents. Beau had a great season on his sorrel mare Crystal. It was his first year riding her. Avery Emrich was 3rd with 640 points, McKinley Farnstrom, Dupuyer, daughter of Dani Farnstrom was 4th with 600, Ella Povey-Norman (Jack Norman & Lora Povey) was 5th with 560 pints and Wesley Dagel 6th with 425. Kaye Peterson had 290 points and Alivia Emrich 15 to round out the age group.
The 12-15 age group was won by Kambryn Eubanks daughter of Dezerae (Lorash) McFarland; with 790 points. Kambryn, who represented the Montana Saddle Club Assoc as Sr Princess rode consistently in the last 4 O-Mo-Sees after getting 0 points in the first one to earn the High Point Buckle. On a new horse part of the season, Kambryn 'cowgirled up' to get him through races he had never done. Reserve Champion was McKenzie Aines with 730 points. Granddaughter of Teresa & Marty Aines McKenze rode her young mare 'Cardi B' improving throughout the summer. In 3rd was Makayla Skipper, daughter of Jennifer Ellingsworth & Shane Skipper; with 630 points. Ray Dagel (Clint & Shellisa Dagel) was 4th with 510 points, Alex Manley (Nathan Manley) was 5th with 355, and in 6th was Justus Cassidy (Jodi Norman) with 300 points. Tansy Cassidy & Davanee McKelvey also rode in the 12-15 age group.
The 16-39 women's age group had 10 point earners over the summer with Cassie Johnson earning the High Point buckle with 975 points riding her young mare 'Dolly', only the horses' 2nd year of competition. Reserve Champion went to Kelley McComb of Conrad with 785 points. Jodi Norman was 3rd on 'Rona' a rookie mare that earned Jodi 650 points, 4th was Dani Farnstrom with 390 points, 5th was Crystal Henze 345 points, 6th Jessi Solberg, Sunburst with 235 points. Grace Rooney, Dezerae McFarland, Kalen McKelvey, and Ja'el McIlvain also competed with this group.
40 plus women was tough with only 5 points separating High Point & Reserve Champion. Nisha Manley edged out her sister Nikole Owens with 770 points riding good ole Jessie for the last year (she says). Nikole rode Tamale' earning the Reserve Buckle with 765 points. The girls' Mother, Sandi Manley was in 3rd with 680 points, Danelle Burns 4th with 565. Kim Norman 5th with 430, and Barbara Aspevig 6th with 335. Diane McLean, (290) Katrina Emrich, (195) Jamie Duffey & Jennifer Ellingsworth (80) and Renee Thompson also rode in the Senior Women group.
In the Men's division the top 2 were also only 5 points apart. Lee Peterson won High Point with 705 points over Jack Norman who had 700. Lee's horse Kyter may not outrun Jack's Kolie on the straightaway, but he is so efficient in the turns and Lee rarley DQ's. Jack, on the other hand had a few more DQ's. In 3rd was Jacob Emrich, Gt Falls, with 560 points, 4th was Jay Aspevig with 500 points, 5th Joshua Owens with 495 points and in 6th Jeremiah Swenson with 425. Doug Norman gave up his good horse to grandson Justus so he was riding slow-boat Cinnamon and earned 410 points. Brian Aspevig had 375, Nathan Manley 90 & Kaleb Owens 85. Paul Mandel also rode in one O-Mok-See this summer. Interesting note, Lee & Jay both had hip replacements in the last couple years and healed up to ride tough again. Kim Norman is hoping for the same results with her's next summer!
Contact President Renee Thompson, Secretary Maria Peterson, Kim Norman-Treasurer, or any other members for information about joining the Cut Bank Saddle Club.
