Sanctioning Requirements and Standards 1)       TIME TRAIL EVENT-GIVING ORGANIZATION'S RESPONSIBILITIES a)  An organization which wishes to apply for Adult Program sanctioning shall: i)   Use the Time Trail event & Weight Packing & Pull Rules. ii)  Follow procedures. iii) Provide a Veterinarian on site or on call at all sanctioned time trail events. b)  Any member organisation in good standing may apply to for sanctioning of their occasions. c)  Organisation Membership fees shall be payable prior to or at the time sanctioning applications and forms are submitted. d)  Where more than one organisation is sponsoring an occasion, only one need be a member. 2)      APPLYING FOR SANCTIONING a)  Sanctioning Seasons i)   The sanctioning season for Dryland time trail events and weight pulls in the Southern Hemisphere, shall be from the first full weekend in March to the last full weekend in August. ii)  Organisations which wish to apply outside of the above time frames must apply forty-five (45) days before the occasion. iii)  A late fee will be charged for all sanctioning applications postmarked later than 45 days prior to the occasion. iv) All sanctioning applications not postmarked at least 30 days prior to the first day of the occasion may be rejected. Sanctioning applications are available through the Secretary. b)  Classes which qualify for Adult Sanctioning are: i)  Dryland Time Trail Events Classes               (1)     Limited Eight (8) Dog Rig Class (4-wheeler carts) (2)     Limited Six (6) Dog Rig Class (4-wheeler carts) (3)     Limited Four (4) Dog Rig Class (3-wheeler carts) (4)     Limited Two (2) Dog Sulkie Class (5)     Limited Two (2) Dog Men’s Bikejoring Class (6)     Limited Two (2) Dog Women’s Bikejoring Class (7)     Limited One (1) Dog Men’s Bikejoring Class (8)     Limited One (1) Dog Women’s Bikejoring Class (9)     Limited Two (2) Dog Men’s Scooter Class (10) Limited Two (2) Dog Women’s Scooter Class (11) Limited One (1) Dog Men’s Scooter Class (12) Limited One (1) Dog Women’s Scooter Class (13) Limited One (1) Dog Men’s Canicross Class (14) Limited One (1) Dog Women’s Canicross Class (15) Limited One (1) Dog Men’s Caniwalk Class (16) Limited One (1) Dog Women’s Caniwalk Class ii)       Weight Pull Classes (1)  27 Kg Class (Dogs weighing 27 Kg or less.) (2)  36 Kg Class (Dogs weighing over 27 Kg, up to and including 36 Kg.) (3)  50 Kg Class (Dogs weighing over 36 Kg, up to and including 50 Kg.) (4)   Unlimited Class (Dogs weighing over 50 Kg.) iii)      Back Packing Classes (1)  Weight carried, 30% of dogs body weight over cross-country for a minimum of 7 kilometres. 1.     Upon review by the Executive Director, the Sanctioning Committee and the Rules Committee Chairs, the Board of Directors may approve other occasions as Sanctioned 'Invitational' or 'Special' occasions. Such occasions may or may not qualify for inclusion in the Championship Points program. The Sanctioning Committee will make the determination of inclusion with the required prior approval. 2.      A Class may be ‘grouped’ as follows: iv)     Classes to be be ‘grouped’ as follows:      (1)  A grouped Class must have an 'All-breed' group. (2)  A grouped Class may have a ‘Registered Breed’ group. A ‘Registered Breed’ group is defined as KUSA/FCI registered Alaskan Malamutes, Greenland Dogs, Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies with the Siberian Huskies to compete in their own seperate class. (3)   Additional ‘Non-registered Breed’ groups may be created at the discretion of the board; defined as Alaskan Huskies and un-registered Alaskan Malamutes, Samoyeds and Siberian Huskies, with the Alaskan Huskies and Huskies each to compete in their own seperate class. (4)   Additional ‘Other Non-registered Breed’ groups may be created at the discretion of the Board with the make-up of various other breeds not defined above or should any other breed be combined in a race team to compete in their own single class. (5)  All conditions and requirements pertaining to the groups are the responsibility of the Time trail event-giving Organisation. (6)  A grouped Class may be seeded according to the Seeding Procedure. (7)  Separate non-monitory prizes may be awarded for each group(s). (8)  In no instance shall the prize for a ‘Registered Breed’ group or ‘other’ groups exceed the purse for the 'All-breed' group. (9) A ‘Registered Breed’ will be run under the KUSA/FCI Registered Breed Group standard. 