Oct13

Sled Dog Race Classes Explained

Categories // UK9 How To Article

You know how it is, you want to enter a running race with your dog but which class do you choose? Entering DR6 because you want to do "Dog Running 6 Miles" could end you in a whole lot of trouble!

We have put together a list of the race classes run by most organisations/clubs so you don't end up chasing a 6 dog husky team with your Jack Russell attached to you by a belt.

RACE CLASSES FOR CLUBS WHO FOLLOW IFSS RULES

 

Class Code

Definition

Competitor Age

Year of Birth

 

 

 

 

DR8

Dryland Rig 8 Dog

19 - 99

2000 or before

DR6

Dryland Rig 6 Dog

19 - 99

2000 or before

DR3/4

Dryland Rig 3 or 4 Dog

19 - 99

2000 or before

DS4J

Dryland Rig 4 Dog Junior

14 - 18

2005 - 2001

 

 

 

 

DBM

Dryland Bikejor elite Men

19 - 99

2000 or before

DBW

Dryland Bikejor elite Women

19 - 99

2000 or before

DBMV

Dryland Bikejor Men Veteran

40 - 99

1979 or before

DBWV

Dryland Bikejor Women Veteran

40 - 99

1979 or before

DBMJ

Dryland Bikejor Men Junior

16 – 18

2003 - 2001

DBWJ

Dryland Bikejor Women Junior

16 – 18

2003 - 2001

 

 

 

 

DS2 or DS/R2

Dryland Scooter 2 Dog

(can also be run on a rig)

19 - 99

2000 or before

DS1M

Dryland Scooter 1 Dog Men

19 - 99

2000 or before

DS1W

Dryland Scooter 1 Dog Women

19 - 99

2000 or before

DS1J

Dryland Scooter 1 Dog Junior

(can also be run on a rig)

14 - 18

2005 - 2001

DS1Y

Dryland Scooter 1 Dog Youth

11 – 13

2008 - 2006

 

 

 

 

DCM

Dryland Canicross elite Men

19 - 99

2000 or before

DCW

Dryland Canicross elite Women

19 - 99

2000 or before

DCMV

Dryland Canicross Men Veteran

40 - 99

1979 or after

DCWV

Dryland Canicross Women Veteran

40 - 99

1979 or after

DCMJ

Dryland Canicross Men Junior

14 - 18

2005 - 2001

DCWJ

Dryland Canicross Women Junior

14 - 18

2005 - 2001

DCMY

Dryland Canicross Men Youth

11 – 13

2008 - 2006

DCWY

Dryland Canicross Women Youth

11 – 13

2008 - 2006

 

 

 

 

DR**

Dryland Relay

14 – 99

2005 or before

 

 

 

 

New classes added this year for IFSS Dryland Combined – this consists of one heat with Canicross and one heat with Scooter 1 Dog, run by the same team.

 

 

 

 

DCbM

Dryland Combined Men

19 - 99

2000 or before

DCbW

Dryland Combined Women

19 - 99

2000 or before

DCbMJ

Dryland Combined Men Junior

14 - 18

2005 - 2001

DCbWJ

Dryland Combined Women Junior

14 - 18

2005 - 2001

 

A bit more info:

 

Elite – This refers to a person in their prime i.e. not a junior or veteran.

 

F – Freight Breeds

 

RNB – Registered Nordic Breeds: Dogs of the acknowledged sled dog breeds (Siberian Husky, Alaskan Malamute, Samoyed, Greenland Dog, Canadian Eskimo Dog) that hold a document/pedigree that was issued by one of the following breeding associations: FCI (Federation Cynologique International); CKC (Canadian Kennel Club); AKC (American Kennel Club) or KC (British Kennel Club)

 

Year of Birth – The IFSS is international so we start the season in the Northern hemisphere and it ends in the Southern hemisphere.  So it starts in our winter in 2018 and ends in our summer in 2019. So the year of birth is for the age you will be on 31st December 2019.

Youths – Some clubs specify that youth classes must be accompanied by an adult.

 


 

SHCGB RALLY CLASSIFICATIONS

 

Class Code

Definition

A

No more than 8 dogs, no less than 5

B

No more than 6 dogs, no less than 4

C

No more than 4 dogs, no less than 3

D

2 dogs only

E

No more than 3 dogs, no less than 2

U

Unlimited, no less than 5 dogs

J1

1 dog (dog 1 year+ / driver 8-11)

J2

1-2 dogs (dog 1 year+ / driver 12-15)

 

.2

Mixed Sled Dog Breeds – where Siberian only classes are schedule

Cani-Cross

One dog and a competitor, racing on foot

Bike-Joring

One dog and a driver pedalling on a bicycle

Scooter

One dog and a driver riding a two-wheeled scooter

Veteran

2-4 dogs of any eligible breed, the average age of all dogs in the team to be over 7 years on the day of the first stage

 

Only Kennel Club registered, pure bred sled dogs, i.e. Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, Canadian Eskimo Dogs, Greenland Dogs and Samoyeds, and dogs of these breed holding an appropriate affiliated breed club Welfare numbers (and thereby confirming prior KC registration) are eligible to compete.

 

All dogs must be over the age of one year on the first day of the event, save novelty classes where specified, when an age limit of 9 months may be set.

 

 

 

AMWA RACE CLASSES

 

Class Code

Definition

M1

1 Dog Alaskan Malamute

M2

2 Dog Alaskan Malamute

MS

3 + Alaskan Malamute only 4-8 Dog Alaskan Malamute only (6 – 8 Dog Passenger Rig)

ASFDC

Mix sled dog teams (Any sled/freight dog combination) 2-4 Dog, Must consist of at least 1 freighting breed. 4-8 Dog, Must consist of a least 1 freighting breed (6 – 8 Dog Passenger Rig)

ES

2 Dog Siberian Husky

DS

2-3 Dog Siberian Husky

CS

3-4 Dog Siberian Husky

BS

4-6 Dog Siberian Husky 4-8 Dog Siberian Husky (6 – 8 dog  Passenger Rig)

S1

Scooter (1 dog only)

BJ

Bikejor (1 dog only) 

CX

Cani-cross (1 dog only)

J1

Junior 12 – 18 years (1 dog only)

J2

Junior 8 – 11 years (1 dog only)

DV

Veteran (2/4 Dog with an average age of 7 – Any Sled dog combination)

 

Please remember that other clubs do have different classes and should you have any doubts concerning the class you wish to enter or can enter, contact the event organiser.

 

 

 

AMCUK / FREIGHTING DOG CLUB UK

 

Class Code

Definition

M1

One dog, scooter or rig (Alaskan Malamute)

MB2

Two dogs only (any combination: Greenland, Canadian Eskimo, Samoyed, Siberian, Malamute)

M2

Two dogs only (Alaskan Malamute)

MB4

No more than four dogs, no less than three (any combination: Greenland, Canadian Eskimo, Samoyed, Siberian, Malamute)

M4

No more than four dogs, no less than three (Alaskan Malamute)

J1

Junior 8-11 years, one dog only (must be supervised by an adult at all times whilst on the trail.  This can be done via a bicycle, running alongside, etc)

J2

Junior 13-15 years, one or two dogs

S2

Two dogs only (Siberian Husky)

S4

No more than four dogs, no less than three (Siberian Husky)

S6

No more than six dogs, no less than four (Siberian Husky)

BJ1

Bikejoring, one dog (open class)

R

Recreational class, non-timed.  Open to all purebred KC-recognised sled dog breeds.  Maximum team size 6 dogs

O2

Two dogs only (open class)

O4

No more than four dogs, no less than three (open class)