RACE RULES
THE GOLD RUSH TRAIL SLED DOG MAIL RUN
150 MILE STAGE RACE
RACE RULES
www.dogsledmailrun.ca
(Revised September 29, 2011)
OVERVIEW OF RACE
The Stage Race is a 150 mile three day Stage Race run over three different looped trails. The respective courses run over logging roads and bush trails located in the central interior of B.C. The intent of this race is to promote the sport of dog mushing and to provide mushers with an opportunity to challenge themselves and their dogs in a stage race style event. This competitive Stage Race is one component of the Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Mail Run event and will be staged in conjunction with the separate non-competitive Mail Run. The Stage Race will start before the Participation Mail Run Event and while both will be run over some of the same trails, there will be no head-on passing. Race competitors will also be mail carriers and must be sworn in as such. Details of the trail, the purse, the vet check, the musher’s meeting and the schedule of events will be posted on the Mail Run website by January 5, 2012 and this information will also be sent to all registered competitors.
ENTRY/QUALIFICATIONS
1. Entries will be accepted until the 12th of January.
2. Entry fee for the Stage Race is $200.00 (Canadian funds), payable at time of entry submission
3. Each participant must also complete an Entry Form and Release of Liability (Waiver) Form, these documents are available on the Mail Run website
4. The Gold Rush Trail Sled Dog Association reserves the right to reject any entry for just cause
MANDATORY MUSHERS’ MEETING AND DRAW
1. The Mushers’ Meeting will take place on Thursday January 19th at 6:00 p.m. at a location to be determined.
2. Door is locked at the beginning of Mushers’ Meeting, failure to make roll call will result in monetary penalty of $50
3. In addition to participants, handlers are strongly encouraged to attend
4. Driver must be named no later than the Mushers’ Meeting
5. Only drivers, handlers, and selected race volunteers will participate in the rules discussion
6. Drawing for official starting number will take place at this meeting, the order of the draw will be determined in the order that paid entries are received
DRIVERS
1. The driver starting at the beginning of the race shall drive the team throughout the race
2. The driver must be 18 years of age or older
3. An experienced musher younger than age 18, whether or not he/she may have completed a similar race, may apply to the race committee in writing before the race begins to ask for permission to waive the minimum age rule
4. The application must include written consent from a guardian
TEAM SIZE
1. Stage Race mushers may use a pool of 12 dogs and may begin each stage of the race with no more than 10 dogs.
2. Teams must start each stage of the race with no fewer than 6 dogs in harness and on the gangline.
3. At no time may a team travel with fewer than 6 dogs in harness and attached to the gang line.
4. The use of loose leaders is not permitted
5. No “new” dogs may be added to the team after the start of the race.
6. Dogs must be in musher’s control at all times
7. Switching of dogs between mushers is NOT permitted
RACE START
1. Races will start Day One at 9:00 a.m. at Umiti Pit Road approximately 20 kms north of Quesnel
2. All teams must be in designated staging spot one hour before the start of each stage.
3. The race is a timed interval start format, all teams will start in order of bib draw on day one of the race, on successive days start order will determined by finish order of the previous day (i.e. the last team place team of the previous day will start first the next day).
4. Any team not ready or prepared to leave at the official start time will be given a time penalty of 20 minutes. If their start time is missed and they are impeding the start of the next team they will be sent out of the start chute at the next available time at convenience of the Race Marshal.
TREATMENT OF DOGS/OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE
1. There shall be no cruel or inhumane treatment of dogs (as determined by the race officials)
2. No whips or jinglers permitted
3. No outside assistance is allowed during the race, unless an emergency is declared and judged so by the Race Marshal. In the event of a lost team, mushers may ask for spectator assistance and try to get their team back any way in their means. Any penalty will be determined by the Race Marshal after the incident is reported, if there is a perceived benefit to the lost team in question
4. Teams will be assessed by the Race Vet and Race Officials as necessary
5. Teams may not be allowed to proceed until cleared by Race Official
MANDATORY GEAR/EQUIPMENT
Every musher will have in their possession during the entire race the following items:
• Dog bag suitable for expired dog (sled bag is adequate)
• Race bib (to be worn by the musher at all times)
• Harnesses - all harnesses shall be padded around the neck and chest areas. It is recommended that each harness have two inches of reflector tape on each side of the neck and on each side farther back to reflect snowmobile lights from the front and side
• Some type of sled shall be drawn that is equipped with an adequate brake, brush bow and snow hook
• Mushers are required to be in possession of functional necklines for the entire team at all times
• All gang lines must be made of cable or have a cable core in the center line
Participants in the Race must also have the following items on their sled
• Hand axe with overall length of 22 inches (56 centimetres)
• One pair of snowshoes and bindings
• Light (flashlight or headlight)
• Equipment for feeding and watering dogs
• Vet record book
• 1 lb of food for each dog on the line at the start of a stage
• 4 booties for each dog (at start of race)
• Food for musher
Penalty - One hour per missing item will be added to musher’s total running time. Teams missing any of these items at start will not be allowed to leave until they are present. Race bib must be worn at all times and must be returned in good condition.
VACCINATIONS AND DRUGS
1. Proof of current rabies, parvo and distemper vaccinations must be available for each dog (signed certificates or proof of purchase of vaccine)
2. Drug use of any sort will not be tolerated. No injectable, oral or topical drug which may suppress the signs of illness or injury may be used on a dog. No other drugs or artificial means may be used to drive a dog or cause a dog to perform or attempt to perform beyond its natural ability. A musher may not inject any substance into their dogs, this includes water
3. The veterinarian shall have the authority to collect blood or urine samples at random any point prior to the race and immediately after the race.