3)       SANCTIONING FEES a)     An occasion is composed of one or more classes of sled dog competitions. b)     An occasion with one (1) or more senior sanctioned class(es) will pay a fee of Twenty Five Rand (R25.00) for each Junior Sanctioned class. c)     An occasion with no adult sanctioned classes will pay a fee of Fifty Rand (R50.00) for the 1st Junior Sanctioned class competition and Twenty Five Rand (R25.00) for each Junior Sanctioned class thereafter. i)        Weight Pull: Twenty Five Rand (R25.00) with the same requirements listed in Section C. i – iii . ii)       Sanctioning fees or any part thereof are non-refundable. iii)     A late fee of Fifty Rand (R50.00) will be charged for any application not postmarked forty-five (45) days in advance of the scheduled occasion. (1)  "Special Occasions' and 'Invitational Occasions' sanctioning fees will be determined on an individual basis by the Board as approved. 4)       TRAILS a)     Trail marking and marking procedures shall be followed as stated in the Time trail event Procedures. 5)       CRITERIA FOR NATIONAL WINNER STATUS a)     Ten occasions per recognized class in a single year. b)     The highest points holders, as calculated as per the ‘National Point Awards” scale, for each Class to be certified as National Champions in their Class for a specific year. 6)       NATIONAL POINTS AWARDS a)     Current members of affiliated Clubs are awarded Championship Points based on their finish position and the assigned points for each race are awarded e.g. down to five (5 entries) places based on the fastest times achieved; i)       5/5 of assigned points (100) +8.00% =  108 ii)      4/5 of assigned points (100) +4.00% =   83.2 iii)     3/5 of assigned points (100) +2.00% =    61.2 iv)     2/5 of assigned points (100) = 40 v)     1/5 of assigned points (100) = 20 xvi)  Etc. depending on the amount of entries. 7)      PUBLICISED SANCTIONED OCCASIONS a)   An organisation shall broadcast through advertising or on its entry form that it is sanctioned and include the following information: i)       The classes to sanction ii)     Rule options to be applied to the event: (1)   Single Start (2)   Drug testing (3)   Starting Procedure (4)   Site and date of event, (5)   Entry fee(s), and Entry fee deadlines. iii)  No related advertising should be made until sanctioning approval has been confirmed and received. 8)      EVENT CANCELLATION and SANCTIONING WITHDRAWAL a)    Where an organization cannot meet sanctioning standards (as listed under Sanctioning Requirements and Standards - Section D - Trails - a) as the result of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the event-giving organization, they shall make every attempt to notify the drivers entered in the event that the event has been either cancelled, rescheduled, or that the organization is voluntarily withdrawing its sanctioning status. b)    Where an organization cannot meet sanctioning standards (as listed under Sanctioning Requirements and Standards - Section D - Trails - a), as the result of unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the event-giving organization, they shall notify the  Secretary that the event has been either cancelled, rescheduled, or that the organization is voluntarily with drawings its sanctioning status. c)     Such notification shall be made no later than forty-eight (48) hours prior to the start of the first heat of the event. d)    An organization which notifies drivers and the Secretary of a event cancellation or voluntary withdrawal of sanctioning forty-eight (48) hours prior to the start of the first heat of the event shall not jeopardize future sanctioning considerations by the Board. e)    Failure to follow the above procedures in the cancellation of an event, rescheduling, or withdrawal of sanctioning shall be considered an infraction of the sanctioning requirements. f)      The voluntary withdrawal of SAFDSS sanctioning does not preclude the running of the event if it is possible under lesser standards than those required. 9)      CANCELLATION OF A HEAT a)    Where a heat of an event must be cancelled for safety reasons, future sanctioning shall not be jeopardized. b)    Where any heat of a event is cancelled, all trophies advertised shall be awarded based on the times of completed heat(s). 10)  MEMBERSHIP STATUS OF CONTESTANTS a)    Require that mushers competing in SAFDSS Sanctioned Junior Events be members. b)   The sponsoring organization needs to ascertain each participant’s membership standing: i)     Each member shall be provided with an annual membership card as proof of current affiliation. ii)    An updated listing of members may be obtained through the Secretary by organizations conducting sanctioned occasions. c)     Membership shall be available at event sites. d)    Event organizations may assess and retain a surcharge of up to 20% for memberships collected at event sites. The event organization must state the surcharge on advertising and/or entry forms. 