General Rules & Regulations

The following rules apply to all Sandwich Sled Dog Race Classes.

 

A. Conditions of Entry

1. Drivers

Each driver agrees to not hold the Sandwich Sidehillers, North Country Mushers, co-sponsors, landowners and Race Committee liable for any reason whatsoever. The driver also agrees to release the above from any claim or demand resulting from injury to the driver, his/her dogs, or his/her property. All drivers agree to treat everyone at the race site and on the trail with respect. No verbal abuse will be tolerated.

Before participating in the Sandwich Sled Dog Race, each driver must agree to sign all documents required by the race. Documents may be signed at the time of registration.

A driver must be at least 18 years old. If not, Entry Form must include a signed copy of the parent/guardian consent form.

All applicants must be able and willing to adhere to the rules of the race. In no case will the limit on the number of entries be exceeded. The Race Committee reserves the right to accept or reject any entry.

 

Confirmation of Entries & Assignment of Bib Numbers

Receipt of all of the following items will confirm that the driver intends to enter the race and agrees to comply with all race rules.

• Valid payment of the full entry fee.
• Completed and signed entry form.
• Current Rabies certificates on all dogs participating signed by a licensed veterinarian.
• A signed consent form from parent or guardian if the musher is a minor.

Sandwich Sidehillers will begin to accept applications after the 2010 entry forms have been posted on the Internet (no sooner than Nov 1, 2009). Entries will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

A by class, random drawing of bib numbers will take place on Friday, February 19, 2010, at 7:00pm at the mandatory drivers’ meeting at the Sandwich Central School.

A $20 cash deposit will be required for the bib and after the race the deposit will be returned when bib is returned.

WaitingList

If a race class is full with confirmed entries, then additional applicants may request to be put on a waiting list. Those on the waiting list are required to provide the same payment, documents, as the confirmed entries; however, checks will not be cashed until the applicant becomes a confirmed entry. If a confirmed entry withdraws, then the first driver on the waiting list will automatically be confirmed and his/her check will be cashed. At that time, the driver will become subject to the refund schedule if he/she decides to withdraw. It is the responsibility of the applicant to inform the Race Secretary if he/she wishes to withdraw from the waiting list before being confirmed. There is no charge for withdrawal from the waiting list.

 

Alternates, Substitutions & Transfers

Driver substitution may be made until two hours before the race starts. Final decisions in this matter rest with the Race Marshal.

If a confirmed entrant wishes to transfer from one Sandwich Sled Dog race to a longer or shorter race, then the entrant must withdraw from the original race and enter the substitute race, subject to the same fees and entry requirements as a new applicant. There will be no fee for this change.

Registration & Check-In

Postal registration deadline is at 2:00pm Wednesday, February 17, 2010. Late entries may be accepted (if space allows) at the Drivers’ meeting on Friday, February 19, 2010 between the hours of 5:00pm-6:45pm. There will be a late fee of $25.00 for each class entered in this manner. You must have all necessary forms, cash (no checks) and UTD Vaccination Certificates. Absolutely no registrations will be accepted on Saturday morning!

All drivers or their representatives are required to check in with the Race Secretary at the Sandwich Central School between 5:00pm - 6:45pm on Friday, February 19, 2010. This applies to all three races.

If the driver or representative fails to check in before 6:45 p.m., the Sandwich Sled Dog Race cannot guarantee that team a position in the race.

Each race will start as scheduled unless the Race Committee agrees that conditions warrant a delay. In no case will a race start be delayed more than 2 hours. If the race is cancelled, then the entry fees for that race will be refunded in full (minus the North Country Musher membership fee).

Any driver who is not prepared to leave as scheduled will be rotated to the end of the starting lineup, but the driver's recorded start time shall remain unchanged.

The driver starting the race shall drive the team throughout the race.

All winners must attend the awards ceremony to receive prize money.

2. Dogs

All dogs must be available for examination before the start of the race, if deemed warranted or at the discretion of the Race Marshal.

Vaccinations & Health

All dogs must have a current certificate of Rabies inoculation signed by a licensed veterinarian. Copies of Rabies certificates need to be available to the Race Secretary or Race Marshal upon request. In accordance with current New Hampshire law, three-year rabies vaccinations are accepted.

Dogs must also be current on Distemper and Parvo virus vaccinations and proof of vaccinations must be available to the Race Secretary or Race Marshal upon request.

Any dog deemed not healthy enough to participate may be ejected from the race, at the discretion of the Race Marshal and/or Race Veterinarian.

