MEEKER I The Fourth Annual “I Ride with James” Poker and Snowmobile Ride will be held Sunday to help support the James Sizemore Memorial Scholarships and Rio Blanco County Search and Rescue.
Beginning at 10 a.m., snowmobilers should meet at the Lost Creek Trailhead at the end of County Road 8.
There will be a buy-in of $25 for five cards, or participants can buy extra cards for $10 each at the end of the ride. The highest straight hand wins the grand prize, followed by first-, second- and third-places prizes.
Check-in for cards is 3 p.m. with prizes awarded at 4 p.m.
Grand prize is a brand new Polaris 120 children’s sled. It is on display currently in the window at Meeker Drugs.
First place for the poker run is $1,000, second place pays $500 and third place wins $250. There is also a prize for oldest snowmobile and another for ugliest snowmobile. There will also be prizes for all kids who attend.
Supporters will be able to buy a set of hands even if they don’t ride snowmobiles.
Folks are also invited to enjoy the all-you-can-eat chili, hamburgers and hot dogs after the ride. Cost is by donation only.
The event is held in memory of Kathy and Mike Sizemore’s son, James, who was killed Feb. 20, 2011, in an avalanche on nearby Sand Peak.
“Our registration building is James’ old school bus that he used to take a bunch of his friends dirt biking,” Kathy Sizemore said. “So each year since his death on President’s Day weekend in 2011, we have held this memorial in memory of James and his bus.”
She said the five-stop poker run helps fund two $1,000 scholarships for Meeker High School seniors—one for a male student; the other for a female student.
Other funds go to assist Rio Blanco County Search and Rescue.
“It really is a great time for a couple of great causes,” Sizemore said.
“It’s a lot of fun to take part in and to watch, and we welcome anyone who wishes to take part or just stop in and watch to come and join us.”
Last year, roughly 135 sleds, several with more than one rider, took part in the third annual event, coming from all parts of Northwest Colorado and from as far away as Vernal, Utah.
The Sizemores would like to warn all snowmobilers that their snowmobiles must be registered with the state and that license plates must be current.
