JUNIOR ALASKAN SLED DOG AND RACING ASSOCIATION

(“JrASDRA”)

REVISED BY LAWS AND RACING RULES

 

As adopted by the:

ALASKAN SLED DOG AND RACING ASSOCIATION (“ASDRA”)

December 1973

As amended thru December 1997

BY LAWS

Preamble

This Association is established for Juniors through age seventeen (17) to encourage and perpetuate the Alaska state sport of dog mushing, the breeding and training of Alaskan Sled Dogs, sportsmanship, and the humane treatment of dogs, and to conduct annual preliminary and championship races in the Anchorage Area.

1.      1.    Membership fees:                          (season, beginning each December 1)
                 A.       Initiation                                                          $5.00
                 B.       Annual dues                                                     $5.00*
                 C.       Race fees                                                        $5.00
                 D.       World Championship Racing fee                   $20.00

*Annual dues waived for members racing only in the World Championship.

2.      Voting rights - only members that have paid their Annual Dues and that are two, three, five and seven dog mushers in good standing are eligible to vote.
 

3.      “Musher” in good standing--must be a voting member and have completed at least one JrASDRA race without disqualification. (Entitled to wear the official “musher” patch.)

 

4.      Officers, consisting of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, shall be elected by December 31, and will serve for a period of one year, beginning immediately after the election and will continue until the forthcoming year’s election. Officers must be at least 10 years of age. In the event that the President cannot complete the year, the Vice President automatically becomes President.

5.      No amendments of the JrASDRA racing rules or By Laws may be made without a quorum (one-third of the voting members) being present. A two-thirds majority vote is required to pass an amendment to the racing rules or By Laws. Changes and/or additions to the racing rules must be voted on by the third meeting in December, for the ensuing race season. -Amendments to the By Laws are subject to the approval of the Board of Directors of ASDRA.

6.      Any situation not covered by these By Laws and or the JrASDRA race rules will be governed by the By Laws and race rules of ASDRA.

 

RACING RULES

SECTION I

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

(Applicable to both the Preliminary & World Championship)

1.      All mushers competing in any JrASDRA event, regardless of place of residence, must have paid all required membership fees and be members in good standing of the Association.

2.      It is understood that ASDRA or JrASDRA shall not be held liable for any loss, injury or damages incurred by participating mushers or their families and a waiver so signifying, properly executed by the mushers’ parent or legal guardian, must be filed with the Secretary of the Association. The waiver and release form shall also contain an acknowledgment, signed by the musher, that they have read and understand these race rules.

3.      All mushers will compete in the class within which their age falls as of the day of the first race of the season, providing they can competently handle that many dogs. If not, they will race in the next lower class. The classes and minimum ages and or experience requirements are as follows:

A.     One Dog Class                     Musher must have attained 4th birthday.
                                             Mushers maximum age will be 9 years.

B.     Two Dog Class                     Musher must have attained 8th birthday.

C.     Three Dog Class                   Musher must have attained 10th birthday.

D.     Five Dog Class                     Musher must have attained 14th birthday.*

*(Exception - Musher who has attained the 13th birthday and has one (1) full year’s experience in the three dog class, or a musher who has attained the 12th birthday and has two (2) full years experience in the three dog class.)

E.      Seven Dog Class               Musher must have attained 16th birthday.*

*(Exception - A musher who has attained the 15th birthday and has one (1) full year’s experience in the five dog class, or a musher who has attained the 14th birthday and has two (2) full year’s experience in the five dog class.)

NOTE: Any unforeseen problems (i.e., an otherwise qualified musher very large for his or her age or a musher with wide experience in handling teams but with no actual racing experience) will be handled as follows: The musher must present the case to the Race Marshall requesting a waiver in writing. If approval is given, the musher will be allowed to race in a class. However, if any doubt remains in the minds of the Race Officials, they may impose a temporary probation or restriction, either on the number of dogs or the starting position.

4.         DOGS:

  1. No dogs shall be brought to any Association race from a kennel where there has been indication of contagious disease within four (4) weeks, nor shall any person from such a kennel attend an Association race. Willful violation of this rule shall be cause for expulsion from the Association. The existence of any contagious disease in a kennel must be reported promptly to the Secretary and a written statement from a veterinarian that the danger of contagion no longer               exists is required before a team from such a kennel may be entered in an Association race.
  2. A dog may run in only one (1) race in any one (1) day. This shall not act to prevent the dog from being used in a short exhibition such as lead dog contest or the one dog class. No dog may run twice in the one dog class.
  3. Any dog disqualified by the Officials or left out of a heat by the musher cannot be re-entered in any succeeding heat of that race for any reason.
  4. The use of internal medications, injections, or stimulants to the dogs before, during, or after a race except for medicinal purposes, is prohibited.
  5. No loose leaders will be allowed. Except for leaders, all dogs must have neck-lines. Staggered leads are recognized providing that both traces pull from a common point on the towline and further provided that the hindmost dogs head is no further back than the foremost dogs flank. Use of necklines on double-leads is optional with the musher.
  6. All dogs in a team must be properly harnessed and hooked into place in the team at the time it leaves the starting line. All dogs must return to the finish line either in the team or riding securely in the sled bag.

