JUNIOR
DIVISION SPRINT RACE RULES
Amended
April 20031999
Definitions
Junior Driver: a
person five (5) years to sixteen (16) years inclusive old
who is competing in a junior class sled dog race.
Trail: the
marked course that all drivers follow.
Race Marshal: the
person who has authority over the junior drivers and the race event to see that
the rules are obeyed.
May:
is permissive (may or may but be allowed).
Must/Will: is imperative (driver must obey the rule).
Race:
means competition in a certain class with one (1) or more heats.
Heat:
means completing the race trail once.
A. ENTRY RULES
1.
A
junior driver must fill out the entry form and pay the entry fee by the race
deadline (s).
a. The entry form must be
signed by the junior mushers parent or legal guardian.
2. The junior driver who starts on the
first day of any race must drive his/her team each day, unless the driver gets
sick or hurt.
a. The race marshal may reduce the number
of dogs on a team if he feels the team is bigger than the junior driver can
control.
3. The race marshal will decide if any dog
or team is fit to run in any race.
a. A race marshal may reduce the number of
dogs on a team if he feels the team is bigger than the junior driver can
control.
b. A team that is disqualified may not run
in another heat of that class.
4. Dogs will be marked on the first day of
a two (2) day race.
a. Dogs not running after the first day
will be marked on the second day of a three (3) day race.
5. A junior driver must leave any sick or
hurt dog(s) out of the race.
a. Dogs may be dropped from a team between
heats for a race event.
b. Teams must be inspected for physical
condition before each heat.
6. No dogs or equipment will be allowed in
the race area that are from a kennel where there are contagious diseases such
as rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis etc., exist.
7. All dogs in team must wear a harness
that is padded at the shoulders and neck and be fastened in the team by a line
at the back of the harness and a neckline on the collar, except for the lead
dog(s).
8. A sled must also have a brake, brushbow
and snubline and/or snow hook.
9.
A
junior driver must wear the bib number provided at each race.
10.
A junior driver must wear
a safety helmet.
B. AGE AND CLASS RULES
1. One Dog Class
a. Driver minimum age, five (5) years old.
b. Maximum number of dogs on a team, one
(1) dog.
c.
Trail
length: 5-7 years maximum, 1.5 kilometre (entire course to be visible by judges).
7-11
years maximum, 2 kilometres
11
onwards maximum, 3 kilometres.
2. Two
and Three Dog Classes
a. Driver minimum ages: 2 dog class, eight
(8) years, 3 dog class, eleven (11) years.
b. Maximum number of dogs on teams: 2 dog
class, two (2) dogs; 3 dog class, two (2) dogs.
c.
Trail
lengths: maximum, 8km (5 miles); minimum 1.6km (1) mile.
3. Four Dog Class
a.
Driver minimum age:
thirteen (13) years.
b.
Maximum number of dogs on
team four (4). Minimum number of dogs on team three (3).
c.
Trail lengths: maximum,
12km, minimum 3 km.
4. Six Dog Class
a. Driver minimum age: fifteen (15) years.
b. Maximum number of dogs on team: six (6)
dogs. Minimum number of dogs on team: four
(4) dogs.
c. Trail lengths: maximum, 15km (8 miles);
minimum 5km (3 miles).
5. Eight Dog Class
a. Driver minimum age, eighteen (18) years.
b. Maximum number of dogs on team: eight
(8) dogs. Minimum number of dogs on team, six (6) dogs.
c. Trail lengths: minimum, 15km (8 miles).
5. A junior driver may enter the junior
program at any age.
a. To progress from one age group class to
another, junior drivers must provide evidence (race results, driver’s record
for, etc) validating of providing previous experience.
6. A junior driver must successfully
compete in two (2) NZFSS Junior Division recognised races in his/her class to
qualify to move up into the next class.
a. A junior driver entering any age class,
other than the one (1) dog class, with no previous racing experience, must
successfully complete the requirements of the previous age class.
7. A junior driver must have the race
marshal certify on the Junior Driver Record Form one of the following:
a. Successful completion of the race.
b. Disqualification and for what reason.
c. Did not finish and for what reason.
C. START/FINISH RULES
1. A team must be at the starting line at
the assigned starting time.
a. Number one (1) starts first, number two
(2) starts second, etc.
2. On the second day of the race, the teams
start in the order of the finishing times on the first day.
a. The team with the fastest time starts
first, the second fastest time starts second etc.
3. A team must be at the starting line at
the assigned starting time.
a. If a team is late, that team must wait
until all other teams have started, and then start.
b. If more than one team is late, they
start in the order of the draw.
c. If a team is late for a second start
time, it is disqualified.
4. A team that does not clear (get out of)
the starting chute before the next team starts, may be disqualified.
5. The race marshal will identify official
handlers and trail help before the race and define what kind of help they can
give a junior driver and team in the starting chute and on the trail.
6. The brushbow of the sled will be the
starting point of the team.
7. A team is finished when the first dog in
the team crosses the finish line.
a. If a loose team crosses the finish line,
the team's time is recorded when the driver crosses the finish line.
8. If two teams have the same total finish
time for the whole race, that time will be declared a "tie" and the
drivers will share the prizes for the higher and lower "tied" places.
D. TRAIL RULES
1. The trail markings are:
a. Right Turn * red marker on right side of
trail.
b. Left Turn * red marker on left side of
trail.
c. Straight Ahead * blue markers on either
side of trail.
d. Caution (be careful) * yellow or orange
markers.
e. End of Starting Chute * red markers on
both sides of trail.
f. One Half mile " No Right of Way
Zone" on incoming trail *red markers on both sides of trail.
2. A team and junior driver must complete
the race trail as marked.
a. If a team leaves the trail, the driver
must get the team back on the trail at the place where the team left the trail.
3. A junior driver must catch a loose dog
or team on foot.
a. Trail help will stop and hold loose dogs
and teams.
4. All dogs starting a heat must cross the
finish line as part of the team or in the basket of the sled.
5. A junior driver can ride on the sled runners,
pedal or run.
6. A junior driver will not do anything to
interfere with another team.
7. Passengers may not ride in the sled
during a race except in an emergency.
8.
Drivers
may help each other if needed.
9. A team that is in motion has the right of
way over a team(s) that is stopped.
a. Teams catching up to the team in front
of them have the right of way.
b. Teams going down hill on a head on
passing trail have the right of way.
c. At the "no right of way” finish
zone, no home coming team has the right of way over another home coming team
d. If teams are still leaving the starting
line in a common start/finish chute, the home coming team has the right of way.
e. In passing a team on a trail, junior
drivers will try to stay clear of the other team(s) so that the teams don't get
tangled together.
f. After a team has been passed, the
junior driver of the passed team will allow the passing team to get well out in
front before starting his/her team.
E. CONDUCT
1. A junior driver will treat his dogs,
handlers, the race officials, and the public with respect, consideration and
courtesy.
2. Any abuse of dogs will result in
disqualification.
3. The race marshal's decisions will be
final.