Hosted by: Blue Ridge Dryland Mushers Sled Dog Club
Sponsored by Precise Pet Food
and the
Continental Kennel Club
February 13, 2010
Our Kentucky and Tennessee Club Directors have worked together to set up the FIRST DRYLAND RACE IN TENNESSEE.
SEE RACE WEBSITE:
WWW.TNSLEDDOGS.COM
rodneywhaley@att.net
kymusher@yahoo.com
We will have the particulars on this Trophy race soon.
Murphreesboro TN race address for GPS and mapquest:
1526 W. College Street,
Murfreesboro, TN 37129.
Each Musher competing will recieve a 40 pound bag of
Precise Pet Food – Endurance or Foundation
www.precisepet.com
the
Continental Kennel Club can sponsor mushers in dogsled races…
see their website: www.continentalkennelclub.org
BLUE RIDGE DRYLAND MUSHERS
SLED DOG CLUB
MUSIC CITY DRY LAND
SLED DOG CHALLENGE
RULES
1. These rule will be in effect for the Music City Dryland Sled Dog Challenge, February 13, 2010, Murfreesboro, TN. The races will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the driver’s meeting at 8:30 a.m.
2. Trail Distances:
Race Classes Trail Distance
1-2 Dog Bikejor/Scooter 1-2 Miles
Junior Rig 1-2 Miles
4 Dog Rig 3-4 Miles
6 Dog Rig 4-6 Miles
The race will be held at the Gateway Trail of the Murfreesboro Greenway System. The trail begins and ends with a ¼ mile chute. Otherwise it is a large loop. There should be no head-on passing required to negotiate the race trail.
3. Temperature Cut-Off (Safety and Comfort of the Dogs primary)
a. If the race site temperatures reach +50 F or the humidity is too high, the Race Marshall shall
cancel the race or suspend the race for the day. There is no temperature cut off for too cold.
b. If the race site temperature is between +45F and +50F or if the humidity is too high, the Race Marshal shall consider running shorter trails for the safety and comfort of the dogs.
4. Driver’s Meeting, Drivers, and Rig Inspection
a. Instructions and maps will be provided to those drivers in person later than 30 minutes prior to the start of the race at the driver’s meeting. This will include a complete trail map, with hazards indicated. A drawing for starting positions will be held at the driver’s meeting. Any musher who is late for the meeting and misses the drawing will start last in his/her event.
b. The driver starting a team shall be the same driver throughout the race. A change in drivers may only be made before the start of a race and must be by the race marshal.
c. The race officials will inspect all Rigs for proper equipment immediately following the driver’s meeting.
5. Aggressive Dogs
a. Dogs showing repeated aggression towards dogs on other teams or people will be disqualified from the event at the discretion of the Race Marshal
b. No Bitches in heat will be allowed to race.
6. Multiple dog use.
A dog may be used in more than one race. For example, a dog used in a 2-dog scooter team may later run in a six-dog rig team or junior team.
7. Equipment
a. Safety Equipment
1) HELMETS –It is recommended that all Rig, Cart, Scooter, and Bike class participants wear helmets. Bicycle, motorcycle, ski or equine style helmets are all acceptable. We encourage this but it is NOT mandatory.
2) SAFETY GLASSES – It is recommended all Rig, Bike and Scooter participants wear safety glasses or eye coverings. We encourage this but it is NOT mandatory.
b. Rigs
1) Rig Inspection will be held after the Drivers Meetings. All Rigs must
be inspected. (Does not apply to Scooters and Bicycles). The official holding the Drivers Meeting or his assignee will do the inspection.
Criteria are:
- Functioning Brakes
- Tires properly inflated
- Generally Sound condition
2) Multiple Heats will be allowed so that racers can share Rigs if necessary. If sharing is due to an unusable Rig, it is the responsibility of the Musher to find an approved Rig and make arrangements with race officials to be placed in the appropriate race.
c. Bicycles and Scooters
1) Bicycles and scooters do not have to be inspected. However they need to be in good and safe working condition. The Race Marshal or his assignee reserves the right to disqualify unsafe bicycles and scooters. If equipment is in question it shall be the responsibility of the Musher to check with the Race Marshal prior to the race.
