SPEED RACE RULES
AMENDED APRIL 2010
Based on the April 1988 version
of the "Gig Race Rules (Wheel)" of the International Sled Dog Racing
Association, Inc. The ISDRA has not
amended these rules up to and including January 1994.
DEFINITIONS
DRIVER: a person who drivers a dog team
entered in the race.
EVENT: a meeting of contestants for the
purpose of competing in one event which may involve several race classes.
HEAT: a completion of the trail once.
ORGANISATION: the organisation in charge of
running the event.
RACE: a competition in a specified
class and may be comprised of one or more heats.
RACE AREA: all designated parking areas, spectator areas,
team holding areas, start/finish chutes, officiating areas and the trail area.
RACE MARSHAL: the person who shall have supreme
authority at an event.
RACE JUDGE: Rules Enforcing Officer,
has the authority as the Race Marshal/Chief Judge, except in the question of
disqualification. References to the Race
Marshal in these rules shall also apply for the Race Judge(s), when
appropriate.
SLED: Also includes a Pulka for the
purpose of these rules.
MAY: Shall be construed as being permissive.
SHALL: Shall be construed as being
imperative.
SHOULD: Shall be construed as being advisory.
PART I - ENTRY RULES
A. ELIGIBILITY
1. Entries
a.
An
entry for a race shall be submitted prior to the start of the race, subject to
entry deadlines as determined by the race‑giving organisation.
i. All entry forms should provide a
section for the date of birth of all animals participating in the event.
b.
The
race‑giving organisation may reject any entry for just cause.
i. Any rejected entrant shall be notified within 7 days of receipt of
entry.
2. Drivers
a. The driver starting a team in the first
heat of a race shall drive that team throughout the race.
b. A change in driver can only be made as a
result of illness or injury to the authorised entrant and must have the
approval of the Race Marshal.
c. Any driver disqualified in any heat of
the race is not eligible to compete in the remainder of the race.
3. Dogs
a. The Race Marshal may disallow entry of
any team or dog for just cause.
b. Any team or dog coming to the starting
line, which, in the opinion of the Race Marshal, is unfit or incapable of
safely completing the trail, shall be disqualified.
c. Any team or dog not starting the first
heat of a race shall not be eligible to compete in the remainder of the race.
d. Any team or dog disqualified in any heat
of the race shall not be eligible to compete in the remainder of the race.
e.
Dogs
participating in a race must be at least twelve (12) months old.
4. Disease
a. No dog or equipment shall be brought
from a kennel where rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, or any other
contagious disease exists.
b. If the Race Veterinarian diagnoses any
dog present in the race area to have a contagious disease, that team shall be
disqualified and shall immediately leave the race area.
5. Identification
a. In races of more than one heat, each dog
shall be marked for identification prior to the start of the first heat of the
race.
b. Dogs dropped from teams after the first
heat of a race involving more than two (2) heats, shall be marked a second time
to indicate their disqualification to run in subsequent heats.
6. Size of team
a. A Limited Eight‑Dog Class Team
shall consist of not more than eight (8) dogs, and not less than six (6) dogs.
b. A Limited Six‑Dog Class Team shall consist of not more
than six (6) dogs, and not less than four (4) dogs.
c. A Limited Four‑Dog Class Team
shall consist of not more than four (4) dogs, and not less than Three (3) dogs.
d. A Limited Three‑Dog Class Team
shall consist of not more than three (3) dogs, and not less than two (2) dogs.
e. A Limited Two-Dog Class Team shall
consist of two (2) dogs. One dog may be
bagged at any time during the race at the mushers discretion.
f.
After
the first heat and each subsequent heat, a driver may voluntarily reduce the
size of the team, subject to their classes minimum.
g.
Class minimums also apply to freight classes
7. Temperature
a. If the temperature reaches 13 degrees C
(55 degrees F), before the start of the race, the race cannot start. Once the race has commenced, if the
temperature rises above 13 degrees, mushers shall be notified and teams may
start at the musher’s discretion.
b. If, at the discretion of the Race
Marshal, the humidity has reached a high that would be detrimental to the
health of the dogs, the classes not yet run shall be cancelled for that day.
