NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION OF SLED DOG SPORTS

 

SANCTIONING REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS

AMENDED APRIL 2012

 

 

Based on the April 1993 version of the "Sanctioning Requirements and Standards" of the International Sled Dog Racing Association, Inc.

 

RACE-GIVING ORGANIZATION'S RESPONSIBILITIES

A.       An organisation which wishes to apply for the sanctioning shall:

            1.        Use the NZFSS Race and Weight Pull Rules.

            2.        Follow NZFSS procedures.

            3.        Provide a veterinarian on site or on call at all sanctioned events.

 

B.        1.        Any NZFSS member organisation in good standing may apply to the NZFSS Sanctioning officer for sanctioning applications and forms.

            2.        Organisation membership fees shall be paid to the NZFSS Sanctioning Officer prior to or at the time sanctioning applications and forms are requested.

            3.        Where more than one organisation is sponsoring an event, only one need be a member of NZFSS.

            4.        Assure adequate public liability insurance.

 

C.        APPLYING FOR SANCTIONING

            1.        SANCTIONING SEASONS

                       a.        The New Zealand snow racing and weight pull season shall be from the first full weekend in May until the last full weekend in October.

                       b.        The New Zealand rig racing season shall be from the first full weekend in May until the last full weekend in October.  The New Zealand weight pull season shall be from the first full weekend in March until the last full weekend in November.

                       c.         Organisations which wish to apply outside of the above time frames must apply forty-five (45) days before the event.

                       d.        A late fee will be charged for all sanctioning applications postmarked later than 45 days prior to the event.

e.             All sanctioning applications not postmarked at least 30 days prior to the first day of the event may be rejected.  Sanctioning applications are available through the Executive Director's Office.

i.                  Application for Sanctioning Form to include:

-          Club name

-          Premier/Minor event

-          Date (each day to be on a separate form)

-          Race Marshall (if known)

-          Name of event.

-          Race Secretary

-          Contact Details

-          Venue

-          Classes being offered

                       f.         The number of each type of event sanctioned shall be limited to 2 per club ie 2 Rig Races, 2 Freight Races, 2 Bike Races and 2 Weight Pulls.

 

            2.        CLASSES WHICH QUALIFY FOR NZFSS SANCTIONING ARE

                       a.        Speed Race Rules

                                   i.            Unlimited Class

                                   ii.           Limited Ten (10) Dog Class

                                   iii.         Limited Eight (8) Dog Class

                                   iv.          Limited Six (6) Dog Class

                                   v.           Limited Four (4) Dog Class

                                   vi.          Limited Three (3) Dog Class

                                   vii.        Limited Two (2) Dog Class

viii.           Limited One (1) Dog Class

ix.               Limited Two(2) Dog Bike/Scooter Class

                      

                       b.        Distance Race Classes (snow)

                                   i.            Unlimited Class

ii.                Limited Ten (10) Dog Class

iii.              Limited Eight (8) Dog Class

                                   iv.          Limited Six (6) Dog Class

                       c.         Freight Race Classes (snow or dry track)

                                   i.            Unlimited class

                                   ii.           Limited Eight (8) Dog Class

                                   iii.         Limited Six (6) Dog Class

                                   iv.          Limited Four (4) Dog Class

                                   v.           Limited Three (3) dog class

                                   vi.          Limited Two (2) dog class

                                   vii.        Limited One (1) dog class

                       d.        Weight Pull Classes

                                   i.            27kg (60 Pound) Class (dogs weighing 27kg or less)

                                   ii.           36kg (80 Pound) Class (dogs weighing over 27kg up to and including 36kg)

                                   iii.         50kg (110 Pound) Class (dogs weighing over 36kg up to and including 50kg)

                                   iv.          Unlimited Class (dogs weighing over 50kg)

                       e.         Junior Race Classes (one dog class only)

                                   i.            11-onwards drivers

                       f.         Junior Race Classes (Gig)

                                   i.            Limited Eight Dog Class

                                   ii.           Limited Six Dog Class

                                   iii.         Limited Three Dog Class

                                   iv.          Limited Two Dog Class

 

D.       SANCTIONING FEES

            1.        a.        The fee per event shall be as proposed and accepted in the yearly budget presented at the AGM.

                       b.        Fees must be paid 30 days before the event and are non-refundable.