Drivers are expected to pay extraordinary veterinary expenses they might incur during the race. Prize monies will be awarded minus any unpaid veterinary expenses charged to the driver.

B. Race Marshal and Officials

The Race Marshal shall resolve any and all disputes and interpret the race rules in regard to infractions and penalties. He/she shall also have the authority to establish rules to cover special or unforeseen situations.

All decisions of the Race Marshal are final.

C. Trail Procedures

1. Race Course

We rely on private landowners for the use of trails and checkpoint facilities. Please respect their property.

Please clean up all waste at your truck (food, straw, poop, etc.) and be prepared to take all waste with you.

Trails will be broken, groomed, and marked before the race; however, due to weather, there is no guarantee of broken trails during the races. Trails are designed to minimize road crossings, but due to the length of the course, multiple road crossings are inevitable. Crossing volunteers are solely responsible for their junction and are to be obeyed without question. The race course may be re-routed by the race organization, as conditions require.

All teams must follow the trail as marked or as redirected by trail officials.

An overtaken team must relinquish the trail at the request of a driver who wishes to pass. The overtaken team must move to the side of the trail as far as possible and slow down or stop until the overtaking team has completely passed. To avoid "leapfrogging", the passed team must then remain behind at least 5 minutes before requesting to pass. Within one mile of the finish line, the trail does not need to be relinquished and the 5-minute rule does not apply.

Drivers resting or untangling dogs must clear the trail of their dogs and gear, making passage safe for other teams.

Drivers who litter the trail with food or other items may be subject to a penalty.

2. Outside Assistance

The spirit of this race dictates that drivers be self-sufficient. Therefore drivers should not help each other except to ensure safety and animal welfare. A driver will not be penalized for helping another driver whose life is endangered or for helping to recover a lost team.

No assistance, which would result in a competitive advantage, may be solicited or accepted.

Between checkpoints drivers may not accept assistance from any type of motorized vehicle, except to recover a lost team. Pacing with snowmobiles is prohibited. Drivers are encouraged to solicit or accept any available help recovering a lost team. (However, if the Race Marshal determines that a driver has thereby gained a competitive advantage, then the Marshal may impose an appropriate time penalty.)

A handler is anyone who helps a team. Handlers may only help control and restrain an unmanageable team. No other help is allowed during the race. Personal handlers may help a driver and team before the team starts and after the team finishes. During the race, personal handlers may transport and care for dropped dogs which have been released by race officials. If personal handlers appear on the race course or at any prohibited location, then the team shall be disqualified.

3. Sportsmanship

The rigors of this race and the history of the sport require that each competitor be courteous, helpful and honorable to a degree that will inspire similar behavior in all participants and volunteers. Rude or inappropriate behavior by drivers or handlers may result in a penalty.

If a driver or his/her agent tampers with another’s dogs, food or gear, then the driver will be disqualified.

Any driver who uses ski poles must stop poling and place the poles in or on the sled whenever his/her team is within 100 feet (30 meters) of another team or whenever an approaching driver calls "Poles" or "Trail". Failure to do so may result in a time penalty.

Possession or consumption of alcohol or illegal drugs by drivers is strictly prohibited.

4. Treatment of Dogs

No whips of any kind or the use of brush, branches or any object as a whip or to create a frightening noise is expressly prohibited. Muzzles or full choke chains will not be permitted. There is to be no dragging of teams or dogs out of check points. A sled dog's desire should be to continue the event; when that desire is sufficiently diminished and repeated attempts to leave end in failure, that team or dog is then discouraged from leaving.

Cruel or inhumane treatment of dogs will result in the immediate expulsion of the driver. The Race Committee and Race Marshal will have absolute determination regarding the treatment of dogs.

5. Loose Dogs/Lost Teams

There will be no loose dogs. All dogs will be either on the towline or in the sled. Dogs hauled in the sled must be hauled in a protected, humane manner. A driver must make immediate efforts to secure a dog that becomes loose.

A lost team will not be disqualified if the driver regains control, provided that both team and driver cover the entire race course. A driver may accept help from another driver in recovering his/her team without penalty.

6. Switching Dogs

Dogs may not be switched between teams after they have officially left the start line.

7. Dropped Dogs

A driver may drop a dog or dogs for any reason. A dropped dog may not be added to the team at a later time.

Dogs may be dropped only at designated checkpoints or at the start. If a driver returns to the start to drop a dog, the number of dogs remaining in the team must still equal or exceed the minimum required at the race start.

Any dog deemed by race officials unfit to continue the race must be dropped.