It was 30 years ago this week that "Mary Herrin of the Helena Trail Riders dominated the women's division of the District O-Mok-See horsemanship event held at the Lewis and Clark Fairgrounds and emerged as the high point winner for the third straight year," the Independent Record of Aug. 26, 1973, reported.

She went on to win her third consecutive state title the following weekend and would claim four national high-point O-Mok-See championships in her career, establishing several national records. But Mary (Herrin) Dent, a cowgirl from a family of horse riders, recently said that her biggest thrills have been training her own horses and teaching her daughter how to ride.

In spite of the competition from three other teams at the 1973 districts — the Anaconda Saddle Club, the Valley Blues and the Western Patriots — members of the Helena Trail Riders garnered all of the top two places in each category. Clarence Olsen won the men's division, Mary Herrin the women's, Laura Herrin copped the 12-15 age-group title and Kim Sotorno won the under-12 division. Taking second were Darrell Smithson in the men's division, Sharon Foster in the women's, Steve Baertsch in the 12-15 and Brenda Price in the under- 12 category.

"Mary Herrin rode off with the most blue ribbons in the district competition," the IR stated. "She won four of the five individual events for women (the key race, the cloverleaf barrel race, the barrel-and-stake race and the flag race) and added three firsts in the team events (the rescue race and the saddle-and-rescue race with Darrell Smithson; and the pony express race with Smithson, Sharon Foster and Debbie Rivers)."

Dan O'Leary of the Helena Trail Riders captured three individual men's events, while Darrell Smithson copped one individual and three team triumphs. In the 12-15 division, Laura Herrin won four times and Vince Zimmerman garnered one individual and two team events. Brenda Price claimed three individual victories and three runners-up in the under 12, and Kim Spotorno had two firsts and three seconds.

The history of the Helena Trail Raiders dates to 1939, when the club was first formed with the help of Shorty Shope and Dr. Hawkins. Keith Herrin, Mary's dad, has been involved in Helena's O-Mok-See (which means "Riding Big Dance" in Blackfeet Indian language) since its inception in 1944. The first state meet was held in 1948, and in 1965 the National Saddle Club Association was originated with Keith Herrin serving as the NSCA's first president for three years from 1965-67. Keith Herrin — whose wife, Shirley, has been the Helena Trail Riders secretary for many years — competed in O-Mok-See competitions up until he was 77, winning nine state crowns and one national championship before retiring in 2001. He owns four state records — barrel-and-stake racing, the key race, pole bending and cut bank team poles (with Lloyd Casey, Keith Jr. and Heather Herrin).

Mary (Herrin) Dent's siblings, Marcia, Carol, Kitty, Laura, Heather and Keith Jr., have all competed in O-Mok-See. Heather Herrin set the women's national jumping record in 1994; and Carol (Herrin) King holds four state records — the women's barrel-and-stake (1979), the 40-plus barrel-and-stake (1995), the 40-plus national flag race (2000) and the 40-plus figure-8 stake race (1994).

Mary Dent, who has resided in Kansas since the late 1970s, has garnered four national O-Mok-See titles and still owns two Montana records (under 12 pole-bending in 1966 and 12-15 pole bending in 1968) that have stood for more than 35 years; and three national marks (16-39 cloverleaf race in 1978, the 40-plus figure-8 race in 1997 and the 40-plus western jumping in 1997).

She is a two-time Kansas State Rodeo Association barrel racing champion, and finished in the top 10 at the World Quarter Horse Show in Oklahoma City.

Mary Dent said that one of the highlights of her career "has been watching her daughter, Ryley Dent, compete in the National High School Rodeo in Farmington, N.M., where she placed 10th in the barrels."

This weekend, the 55th annual state championship O-Mok-See competition will be taking place in Fort Benton.

CURT SYNNESS, an IR sports writer and sports historian, can be contacted at 227-3382 or email curt52s@hotmail.com.