4. The following drugs will be prohibited
• Analgesics
• Anti-inflammatory drugs including but not limited to cortico steroids, anti prostaglandins, non steroidal, calculates, DMSO, central nervous system stimulants, cough suppressants, anaesthetics, diuretics, anabolic steroids, muscle relaxants, inject able anticolinergics, antihistamines
• The external use of topical cortico-steroids is limited to the feet
• The use of megesterol acetate (Ovaban) and mibolerone (Cheque Drops) as an oestrus suppressant is permitted
• The practice of blood doping is not permitted
• Race veterinarians may utilize any of the listed drugs or other prohibited drugs necessary to maintain a dog’s health; however, such dogs will be withdrawn from the race
• Personal prescriptions written for and carried by the mushers may not be used on the dogs
• Administration of any drugs other than those mentioned above shall only be done with the prior knowledge and consent of the race vet and the race marshal
• Sweats will be allowed without prohibited substances
LOST TEAMS
1. If a musher loses a team he must make every effort to recover that team as soon as possible
2. A musher who receives help from another musher to recover a team will not be penalized
3. A musher may request assistance from spectators to recover a lost team if he/she deems it necessary
4. If a musher receives help to recover a lost team he/she MUST report this to the race marshal as soon as possible. Failure to report to the race marshal will result in time penalties or disqualification
5. If a lost team leaves the trail and is recovered, the team may and continue the race from that point once the incident is reported to the Race Marshal, the Marshal will determine whether a time penalty will be incurred by that team.
CONDUCT AND DISQUALIFICATION
1. Drivers shall be responsible for the conduct of their dogs, their designated handler and themselves at all times during their dealings with each other, handlers, race personnel and volunteers, officials and the public
2. Common sense and good sportsmanship shall prevail
3. If the Race Marshal determines that the actions of a driver, handler or team at any time in the race area or on the trail is detrimental to the sport or race, the team may be disqualified or subject to another penalty
PROTEST AND HEARINGS
1. All protests can be submitted to the Race Marshal at the end of the day’s heat. A verbal protest must be followed within one hour by a written protest and must be accompanied by a $50.00 non refundable cash fee.
PENALTIES
1. Failure to adhere to all the published rules shall allow the race officials to penalize a musher , this will be the responsibility of the Race Marshal.
2. A disqualified musher will forfeit all entry fees, placements and race winnings
3. The Race Marshal may assess penalties other than disqualification. Policy and rule infractions may result in an issuance of warnings, monetary penalties or time penalties
4. The musher so involved may request an informal hearing before the Race Marshal and Race Rules/Appeal Committee
5. A hearing shall be granted if requested
6. The Race Marshal will be responsible for judgment in such cases
7. The decisions of the Race Marshal are final
FINISH
1. The official finish shall be determined by the nose of the lead dog crossing the finish line
2. In the event a driver is not with the team when it crosses, the finish time will be recorded after the musher crosses the finish line
WEATHER AND TRAIL CONDITIONS
1. The race will continue under all but the most severe trail and weather conditions. Drivers must come prepared to run in cold, wind, storms, slush, above freezing temperatures or over sections of bare ground if necessary
CLEARING TRAIL AND PASSING
1. Musher setting up camp must clear the trail of their dogs and gear. Any fires must be built a safe distance off the trail
2. Slower teams must yield to faster overtaking teams and provide the overtaking team sufficient time to untangle if necessary before following
3. Musher being passed is responsible for controlling their dogs to provide a clean pass
4. The team being passed cannot pass the overtaking team for a minimum of 5 minutes
5. Ski poles are permitted in the Stage Race
LITTERING
1. Absolutely no littering anywhere along the trail or at checkpoint is permitted
2. Garbage may be “packaged” and given to a checker at the start/finish venue for disposal
DOG DROP
1. In this Stage Race, no dogs may be dropped on the course. All dogs that started the day must accompany the team at the end of the day
SPORTSMANSHIP
1. All mushers must conduct themselves in a civil and sportsmanlike manner beginning from the Mushers’ Meeting right through to the end of the Awards Ceremony.
NO MAN’S LAND
1. No Man’s Land will be marked (approx. 1 mile) before the finish line of each stage. Within this area, trail does not have to be given at the request of the overtaking musher
RACE OFFICIALS
1. The intent of the rules will guide the Race Marshal and Race Judges in their decisions
2. The Race Marshal is in charge of all aspects of the race from the pre-race Mushers’ Meeting to the Awards Ceremony
3. Race Judges will act as deputies of the Race Marshal
4. The Race Marshal may waive or reduce monetary or time penalties for unforeseen calamities that may befall a musher
5. The Race Marshal or a Race Judge in conjunction with a Race Veterinarian shall have final authority to remove a dog(s) from the race for medical or other reasons
6. Race Veterinarians are present throughout the race to monitor the health and welfare of all dogs, advise mushers in caring for their dogs’ medical needs, and provide veterinary treatment for dropped dogs, if necessary
7. The Chief Timer and Assistant Timers are responsible for timing the race
8. Collectively these officials as well as the Trail Boss comprise the Race Rules/Appeal Committee