2) Bicycles with the chain disengaged may be used in the scooter class.
8. Dropped or Injured Dogs
a. Dogs may be dropped, without penalty, with event staff that will be properly identified. But NO dogs may be added or substituted after the musher’s run begins.
b. If a driver has to drop a dog for any reason, the driver must move his team ENTIRELY off the race trail.
c. In the rig class if the driver has a dog bag or a safe way to transport a “bagged” dog and can safely load the dog, they may do so and continue on in the race with no penalty.
d. If a driver finishes a heat with an injured dog (that is, not in the dog bag – the driver has run an injured dog) the driver will be disqualified from all classes entered.
e. Please see the club’s website for a video on how to safely bag a dog.
9. Starting Time
The tentative starting times for the one-dog scooter race is 9:00 a.m. with subsequent categories beginning fifteen minutes after the previous category finishes.
10. Time Interval Between Starts
The order of start for each race will be established by a drawing held at the driver’s meeting. Interval time between competitors for all classes will be two minutes.
11. Medical Assistance
The name and location of medical assistance for both humans and dogs will be available at the sign-up table. Two bikers will carry first aid kits and move along with the mushers.
12. Passing Rules
a. These rules DO NOT APPLY TO Canicross Classes.
b. The PASSING MUSHER has the right-of-way when the lead dog(s) come within 30 feet of the overtaken team. The PASSING MUSHER must yell “TRAIL” to signal the overtaken team of his/her desire to pass.
c. The OVERTAKEN TEAM shall steer to one side, slow their team down or if requested, stop their team.
d. The OVERTAKEN TEAM shall not re-pass for two minutes or one-half mile, unless agreed by both mushers.
e. TEAMS FOLLOWING each other shall maintain a distance of not less than one team length, except in the last quarter mile of the race.
f. No Musher shall INTERFERE with a competing team.
13. Musher’s Responsibilities
a. Rabies certificates must be available for inspection by the Race Marshal if requested. You may also email the rabies certificates before the race.
b. The Musher is responsible for cleaning up their stake-out area. No debris OF ANY KIND is to be left at the race site.
c. The musher must report to the start line with equipment capable of cleaning up dog feces on while on the trail. The race marshal will inspect all rigs before allowing the team to start.
d. If a dog drops feces on the trail, the musher must stop his/her team and immediately remove it from the trail. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
e. The Musher must fill out all entry and report forms legibly so the statistician will be able to record names and results accurately.
f. All equipment should be in sound and functional condition. The line judge or Race Marshal can stop a musher from racing if they feel that the musher’s equipment is unsafe, unsound or nonfunctional.
14. Loose Dogs
Loose dogs are NOT allowed at the race site (on or off the trail) it is the Mushers responsibility to have their dogs secure and on line at all times.
15. Whips.
Whips of any kind are disallowed. Any musher using a whip will be disqualified from the race and banned from any future races for life.
16. Age of Mushers allowed to Race.
a. Mushers 17 years old and under must have a parent or guardians signed permission to participate in any dryland race.
b. Junior Class – $6 entry fee
c. Adults races – $15 per event ($12 for Blue Ridge Dryland Sled Dog Club members)
d. After February 10, 2010, race fee will be $18 for adults and $9 for juniors.
Sign up for the race will be available on the Blue Ridge Dryland’s website and the Music City Dryland Sled Dog Challenge website.
17. Maps of the trail with parking areas noted will be available on the websites.
18. Videos and Photos of how to safely “bag” a dog and tips on “bagging” a dog will be placed on the club’s website.
19. The Race Marshal is the FINAL AUTHORITY AT THE RACE. The Mushers must comply with all rulings and decisions made by the Race Marshal.