Hudson Bay Quest - 2006 Quest - 2005 Race - 2004 Race - Mushers - History - Sponsors - Contact
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HUDSON BAY QUEST - 2007 RULES 1. Race Start - The official starting date for the 2007 race is March 24th, 2007. The race will start at 9:00am Central Standard Time. The official starting place will be Arviat, Nunavut and racers must be in Arviat on March 23rd for the official veterinarian check. The race will be held regardless of weather conditions. 2. Entry Fee and Dates - 2007 Hudson Bay Quest Dog Sled Race (herein referred to as HBQ) entry opens December 1st, 2006. Receipt of the entry fee, completed application form, and completed driver's biography, will constitute the driver's intent to enter the race and further acknowledges that the driver understands and agrees to comply with each and every rule as stated. HBQ reserves the right to reject any entry. Entries are determined on a first come first served basis. The Maximum number of teams for the race is twenty (20). The entry fee is $300. 3. Conditions of Entry - Driver must be a minimum of 18 years of age. Drivers must not be censured by any dog racing organization. No one convicted of animal abuse or neglect may enter the Hudson Bay Quest. Each driver shall sign any and all documents or promotional material requested by HBQ prior to or at the Driver's meeting. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. 4. Withdrawal before Race - Any entrant once registered who then withdraws from the race will not be refunded his entrance fee. This is the fourth running of the HBQ and entries are limited so there will be no refunds. Mushers withdrawing, after official registration, will not be permitted to run in the 2008 Quest. 5. Course and Checkpoints - The course covers approximately 400km of arctic barren land wilderness, much of it along the Hudson Bay coast. The trail will be broken and marked prior to the race, but due to weather conditions there will be no guarantee of broken trail during the race. There will be five checkpoints between Churchill and Arviat. These checkpoints will be named before the race and driver's will be given the locations at this time. There will be a mandatory six hour rest at Nunalla checkpoint for the veterinarian check. The start time differential will also be made up at this checkpoint. 6. Dog Food - The whole intent of this race is to be self-sufficient for the length of the race. As there are many unforeseen circumstances traveling in the arctic, we will be supplying a dog food drop at the halfway point of the race. In the event that a driver is in trouble and does not have enough food for his/her dogs at this point, he may draw food from the emergency dog food supply with a penalty attached of eight (8) hours to his/her time. This penalty will be recorded by that checkpoint and the penalty will be added to the team's time at the end of the race. The driver must declare what food he/she feeds his dogs at the start of the race and the amount he/she is taking with them, at the halfway point the driver must have half the dog food with them. 7. Dropped Dogs -Nunalla will be the only checkpoint where you can drop dogs. They will have to leave a supply of dog food for three days for the dog. 8. Additional Freight - HBQ may require a small amount of promotional freight as part of the mandatory load which will consist of one parcel of food and mail that must be turned in to a race official at the completion of the race or when scratching. 9. Race Officials - The intent of the rules will guide Race marshal and Race Judges in their decisions. The Race Marshal is in charge of all aspects of the race from the pre-race drivers meeting to the awards presentation. Race judges will act as deputies of the Race Marshal. The Race Marshal may waive or reduce monetary or time penalties for unforeseen circumstances that might befall a driver. 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. The Race Veterinarian will be present throughout the race to monitor the health and welfare of all dogs, advise drivers in caring for their dogs' medical needs and provide veterinary treatment for dropped dogs, if necessary. 10. Veterinary Checks - All dogs will undergo a thorough physical examination before the race starts. Any dog which cannot qualify for a certificate of good health will not run in the race. All dogs entered in the race shall have had parvo and distemper vaccinations within the last twelve (12) months. Rabies vaccinations must be current. Certificates and invoices will be required to prove vaccination status. HBQ has sponsored a licensed veterinarian who will be conducting these examinations. HBQ will not provide this service after the official vet check. The official HBQ health certificate must be presented prior to the start of the pre-race drivers' meeting. Failure to comply will result in disqualification. The time and place of the vet check will be announced by HBQ. 11.Drivers' Meeting and Drawing - All drivers must be present at the meeting. Failure to answer roll alls in person will mean disqualification. Each driver must draw their starting position in person at the banquet. 