B. MEDICATIONS ADMINISTERED TO DOGS
1. Prohibited Drugs
See
the "NZFSS List of Forbidden Substances and Methods for Dogs".
2. NZFSS will allow a positive test for
previously declared paraciticides in the test for prohibited substances in sled
dogs. It is incumbent upon the
driver/owner to declare all foreign substances used in his/her sled dogs before
testing occurs.
3. Drug Testing
a. If an organisation intends to test for
prohibited drugs, it shall use NZFSS Drug Testing Procedures and shall declare
so on the entry form.
b. Whenever a specimen is requested for
testing, the owner or driver shall be present (or his/her representative) and
shall declare in writing to the sampling official all medications administered
to the dog(s) within 72 hours preceding the start of the event.
c. If an owner or driver refuses to allow
a sample to be collected from a dog, that team shall be disqualified from the
event.
d. If any dog in a team shows a positive
test of a prohibited drug, that team is subject to disqualification, the
decision to be made following a hearing.
e. The external use of DMSO and Topical
Cortico-Steroids are limited to the use on feet only, in ointments, and
provided by a registered veterinarian.
f. Where testing is due to an appeal, the
person lodging the appeal shall be required to pay the costs at the time the
appeal is lodged, eg $250 per dog. Where
the appeal is lodged against a team the decision as to which dogs are tested
rests with the person lodging the appeal.
C. EQUIPMENT
1. Inspection
a. Drivers, teams and equipment shall be
available for inspection in the vehicle holding area at least ten (10) minutes
before their scheduled time of departure.
b. A team in harness shall not be required
to stand for inspection longer than six (6) minutes before the scheduled time
of departure.
c. Inspection shall take place in an area
that does not interfere with teams in the start or finish chutes.
d. A team shall be available for inspection
after each heat at the request of the Race Marshal.
e.
All
equipment is subject to the approval of the Race Marshal.
2. Harnesses and Lines
a. All dogs shall be harnessed in single
file or double file.
b. All dogs shall be fastened to the tug
line by a neck line and tail line with the exception of the leader(s) which
shall be harnessed in the team by a tail line but may run with or without a
neck line.
c.
A
snub line may be carried on the sled it shall not be used in any manner other
than to tie down and hold the sled.
d.
A
rubber shock absorber and safety line shall be fitted to the tug line.
3. Wheeled Rigs/Sleds
a. Shall have a platform capable of safely
and securely holding any dog on the team.
i. All Wheeled Rigs/Sleds must carry a
dog bag capable of safely restraining a struggling dog and if necessary
covering a severely injured or dead dog. The dog bag may be integrated with the
rig.
b. All Wheeled Rigs must have a minimum of
three wheels but shall be capable of being driven and controlled by a single
driver.
c. Shall be free standing.
d. Shall have an adequate brake system.
e. Shall be equipped with a manual
steering mechanism.
f. Shall not exceed 160cm (64 inches)
overall width.
g. May be motorised but used with the
understanding that the motor will not be used under the agreement of entry.
h. The use of a motorised rig will be
stated by the entrant on the entry form.
i. Freight Class
i. For two (2) dogs a minimum of 45kg
(100 pounds) of weight shall be securely added to the weight of the rig ie rig
+ 45kg = total weight carried.
ii. For every additional dog added to the
team a further minimum of 23kg (50 pounds) shall be securely attached to the
rig/sled. Freight Weight will be calculated on the class maximum not the team
size.
iii. Weights shall be checked by the Race
Marshal after the completion of the race on adequate or appropriate scales.
iv.
Where
possible scales should be made available before the race for drivers to check
their weights.
j. No inline rig (scooters).
4. Single Dog Class & 2 Dog Bike/Scooter Class
a. Towed vehicle shall have no more than two
(2) wheels.
b. Shall have a safe steering mechanism.
c. Shall have an adequate braking system.
d. Pedals shall have to be removed or
disabled, as pedalling is not permitted.
e. Freight
Class (Single Dog Only)
i. The towed vehicle may also be a
rig/sled as described in C. 3. Wheeled rigs/sleds above but excluding the requirement to carry a
dog bag (3.a.i) .
ii. For the one dog class the towed
vehicle and freight combined shall weigh a minimum 35kg.
