Annual Mountain Race

Mountain Race started in 1980.? Ever since horses first came to Xeni, Xeni Gwet'ins have been training, riding, and chasing wild horses.

Nemiah had many years of Jackpot Rodeos at Konnie Lake Beach, before it was moved to its present place 26 years ago. Xeni Gwet'ins chased cattle and wild horses off of Konnie Lake hill side to Konnie Beach to start off the jackpot every weekend or month.? So when the rodeo grounds was moved by Ts'il?os Creek along Nemiah creek, Xeni Gwet'ins created a race that showed their skills they had learned while riding, training, and chasing wild horses in the rough rugged country of Xeni.? So the Mountain race is a tradition of Xeni Gwet'ins way of life, very skilled and wild horse riders.

Xeni Gwet'ins & Cowboys like Ronnie Solomon, Roy Blatchford, Benny William, Boisie William, etc.... were the first ones to come down the and kick off our famous Mountain Race.? There has been 26 years and 50 Mountain Races with 25 Champions ever since it began.

The Mountain race takes about 20 minutes to get on top and about one (1) minute and thirty (30) seconds to come down it.? The first hill is very steep and rocky, then you get on the long rocky slope, right into the trail (which has some tough corners, hills and drops), you hit the Nemiah river, the beaver dam, and then race to the opening flat into the arena.? It's about 3/4 mile race.? Sometimes the trails get very muddy, and we've seen some quarter horses and the rodeo cowboys get stuck in or have a tough time when they checked out the trail.? Horses have wiped out on the steep hill, trail, mud, river and beaver dam with their riders.? You need to train and look after your horse very good to be able to have a chance to win or even finish in the Mountain Race.? Best horses are the Cayuses from Nemiah Valley.? Some other horses like quarter horses, etc... may have won a race or two, maybe a championship but they can't do it consistently.

Since 1980 over 26 years and 50 races (We are still looking into when races really started, and if before 1980 who won them?) there has been Ten (10) different Champion Riders, and Twelve (12) different 1st Place Riders. For Horses there has been Nineteen (19) different Champions, and Twenty (20) different 1st Place Winners.

The Mountain Racers who entered in the most years is Roger William (between 1982 to 2005).? Ronnie Solomon & Roy Blatchford won the very first Championship in 1980.? Roy Blatchford won the very 1st Mountain Race in 1980.? Mountain Racer who entered the most races is Roger William, he raced in Thirty-nine (39) Races.? Mountain Racer who entered most years and races in a row in the Mountain Race is Roger William, he raced 12 years (1989 to 2000) in row and 24 races in a row (1989 to 2000).?? Mountain racer who has won the most Championships and Races is Roger William, at ten (10) Championships & seventeen (17) Races.?? Roger William (in 1982) and June Cahoose(in 2003) are the youngest riders to enter the Mountain Race at ages sixteen (16).? Roger William is the youngest rider to win a Mountain Race and Championship, at age sixteen (16) in 1982.

Our real Champions are the Mountain Racehorses.? Horse that has been in the most Mountain Race Years is Bones (between 1982 to 1994) owned by Sonny Lulua and Morgan (between 1992 to 2005), the geldings raced for ten (10) years.? Horse that has been in the most Mountain Races is Bones, he raced in sixteen (16) races.? Horse that ran in the most years in row is Bones (1986 to 1991) owned by Sonny Lulua & Storms (1998 to 2003) owned by Ronnie Solomon, geldings ran six (6) years in a row.? Horse that ran in the most races in a row is Storms (1999 to 2003) owned by Ronnie Solomon, gelding raced nine (9) races in a row.? Horse that won the most Championship is Chieftain owned by Wayne William, gelding won four (4) Championships.? Horse that won the most Races is Morgan owned by Roger William (Morgan was own by Trina Setah for five 1st races won), gelding won ten (10) races.

History was made this year of 2005 on our 28th Annual Nemiah Valley Rodeo & Mountain Race.? On the 26th year and 49th Race we had a lady win the Mountain Race on Saturday for 1st time, and it happened again on Sunday the 50th Mountain Race.? So for the 1st time a woman was awarded overall Nemiah Valley Mountain Race Championship Buckle, she won $1,800.00 to go with it.? This person is June Cahoose of Ulkatcho, she is just 18 year olds.? June did this using her boyfriend Jimmy Lulua a Xeni Gwet'in's Appaloosa horse named Cotton.? June Cahoose who joined Xeni Gwet'in Roger William as the youngest rider to ride the Mountain Race at tender age of sixteen (16) two years prior and it was he, Roger William that she beat by horse head on both Saturday and Sunday races to make this even sweeter history.??