5.    EQUIPMENT

A.     A sled capable of carrying the musher and safely carrying a dog or dogs shall be considered proper equipment. Sleds in the two dog class with wide open slating can be made acceptable for transporting a dog& by the addition of canvas, burlap or other cover properly secured to the sled. Sleds in the three, five and seven dog classes shall have a sled bag capable of transporting dogs enclosed completely within the sled basket. Brush-bow and operable brake are required equipment in all classes and a functional snow hook, properly secured, is required in the two, three, five and seven dog classes.

B.     Musher, dogs, and equipment must be in the holding area and subject to inspection or available for a mushers’ meeting at least 30 minutes prior to race time. All mushers who failed to attend the drawing for starting positions must attend a mandatory mushers’ meeting prior to the race. Any mushers, dogs or equipment found to be unfit or in the opinion of the Officials, incapable of safely completing the course at any time shall either not be allowed to start or be disqualified.

C.     No whips, clubs, chains, pepper, or any other similar instruments will be carried. Any abuse of dogs is prohibited and shall be grounds for immediate disqualification. No interference with a competing team by swinging or snapping a snub-line, or other is allowed. The snub-line is to be used for hitching only and must be secured in such a manner that it will not drag behind the sled.

D.     No choke chain of any kind can be worn by a dog in any Association race. No dog will be run on any type of “choke” or “force” collar in any Association race. No dog will be run tight-line regardless of they type of collar or neckline used.

 

6.   GENERAL TRAIL RULES:

A.     Races shall be run regardless of the weather unless deemed prohibitive by the Race Officials.

B.     Starting time for each team shall be determined by a drawing for position by the mushers, owners, or designated proxies. The drawing shall be held prior to the race at a time designated by the Association. No change in starting position shall be allowed for any reason. Post entries are not allowed.

C.     In races of more than one heat, the starting order for the succeeding heats shall be determined by the total elapsed time of the previous heat or heats. The fastest team shall start first, and the other teams will follow in the order of their total elapsed time. In the case of a tie, on the following day, the driver who started first the previous day shall go out second.

D.     The finish time for each team shall be the time at which the lead dog crosses the finish line.

E.      The time of a team driven in a race of more than one day by two mushers shall be counted in the race’s standing provided such change of mushers is permitted only as between different days and not during any single day’s running of the course. Such change is permitted only as a result of illness or injury. Any other musher dropping out cannot return a subsequent day.

F.      A musher may ride, pedal, or run as and when he wishes except that he must not pace his team by running ahead of the sled. A musher may lead his team through areas where spectators or other interference may intimidate or cause his team to become unmanageable.

G.     In the event a team or leader balks or tries to go the wrong direction at the starting line, the musher will be allowed time to attempt a start (at the 
discretion of the Officials), but not to exceed the interval of time allowed between the regular starting time of teams. Race Officials may assist the musher to the extent of holding the sled. In such cases, time will be counted against the musher from the time the starting signal was given. In the event a team becomes uncontrollable within the limits of the chute as marked, one designated handler or Official will be allowed to assist the musher.

H.     When one team shall overtake another within fifty (50) feet, the team behind shall have the immediate right-of-way upon the verbal command of  “TRAIL”.  The musher ahead must then stop his team and hold them to the best of his or her ability until the other team has passed. Failure to yield trail upon proper demand shall be treated as a serious violation of these race rules. A passing musher with a tangled team may require the following musher to wait no more than one (1) minute. In the event that the team passed shall hang-on for two minutes or one-half mile, it may then have the right to demand the trail. If a team shall overtake another within the “no right of way” zone the team behind may pass the other, if possible, without demanding or receiving right-of-way.

I.        A team must run the entire course as marked or be disqualified. In the event of a runaway where a team escapes from the musher, such team will be disqualified if another competing team is delayed or interfered with by such runaway team. When no such interference occurs and the team continues on the course, the team will not be disqualified providing the musher shall attempt to overtake his team on foot so that team, sled, and driver cover the entire course without assistance. In such case, the finish time shall be that time when the musher crosses the finish line. In the event a runaway team leaves the course or turns back on the course, it is the duty of the musher to overtake the team. After overtaking his or her team the musher will be allowed to drive the team back to the point where the dogs left the course and continue the race. All time lost in recovering the team will be counted as elapsed time, in addition to any other penalty. If a team is caught at a road crossing, it will not be disqualified providing that the above qualifications are met.