 

E.        TRAILS

            1.        Trail marking and marking procedures shall be followed as stated in the NZFSS Race Procedures.

            2.        Lake trails

                       a.        Sanctioned "Lake Trails" must be backed up with an alternative "Land Trail" in the event that weather conditions and/or lake surfaces preclude the running of the race over a frozen water surface.

            3.        Minimum trail distance

                       a.        Rig races 5 kilometres.

                       b.        Single dog & 2 Dog (bike/scooter) 3 kilometres.

 

F.        CRITERIA FOR SANCTIONING STATUS

            1.        Each club shall be allowed one “premier” event for sanctioning.  The premier event shall be the only “premier” event sanctioned on that day within either the North or South Islands.  Any other “minor” event may be sanctioned for that day if the travelling distance between such races is greater than 250km.

            2.        Each competitor must have a registered number issued to them by their individual club.

 

G.       PUBLICIZED SANCTIONED EVENTS

            1.        An organisation shall broadcast through advertising or on its entry form that it is sanctioned and include the following information:

                       a.        The classes to sanction.

                       b.        Rule options to be applied to the race

                                   i.            Single or Dual start.

                                   ii.           Time disqualification factor(s).

                                   iii.         Drug testing.

                                   iv.          Seeding.

                                   v.           Long distance race options approved by the sanctioning committee.

vi.               Third day starting procedure.

 

 

                       c.         Site and date of race, entry fee(s) and entry fee deadlines.

                       d.        No NZFSS related advertising should be made until sanctioning approval has been confirmed.

 

H.       RACE CANCELLATION AND SANCTIONING WITHDRAWAL

            1.        Where an organisation cannot meet the sanctioning standards (as listed under "NZFSS Sanctioning Requirements and Standards" - Section E - Trails - (3) a, or b), as a result of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the race-giving organisation, they shall make every attempt to notify the drivers entered in the race that the race has been either cancelled, rescheduled or that the organisation is voluntarily withdrawing its sanctioning status.

                       a.        Such notification shall be made no later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the start of the first heat of the race.

                       b.        An organisation which notifies drivers and NZFSS Executive Directors office of a race cancellation or voluntary withdrawal of NZFSS sanctioning forty-eight (48) hours prior to the start of the first heat of the race shall not jeopardise future sanctioning considerations by the NZFSS Sanctioning Committee.

                       c.         Failure to follow the above procedure in the event of cancellation of a race, rescheduling or withdrawal of NZFSS sanctioning shall be considered an infraction of the sanctioning requirements.

            2.        The voluntary withdrawal of NZFSS sanctioning does not preclude the running of the race if it is possible under lesser standards than those required by NZFSS.

 

I.         CANCELLATION OF A HEAT

            1.        Where a heat of a race must be cancelled for safety reasons, future sanctioning shall not be jeopardised.

            2.        Where any heat of a race is cancelled all trophies advertised shall be awarded based on the times of the completed heat(s).

 

J.         NZFSS REGISTRATION  STATUS OF CONTESTANTS

            1.        Must be registered by an individual club.

            2.        The sponsoring organisation needs to ascertain each participant’s registration status standing with NZFSS.

                       a.        An updated listing of NZFSS registered mushers may be obtained through the NZFSS Executive Office by organisations conducting sanctioned events.

 

K.        ENTRY SURCHARGE AND NON-MEMBER FEE

            1.        To qualify for NZFSS points in a sanctioned event, entrants must be NZFSS registered by an affiliated club. However, registration is not a requirement to enter a sanctioned event.

 

L.        REPORT FORMS

            1.        The Race Giving Organisation is charged with returning to the NZFSS Sanctioning Committee the following report forms to be filled in by race officials and race competitors within fourteen (14) days after the competition of the event (Failure to do so may result in denial of sanctioning for future events in the following year).

                       a.        Race Marshal’s Report.

                                   i.            This report shall include details of mushers and dogs subject to successful protests and the Race Marshal’s findings.

                       b.        Written Championship Points Report.

 

M.       FINISHING POSITION REPORTS

            1.        On the same evening of the completion of the event, or within fourteen (14) days of the completion at the latest, the race-giving organisation shall provide Championship Point Report information for each sanctioned class to the NZFSS Secretary by telephone, fax or EMAIL.

a.       The results will be used to determine point standings, seeding positions, and provide publicity information to NZFSS member clubs sponsoring sanctioned events.