12. Prize Money - The purse will be $15,000 or more. Official race purse will be announced on March 1st 2007 13. Sled - Only one sled per driver will be used throughout the race. Each driver has a choice of sled, subject to the condition that some kind of sled or toboggan equipped with a brake must be drawn. The sled or toboggan must be capable of safely negotiating a 400 km trail and hauling any injured or fatigued dogs that required food, materials, and equipment. 14. Awards Presentation - The awards presentation ceremony in Churchill on the evening of 28th March 2007. 15. Claims - Each driver agrees to hold HBQ, the race sponsors and other contributors harmless from any claim or demand based on any alleged action or inaction by the driver, his/her dogs, agents or others acting on his/her behalf. The drivers' also agree to release HBQ, race sponsors, their agents, employees and volunteers from any claim or demand resulting from injury to the driver, his/her dogs or his/her property. Further HBQ has the unqualified and unrestricted authority to permit the race sponsors to photograph and otherwise collect information for advertising, public relations or other publicity purposes. 16. Driver's Report/Protest Form - This sled dog race will not survive if the competition is not conducted fairly and the dogs are not well cared for and humanely treated. It is the duty of every driver to report all violations of these Rules to the Race Marshal or Race Judges. The forms for reporting violations or protests are available at the checkpoints.
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Hudson Bay Quest - 2005 Race - 2004 Race - Mushers - History - Sponsors - Contact
Hudson Bay Quest - P.O. Box 728 - Churchill, Manitoba - CANADA - R0B 0E0
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1. Common Start/Late Start - Teams will leave the starting line at two minute intervals. Any driver who cannot leave the starting line in the order drawn will be started after the scheduled departure time of the final team. Any team that cannot leave the starting line within sixty minutes of the last team's mandatory start may be disqualified. 2. Gear and Equipment - The following items must be presented to the checker before 3. Checkpoint - Each driver must personally check in and sign out at each checkpoint before going on. The time into the checkpoint is recorded upon the team's arrival and the required gear will be checked immediately. Any driver failing to sign out will be assessed a time penalty of two hours at the next mandatory stop or a driver and team may return on the trail to the checkpoint to sign out without penalty. The checkpoints will be staffed 24 hours a day for a period of 72 hours after the first team arrives. All dogs must leave checkpoints in harness and attached to the towline. A dog may arrive at a checkpoint in the sled and leave in harness attached to the towline. 4. Mandatory Stop - There will be a mandatory stop of 6 hours at the Nunalla Checkpoint, roughly halfway between Arviat and Churchill. At this time, every team will be evaluated by the HBQ veterinarian, with a report to the Race Official. 5. Race Course - All teams must follow the trail as marked or as instructed by the Race Marshal. 6. Standard Race Courtesy - Standard race courtesy shall prevail. An overtaken driver and team must relinquish the trail at the request of the overtaking driver, except within one mile/1.6 kilometres of the finish line. 7. Clearing the Trail - Drivers setting up camp must clear the trail of their dogs and gear. 8. Litter - Litter of any kind may not be left along the trail or at cabins. Camps must be cleaned up before the team moves on. Failure to comply with this rule may result in disqualification. 9. One Driver Per Team - Only one driver per team is permitted, and that driver must complete the race with that team only. 10.Tampering - No driver may tamper with another drivers' dogs, food or gear. 11. Outside Assistance - No driver may receive outside help between checkpoints unless an emergency has been declared by the Race Marshal. The intended spirit of the race is that the driver be self-sufficient and therefore able to help other drivers in case of real need. No assistance which would result in a competitive edge may be accepted or solicited. 12. Demand for Food or Shelter - A driver may not make demands for food or shelter along the trail or at checkpoints. 