5. Other Equipment
a. A muzzle or any collar that can be
hooked as a full choke shall be prohibited.
b. Safety approved helmets shall be worn by
all mushers in the single dog bike/scooter class. In
addition to this, the RGO may, by way of notification on the entry form, make
helmets compulsory for any classes it sees fit.
c. A racing number for each driver shall
be provided by the race-giving organisation.
The driver shall display this number on his/her person throughout the
race.
D. FINISH TIME DISQUALIFICATION (Optional)
1. A team shall be disqualified from
competing in subsequent heats if its total elapsed time exceeds either 1.25 or
1.50 times the average time of the three fastest teams in the same heat of the
same class.
2. All entrants shall be notified, prior to
entry, if a time qualification factor is to be used, stating which factor and
to which classes it shall be applied.
PART II - START / FINISH RULES
A. DRAWING
1. The starting positions for the first
heat of a race shall be determined by a drawing held prior to the race at a
time and place designated by the race-giving organisation.
2. The owner, driver or designated proxy of
each team shall draw their own starting position. In their absence, the starting position shall
be drawn by the Race Marshal or his representative.
3. The order of the draw shall not be
changed either by addition or substitution. Late entries shall be added in
order of receipt.
B. SINGLE START RACE
1. The first days starting positions shall
be determined by the draw with Number 1 starting first, Number 2 starting
second, etc.
2. The second day's starting positions
shall be determined by the first day's times, with the fastest teams starting
first, the second fastest team starting second, etc.
3. In races of more than two (2) heats,
a. the total elapsed time of the previous
heats shall determine the starting positions with the fastest team starting
first, the second fastest team starting second, etc.
b. or, at the option of the race-giving
organisation, the elapsed time of the previous single heat shall determine the
starting positions with the fastest team starting first, the second fastest
team starting second, etc.
c. If the optional start (b. above) is to
apply to the race, all entrants shall be notified prior to making entry,
stating to which classes it shall apply.
C. DUAL START RACE
1. The first day's starting positions shall
be determined by the draw with the Numbers 1 and 2 starting together first,
Numbers 3 and 4 starting together second, etc.
2. The second day's starting positions
shall be determined by the first day's times. The finishing list will be
divided into two groups, with the fastest team in the faster group starting
with the fastest team in the slower group, followed by the second fastest teams
in each group, etc.
3. In races of more than two (2) heats, the
total elapsed time of the previous heats will determine the groupings and
starting positions, with the fastest teams in each group starting first, etc.
4. If option b.(under "single start
race") is to apply to a race of more than two (2) heats, the elapsed time
of the previous single heat shall determine the groupings and starting
positions, with the fastest teams in each group starting first, etc.
D. EQUAL TIMES
1. If the total elapsed time of two teams
is identical, the order of start for these teams shall be the reverse order in
which they started in the preceding heat.
2. Teams with equal times for the entire
race, shall be awarded the higher finishing position.
3. The purse for the tied place and the
next lower places(s) shall be combined and divided equally among those teams
tied for that place.
E. STARTING POINT AND TIME
1. The brushbow of sled or front wheel of
rig shall determine the starting point of the team.
2. Trail time for all teams shall begin at
the original scheduled time of departure, except for a late starting team, for
which trail time begins at the second scheduled time of departure. However the team will be penalised with x
minutes extra racing time for late starting.
(x = one starting interval).
3. A team which fails to be in the starting
position at its scheduled starting time, will be declared a "late starting
team".
a. A late-starting team shall not be
allowed to start until after the last team entered in its class has started,
and after the prescribed starting interval.
b. A late-starting team shall not interfere
with any other team.
c. If more than one team is declared late,
those teams shall start in their originally scheduled starting order.
d. If a team is late to the starting line
for its second scheduled time of departure for any one heat, that team shall be
disqualified.
e. Late-starting teams should be counted
down as if they were there ie no musher
should be required to come to the line before their allotted start time.