J.       A musher with an “uncontrollable” team may have assistance without disqualification. “Uncontrollable” shall be construed to mean “Beyond the physical capability of the musher to stop or control”. A severe fight within the ranks of his or her team or between two teams shall be considered uncontrollable and the musher or mushers may have assistance without disqualification.

K.    Mushers, owners or any other persons are forbidden to assist a team by pacing. Outside assistance will be allowed only when a team is uncontrollable. Should any injury result to one rendering assistance, it is understood and agreed that ASDRA or JrASDRA shall not be held liable and it is solely the owner’s responsibility.

L.      A musher giving another musher, who has lost their team, a ride will not be disqualified. The musher accepting the ride will be penalized five (5) minutes.

4.   MUSHERS

A.     Every person entering or mushing a team in a race and their handlers will be required to conduct himself or herself in a sportsmanlike, fair, and honorable manner. Violations of this rule shall be treated as a serious violation of these race rules. Complaints of conduct on the trail or infraction of rules must be registered with the Race Marshall immediately following the musher’s return to the finish line. This protest or complaint may be verbal, but it must be followed by a written and signed statement submitted to the judges within six (6) hours after the finish of the race or individual heat, whichever the case may be. Protestant must pay two dollars with verbal protest; which shall be returned upon receipt of written protest.

B.     Clothing and foot ware capable of protecting the musher from the existing weather and trail conditions, as well as the racing bib furnished by JrASDRA, shall be worn. If no bib number is displayed on the musher, the musher will automatically be disqualified.

C.     Any musher disqualified by the Officials for a serious violation of these rules in a race cannot be re-enter in any succeeding heat of that race for any reason. Any such musher shall be subject to a requirement that the musher participates in an approved training session before being allowed to enter subsequent JrASDRA races.

                                                                                              

5.      OFFICIALS

A.            The Race Marshall shall be appointed by the Junior Advisor of ASDRA, approved by the ASDRA Board of Directors, and shall be in full charge of the race(s). All other Race Officials, including Race Judges, sled holders and race timers, shall come under the direction of the Race Marshal. The decision of the Race Marshall or Race Officials on any questions concerning the race shall be final.

 

SECTION II

PRELIMINARY RACES

1.      The Association shall conduct preliminary races during the months of January and February each year, leading to preliminary championships in each class.

2.      To determine the preliminary championship in each class, a number of points will be recorded for each musher in each preliminary race, per the following schedule:

a.       1st Place Finish                        5 points

b.      2nd Place Finish                        4 points

c.       3rd Place Finish                        3 points

d.      All other mushers successfully completing a race shall be awarded one (1) point. A musher can only win points for one class per year.

3.      A musher must participate in 3 preliminary races to qualify for points in the championship series. The Vice-President of the Association shall keep a record of points earned. At the end of the preliminary season the musher with the most points earned in his or her class, shall receive the preliminary championship trophy for that class. Trophies will be presented to the First, Second and Third place finishers.

4.      Race distances for the preliminary races will be set for each class will be set by the third meeting in December, for the ensuing race season. Once established, these distances will not be changed except by the Race Marshal.

SECTION III

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACE

1.      All mushers competing in the World Championship Race must be members of the Association. Applications for membership from out-of-town mushers for the purpose of satisfying this requirement shall be accepted without vote upon receipt of membership fees consisting of the Initiation, Racing and World Championship Fees.

2.      Local mushers (those who reside in the Municipality of Anchorage and are not an active member of another sled dog club) must successfully complete three (3) preliminary races in one season to compete in the World Championship Race. Eligibility will not have to be renewed as long as the musher competes in the same class as in a previous World Championship, providing that membership in the Association has not been allowed to lapse. If a musher has once qualified in a particular class but has allowed his or her membership in the Association to lapse during a season in which the musher did not wish to compete, the following will apply:

a.       Musher must re-apply for membership in the Association.

b.      Musher must run in one (1) preliminary race providing they are competing in the same class as that in which they were previously qualified. If not competing in the same class, three (3) preliminary races must be run and successfully completed, or, a waiver must be obtained, signed by the Race Marshal, providing that the person is capable of handling the number of dogs.

3.      To compete in the World Championship Race, a musher who is an active member of another sled dog club must provide proof of at least one race sponsored by the sled dog club that was completed by the musher in the class in which the musher wishes to run.

4.      Any one Junior Musher may not compete in more than one of the dog classes during the World Championship.