 

            2.        The report shall contain:

                      a.      Finishers' names in order of finish in the class.

                      b.         Total number of kilometres run in each racing class.

                      c.          Weight carried per dog in each freight class.

                      d.         Each NZFSS members and each finishing/qualifying dog's NZFSS number MUST be included to facilitate accurate recording.

e.               In racing classes dogs "bagged" must be noted as such.

f.                 

NZFSS'S RESPONSIBILITIES

 

A.           SANCTIONING COMMITTEE

1.             The Sanctioning Committee shall comprise of the NZFSS Executive Officers.

2.             Decisions of the Sanctioning Committee shall require a majority vote of the members.

 

B.        SANCTIONING AND MEMBERSHIP FEES

            1.        To record all payments to NZFSS and so notify the concerned individuals or race-giving organisations.

 

C.        SANCTIONING MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS

            1.        Send all sanctioning materials and sanctioning applications to those organisations making requests for them.

            2.        To refer sanctioning applications to the NZFSS Sanctioning Committee for reference.

            3.        To send to all Race Marshall’s and Club Delegates copies of the NZFSS Race and/or Weight Pull Rules and updates.

 

D.       FULL SANCTIONING STATUS

            1.        The NZFSS Sanctioning Committee will grant full sanctioning to all race-giving organisations who provide sufficient and reasonable guarantees that their event can meet sanctioning standards.

                       a.        Full sanctioning status guarantees that participating contestants who are NZFSS members will receive points earned in an NZFSS sanctioned event regardless of the event's future sanctioning status.

 

E.        EVALUATING AND FUTURE SANCTIONING STATUS

            1.        The Sanctioning Committee shall evaluate all races based on the official forms and any other information which may be pertinent to its considerations.

            2.        In the event a sanctioned race does not meet sanctioning standards as the result of not meeting any part of the sanctioning requirements and procedures:

                       a.        Conditional Sanctioning may be awarded for the following season, which means that Full Sanctioning may be granted only if corrections can be through guarantees provided by the race-giving organisation which are satisfactory to the NZFSS Sanctioning Committee.

                       b.        The race-giving organisation may be required to undergo a "re-entry" sanctioned event to regain full sanctioning status.

                                   i.            All "full" sanctioned procedures, requirements and rules apply to a re-entry sanctioned event.

                                   ii.           No points are awarded to contestants in re-entry sanctioned events.

            3.        The NZFSS Sanctioning Committee's reports shall be sent to the race-giving organisations after evaluations have been completed.

 

F.        CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

            NZFSS Points/Championship status offered for placing in sanctioned events shall be awarded in accordance with the NZFSS Championship Award Program regulations.

 

G.       TELEPHONE/FAX REPORTS OF RESULTS

            1.        NZFSS will accept collect telephone calls providing results of sanctioned events following the conclusion of the contest.  Calls, emails or faxes must be placed as soon as possible and no later than 14 days after the end of the event by a responsible member of the event-giving organisation.  FAXES CANNOT BE SENT COLLECT, and email is the preferred method.

                       a.        The report of results shall be directed to the NZFSS Secretary.

                       b.        It shall contain the following information related to each sanctioned class as appropriate:

                                i. Finishers' names in order of finish in the class.

                                   ii.          Total number of kilometres run in each racing class.

                                   iii.        Weight carried per dog in each freight class.

                                   iv.        Each NZFSS members and each finishing/qualifying dogs NZFSS number MUST be included to facilitate accurate recording.

iv.                 In racing classes dogs "bagged" must be noted as such.

 

H.       NZFSS PUBLICITY RELEASES

            1.        Reports of both international and regional winners, a listing of all drivers' point standing and other pertinent information about ISDRA sanctioned events will be published in the regional newsletter/magazines.

            2.        General news releases will be made to club and public media publications whenever warranted.

 

I.       PROTESTS REGISTER

            1.        The NZFSS Secretary shall keep a register of all upheld protests including Musher and Dog(s) subject to protest and the Race Marshal’s findings.

                         a.      The contents of this register should be made available to any NZFSS Full Member organisation which requests access.

                         b.      Details of any upheld protests notified to the NZFSS Secretary shall be forwarded to all Full Member organisations.

                         c.      If a dog or musher appears in the register more than once in a single season the NZFSS Secretary shall advise all Full Member clubs.