4. A team not clearing the Starting Chute
(Minimum distance 30 metres [100 feet]) prior to the scheduled start of the
next team may be disqualified.
F. ASSISTANCE IN THE STARTING CHUTE
1. The amount and type of assistance in the
starting chute shall be determined and announced by the Race Marshal prior to
the start of the first heat of the event.
2. Once a team is beyond the starting chute
area in an official start, all Trail Rules shall apply.
G. FINISH
1. A team shall have finished the heat when
the first dog on the team crosses the finish line.
2. If a loose team crosses the finish line
ahead of its driver, that team shall have finished when the driver reaches the
finish line.
3.
When
a dual starting chute is used as a finish chute, a team may return on either
trail.
PART III - TRAIL RULES
A. FOLLOWING THE TRAIL
1. A team and driver shall run the entire
course as established by the race‑giving organisation.
a. The course shall be of a suitable
surface, avoiding such surfaces as concrete, black top and sharp rock gravel,
except for necessary road crossings.
2. If a team leaves the trail, the driver
shall return the team to the point at which they left the trail.
3. The trail shall be followed as marked:
a. "Right turn" shall be
indicated by a red marker on the right side of the trail.
b. "Left turn" shall be indicated
by a red marker on the left side of the trail.
c. "Straight ahead" shall be
indicated by blue markers.
d. "Caution" shall be indicated
by yellow or orange markers.
e. The “End of the Starting
Chute" (minimum length, 30 meters
(100 feet)) shall be indicated by markers on both sides of the trail.
f. A "800 metre" (1/2 mile)
marker shall be placed 800 metres from the finish line to indicate the start of the
"No‑Right‑Of‑Way Zone."
B. DRIVING A TEAM
1. A driver may ride the rig/sled, pedal or
run as wished.
2. Any driver accepting a ride on any
vehicle other than his/her own rig, shall be disqualified unless in case of a
loose team or dog.
3. A driver shall not interfere with a
competing team.
4. All dogs starting a heat shall complete
the entire course, either hitched in the team or carried on the rig.
5. A dog becoming unfit after departure
shall be carried on the rig.
6. Carrying a passenger at any time during
the race shall be prohibited unless:
a. Called for in the conditions of the
race.
b. Giving a ride to a driver in an
emergency situation.
7. The bike or rig/sled must be behind the
dog(s) at all times while in motion.
C. ASSISTANCE ON THE TRAIL
1. All teams may receive similar assistance
of any type from officials stationed at designated points along the trail as
authorised by the Race Marshal.
2. Drivers running in the same heat may
assist each other in any manner authorised by the Race Marshal.
3. Handler and spectator assistance shall
be limited to holding the gig, except in the case of a loose team, or a team so
unmanageable as to create a clear and present danger to themselves, other teams
or persons.
4. No one shall assist a team by wilfully
pacing it.
D. LOOSE TEAMS AND DOGS
1. All drivers must assume that a loose
team or dog is an endangered team or dog.
2. A Loose team or dog(s) shall not delay
or interfere with another team.
3. The driver of the loose team must
overtake the loose team by the quickest means available to ensure the safety of
the loose team.
a. In the event that the driver cannot
quickly and safely recover his/her team, the driver must accept assistance
including a ride, when available, to recover his team. Failure to accept available assistance may
result in disqualification of the driver of the loose team. The Race Marshall shall determine if a driver
is to be disqualified.
b. Any person(s) is/are encouraged to stop
and hold a loose team or dog.
c. Drivers who receive a ride to recover a
team will be assessed a time penalty of 20% of the total elapsed time of the
heat in which they received the ride.
d. A loose team or dog may resume the trail
without penalty, providing the team/dog has completed the entire trail and the
driver has only received outside assistance limited to holding the loose team
or dog.
E. RIGHT OF WAY
1. In a dual start, the team with the lead
dog farthest ahead at the end of the chute barrier shall have the right of way.
