Escalante Days bike rodeo, race and softball tournament
The Dolores Rotary Club is sponsoring a bike rodeo immediately after the Kiddie Parade on Friday. The event will begin about 6:30 p.m., and will be held in the parking lot behind Dolores Medical Center, located at 507 Central Ave. All participants will receive a helmet and a gift bag. Participants may also register for a bicycle drawing. On Saturday, is the 14th annual Escalante Days Mountain Bike Race. The race will start at 9:50 a.m., at 5th and Central. There will be cash prizes for winners in the expert and singlespeed race categories, and prizes for first, second and third place finishers in beginner and sport race classes. Those beating the expert course record will be awarded a cash prize, as will the first rider to cross the cattle guard at the top of the hill. Proceeds from the race go to benefit Rotary youth, community and international service projects. Volunteers are needed. Contact Jason Strickland at jeliotstrickland@gmail.com or 676-1129 to volunteer. Register online at www.active.com by Wednesday, or on race day from 8 to 9 a.m. in front of the Dolores Medical Office. Preregistration entry fee is $35 and day of race entry fee is $45. Course maps and additional information are available at www.clubrunner.ca/dolores. For additional information regarding both events, please contact Neal Stephens at 564-4440. On Friday and Saturday, the Escalante Days softball tournament will once again take place in Flanders and Joe Rowell Parks in Dolores. Call 882-4018 for more information.
Medicine Horse golf tournament
The Medicine Horse Masters golf tournament will be Saturday at the South Forty Golf Course, located at 25500 Road H. Registration is at 8 a.m. with a scramble format/shotgun start at 8:30. There will also be a driving range challenge, closest to the pin and longest putt challenges. Cost is $25 per player ($100 per 4-person team). Entry fee includes nine holes of golf, course drinks and lunch. All event proceeds go to Medicine Horse programs. Please preregister by calling the local Medicine Horse Center at 533-7403.
Free backpacking trip
The San Juan Mountains Association, in partnership with the San Juan National Forest and BLM Tres Rios office, is offering a free backpacking trip this weekend, led by certified interpretive guide MK Thompson. Whether you are new to backpacking or want to share your experience with others, this trip will be a fun and educational adventure. The trip will travel around the Four Mile Lake loop, a 12.4-mile loop in the San Juan National Forest. Optional side trips will explore peaks and other lakes. An optional informational meeting will precede the trip. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today by calling 759-9113 or e-mail MK@sjma.org.
Hunter Education course
There will be a Colorado Hunter Education course this weekend at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. It runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Cost is $10 a person and the minimum age is 10. No preregistration is required. People born on or after Jan. 1, 1949, must complete a Hunter Education course to be able to hunt or trap in the state of Colorado. For more information, please contact Steve Nellin at 882-7627.
M-CHS volleyball tryouts
Montezuma-Cortez High School volleyball team tryouts will begin Monday, Aug. 13, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., at the M-CHS Gym. Players must have a physical exam to participate. For more information, please contact coach Barbara Chappell at 570-9990.
Cortez Middle School sports physicals and registration
On Monday, Aug. 13, Cortez Middle School will hold its registration for fall sports from 3 to 5 p.m. in the middle school cafeteria. Sports physicals for the 20122013 school year are $20 and will be conducted by local physicians from 5 to 7 p.m. All seventh and eighth-grade athletes are required to have physicals, and this is an excellent time to receive them. For more information, call CMS at 565-7824, extension 142.
Mancos High School volleyball practice
Mancos High School will hold its first volleyball practice beginning Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the Mancos Performance Center. Practice starts at 3:30 p.m. Players must have a signed physical and insurance waiver to practice. For more information, please contact coach Ramona Shepherd at 560-1411.
Summer Slam basketball tournament
The 2012 Summer Slam mens and womens open basketball tournament is set to take place Aug. 17-19, at the Ute Mountain Recreation Center in Towaoc. Its a double elimination tourney with eight-person rosters. Its 12 teams for the mens bracket and eight teams for the women. Entry fee is $165 and the registration deadline is Wednesday, Aug. 15. First-place team receives a $200 cash prize and hooded pullovers. Second-place gets long sleeve T-shirts and third-place wins T-shirts. The MVP receives a hooded pullover and the all-tourney team wins T-shirts. Contact Blair at 570-5946 or Arvin at 570-9517 for more information.
Local runners invited
All area runners are invited to join the Montezuma Milers Summer Running Group every Tuesday and Thursday evening throughout the summer. This informal, noncompetitive event offers runners of all skill levels the opportunity to meet other runners and to put on some mileage. Local high school cross-country runners are especially encouraged to attend to build a solid base for the fall season. Meet in front of the Cortez Recreation Center at 6 p.m. Contact coach Paul Koops for details at 565-4129.