11)  REPORT FORMS a)    The event-giving organization is charged with returning to the Secretary the following report forms to be filled in by event officials and event competitors within seven (7) days after the completion of the occasion. (Failure to do so may result in denial of sanctioning for future occasions in the same and following year.) b)     Event Marshal Report c)     Written Point Championship Report 12)  FINISHING POSITION REPORTS a)    On the same evening of the completion of the occasion, or within 24 hours of the completion at the latest, the event-giving organization shall provide Point Championship Report information for each sanctioned class to the Secretary by FAX or Email. b)   The results will be used to determine point standings and provide publicity information to  member clubs sponsoring sanctioned occasions and other media as warranted. c)      The report shall contain: i)        All finishers' names in order of finish in the class. ii)      Total number of kilometres run in the event class. iii)    Number of entries starting in the class. iv)    Number of kilograms carried per dog in each freight class. v)      Weight Pull Dog Registration Number. vi)    Each Junior member’s number MUST be included to facilitate accurate recording. 13)  RESPONSIBILITIES   SANCTIONING and MEMBERSHIP FEES      a)  To record all payments and so notify the concerned individuals or event-giving organizations. 14)  SANCTIONING MATERIALS and APPLICATIONS a)    To send all sanctioning materials and sanctioning applications to those organizations making requests for them. b)    To refer sanctioning applications to the Board for reference and approval. c)     To send to the event-giving organization: Event Marshal, Timer Report forms and copies of the Event and/or Weight Pull Rules. 15)  FULL SANCTIONING STATUS a)    The Board will grant full sanctioning of all event-giving organizations who provide sufficient and reasonable guarantees that their occasion can meet sanctioning standards, animal welfare and anti-doping regulations. b)    Full sanctioning status guarantees that participating contestants who are members will receive points earned in a sanctioned occasion regardless of the occasion's future sanctioning status. All point received to count for national championship status and ranking purposes. 16)  EVALUATING and FUTURE SANCTIONING STATUS a)    The Board shall evaluate all events based on the official report forms and any other information which may be pertinent to its considerations. b)    In the occasion a sanctioned event does not meet sanctioning standards as the result of not meeting any part of the sanctioning requirements and procedures: c)     Conditional sanctioning may be awarded for the following season, which means that Full Sanctioning may be granted only if corrections can be made through guarantees provided by the event-giving organization which are satisfactory to the Secretary. d)    The event giving organization may be required to undergo a “re-entry” sanctioned occasion to regain full sanctioning status. e)    All "full" sanctioned procedures, requirements and rules apply to a re-entry sanctioned occasion. f)      No points are awarded to contestants in re-entry sanctioned occasions. g)    The reports shall be sent to the event-giving organizations after evaluations have been completed. 17)  CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS a)    Adult Certificates offered for placing in Sanctioned Events shall be awarded in accordance with the Championship Award Program regulations. 18)  FAX /Email REPORTS OF RESULTS a)    We will accept providing results of all finishers in sanctioned occasions following the conclusion of the contest. b)    Faxes or Email must be sent as soon as possible and no later than twenty-four (24) hours after the end of the occasion by a responsible member of the occasion-giving organization. c)     The report of results shall be directed to the Secretary. d)    It shall contain the following information related to each sanctioned class: as appropriate: e)    All the names of the finishers' names in order of completion in the class. f)     Total number of kilometres run in each racing class. g)    Number of entries starting in the class. h)    Number of kilograms carried per dog in each freight class. i)      Weight Pull Dog Registration Number. j)     Each members number, region and province MUST be included to facilitate accurate recordings. 19)   PUBLICITY RELEASES a)   Reports of both national and regional winners, a listing of all mushers' point standing and other pertinent information about sanctioned occasions will be published on this official website.. b)  General news releases will be made to club and public media publications whenever warranted.