2. When teams are passing on a single
trail,
a. The team travelling downhill shall have
the right of way.
b. On level terrain, the Race Marshal shall
determine and announce, prior to the start of the race, whether the in‑coming
or out‑going team has the right of way.
3. In the 800 metre (1/2 mile)
"No‑Right‑Of‑Way zone", no team shall have the
right of way over a finishing team.
F. PASSING
1. When one team driver intends to pass
another team, the passing team driver may request the right of way (right of
way being any part of the trail which is clear of a team;; left, right or
centre) when the lead dog(s) come within 15 meters (50 feet) of the rig/sled of
the team being overtaken.
2. The overtaken team driver shall make way
for the passing team by moving to one side of the trail and slowing his team, or stopping if requested to
do so (within reason) by the overtaking team driver.
3. Once a team has been passed, that team
shall not re‑pass until:
a. In Unlimited or Limited classes
involving nine (9) or more dogs, after no less than four (4) minutes or 1.6
kilometres (1 mile).
b. In Limited classes involving eight (8)
dogs or less, after no less than two (2) minutes or 800 metres (1/2 mile).
c. Single Dog classes, after no less than 30 seconds or 200 meters.
d. At any lesser interval when both drivers are in agreement.
4. If the passing team becomes tangled as a
result of the pass (and to allow time to straighten the lines), that team's
driver may require the overtaken team driver to stop for no longer than one (1)
minute, in Unlimited and Limited classes involving eight (8) or more dogs, one‑half
(1/2) minute in all other classes.
5. A driver coming upon two or more teams
stopped together, may pass all such teams.
The stopped team drivers shall make every effort to clear the trail for
the moving team(s).
6. Teams following each other shall
maintain an interval of no less than one (1) team length, except when passing
or in the "No‑Right‑Of‑Way zone".
PART IV - CONDUCT
A. RESPONSIBILITY AND SPORTSMANSHIP
1. All drivers shall be responsible for the
conduct of their dogs, their designated handler and themselves whenever in the
race area or on the trail.
2. Common sense and good sportsmanship
shall prevail. If the Race Marshal
determines that driver, handler or team conduct at any time in the race area or
on the trail is detrimental to the sport/race, that team shall be disqualified.
B. ABUSE OF DOGS
1. Abuse of a dog, with or without an
implement, shall be prohibited.
2. No whip, goad or any other implement of
chastisement may be used or carried.
PART V - RULES VIOLATIONS
A. REPORTS BY RACE OFFICIALS
1. Race Officials shall report overt rule
violations to the Race Marshal verbally, in person or by radio, immediately or
directly following the heat in which the violation occurred.
2. The Race Marshal shall act, at
his discretion, on any overt violations witnessed and reported by Race
Officials.
B. REPORTS BY RACE CONTESTANTS
1. Drivers wishing to report an alleged
violation of the rules by another contestant shall notify the Race Marshal
immediately following the heat in which the incident occurred. Notification may
be verbal.
2. All verbal driver reports shall be
followed with a written report, given to the Race Marshal within one (1) hour
of the completion of the heat in which the alleged violation occurred.
C. PROTESTS AND HEARINGS
1. Any driver or race official implicated
in a report of an alleged violation of the rules may make a protest and request
a hearing before the Race Marshal.
2.
Said
hearing shall be granted by the Race Marshal.
D. DISCIPLINARY ACTION
1.
For violation of any NZFSS Race
Rule, the Race Marshal shall issue either:-
· a
verbal warning to the driver.
· add a
penalty of between one and ten starting interval (to a maximum of five(5)
minutes) to the drivers finishing time.
· or
disqualify the driver and team from the race.
a. No other disciplinary action shall be
imposed.
b. Decisions shall be announced as promptly
as practical, but no later than two (2) hours prior to the start of any ensuing
heat(s).
c. Any disciplinary action following the
final heat of the race shall be acted upon prior to the awards ceremony.
d. In the case of drug testing, the above
time schedule does not apply to allow for laboratory findings and hearings,
should the latter become necessary.
2. The decisions of the Race Marshal shall
be final.