13. Sleeping Areas - Sleeping areas for drivers are the responsibility of the drivers only. At checkpoints, you can set up camp as designated by checkpoint staff but you have to be self-sufficient. 14. Killing of Game Animals - Any animal killed in defence of life and property must be reported to an HBQ Race Official at the next checkpoint. A food animal must be gutted before proceeding along the trail. No hunting allowed during the race. 15. Motorized Vehicles - In no case may a driver accept assistance from any type of motorized vehicle between checkpoints. Pacing will not be permitted. 16. Care and Feeding of Dogs - All care and feeding of dogs will be done by the drivers only. Drivers may assist one another between checkpoints. 17. Dog Minimums and Maximums - Drivers must start the race with no less than eight dogs and no more than 12 dogs. Finishing teams must have at least six dogs. Dogs may not be added to a team after the start of the race. An expired dog does not count as a dog for the minimum required. Only dogs suitable for arctic travel will be permitted to enter the race. 18. Harnesses - The neck (and breast panel) or all harnesses must be padded. 19. Switching of Dogs - Switching of dogs between teams will not be permitted after they have officially left the start. 20. Treatment of Dogs - There will be no cruel or inhumane treatment of dogs. No use of whips will be allowed. The race Marshal or Race Judges in conjunction with the Race Veterinarian will have absolute authority over the dog teams. Their judgement as to withdrawal of a dog or dogs from the race, or any other conditions relative to dog care on the trail, shall be final. The health and condition of all dogs will be visually assessed at Nunalla. Dogs may not be examined without the driver's knowledge. The Race Veterinarian in conjunction with the Race Marshal or a Race Judge may deem it necessary to detain teams at any checkpoint if the health and welfare of a team warrants it. No dog teams will leave a checkpoint until the dogs in that team are fit to continue in the race. 21. Hauling Dogs - A driver may not allow any dogs to be hauled by another team. Drivers' dogs hauled in a sled must be hauled in a secure, protected, humane manner. 22. Dropped Dogs - Any injured, fatigued or sick dogs may be dropped only at Nunalla without penalty. Each dog dropped must be left with three days of food. The driver remains responsible for that dog and all fees incurred. The dog must be examined by the Race Veterinarian and accounted for prior to the start of the Awards Banquet. 23. Expired Dogs - The death of any dog may result in the disqualification of the driver and/or prohibition from entering future races. Any dog that expires during the race for any reason must be taken to the next checkpoint or checkpoint just passed and submitted to the Race Official. A necropsy will be performed on all expired dogs by a licensed veterinary pathologist or veterinarian at the driver's expense. 24. Unmanageable Team - Outside assistance will be allowed only if a team is unmanageable. Whether a team is unmanageable will be ruled upon by the Race Marshal in each separate instance. 25. Team Configuration - There will be no loose leaders; necklines are not required on leaders. All team dogs will be attached by neckline to the towline, no more than 2 dogs abreast, unless a fan hitch is being utilized. Dogs may not be led behind the sled. 26. A Lost Team - A lost team will not be disqualified if the driver regains control of it, provided that the team and driver complete the entire race trail and comply with the rules including checkpoint requirements. A driver may receive assistance from another driver to regain control of his/her team. A driver may receive assistance from a motorized vehicle to regain control of a lost team provided the driver and team return to the point which the team was lost and continue the race from that point. The incident shall be reported at the next checkpoint.
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Scratch / Withdraw / Disqualification 28. Finish - Subject to checking of mandatory gear, the time of a teams official finish is when the nose of the dog in lead crosses the finish line. Should any mandatory gear be missing, 30 minutes per item will be added to the finish time. Dog teams must remain at the finish line or holding area until released by the Race Marshal, Race Judge, or the Race Veterinarian. 29. Sportsmanship - The Code of the North dictates that all travelers be courteous, helpful, generous and honorable. Conduct yourself well enough so that the next driver will be welcomed with equal hospitality.
Rude behavior
or inappropriate actions by a driver will result in a penalty. |
Hudson Bay Quest - 2006 Quest - 2005 Race - 2004 Race - Mushers - History - Sponsors - Contact
Hudson Bay Quest - P.O. Box 728 - Churchill, Manitoba - CANADA - R0B 0E0