Fair sports favorites back in 2009

Twisted metal, bucking broncs and high-speed lawn mowers.

The Clallam County

Fair has a number of eye-catching events for sports fans each year, and the 2009 fair set for Aug. 20-23 is no different.

Traditionally one of the highlights of the fair, the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, and at noon Saturday, Aug. 22.

The NPRA is the western United States’ largest regional rodeo organization. It annually sanctions more than 80 rodeos throughout Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and California.

The season begins in October with a few indoor rodeos through the winter months, increases to multiple rodeos per weekend through the summer months, finishing in September at the championship finals in Sisters, Ore.

But the NPRA rodeo is just one of several sporting events on tap at this weekend’s Clallam County Fair. Kicking things off is the western games competitions starting at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 21. Western games are horseback riders competing in timed races such as figure and stake, Texas barrels, flag and international flag, key races and poles.

Later that day, fans get a chance to see a Moto-X exhibition at 5 p.m. and at 8 p.m., also in the grandstands.

Moto-X consists of motorcycle free-style stunt jumpers performing gravity-defying feats such as no-footed back flips, turn down whips, cliff hangers, pendulums and no-hand landings.

Freestyle Moto X riders’ "big air style" talents have been featured on ESPN, EXPN, Fox Sports and the Discovery Channel, as well as several top-selling videos.

On Saturday, Aug. 22, the Clallam County Fair hosts the annual logging show at noon, then makes way for the NPRA rodeo at 5 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 23, the rodeo continues at noon, followed by the ever-

popular demolition derby. Derby fans need to purchase an $11 ticket in addition to the standard fair fee. Featuring dozens of drivers in a number of classifications, the derby traditionally fills the stands quickly, delighting onlookers with high-speed crashes and twisted metal.

For those seeking something a little tamer, the Diaper Derby pits the county’s fastest infants against each other from 11 a.m.-noon on Thursday, Aug. 20, (time trials) and Sunday, Aug. 23, at the Wilder Stage. Note: the event is a crawl-only event; babies who stand or walk are disqualified.

Daily passes to the fair are $7.50 for adults; $5.50 for senior citizens 62 or older or students 13-17; $4.50 for youths 6-12 and free for children 5 and younger with adults.

Gates open at 8:30 a.m. each day.

For more information, see www.clallam.net/

CountyFair.

New lacrosse club

to show off skills

Members of the Olympic Mountaineers Lacrosse Club will demonstrate their skills at Volunteer Field during the Clallam County Fair next weekend, Aug. 20-22.

Demonstrations are scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 20; 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21; and 11 a.m.-

1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22.

Besides the skills demonstration at the nearby field, the Mountaineers also have an information booth near the west entrance of the fair. Club members and coaches are scheduled to answer questions and explain the program.

The North Olympic Lacrosse Club formed the Olympic Mountaineers in response to the Port Angeles School District dropping lacrosse as a team sport after the 2009 spring season. No longer a school sport, the Port Angeles-based club now can recruit high school players from Port Townsend to the West End.

For more information about the club, call 417-2995.

2009 Clallam County Fair sports*

_ Friday, Aug. 21

9 a.m.: Western games

5 p.m.: Moto-X stunt show

6 p.m.: Lawn mower race

8 p.m.: Moto-X stunt show

_ Saturday, Aug. 22

Noon: Logging show

5 p.m.: Northwest

Professional Rodeo

Association rodeo