Fair Hill Challenge
at
Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area
Fair Hill, MD
December 8th and 9th, 2007
Two Day Dryland Race
Race Results:
The event has been completed. The race results can be found here.
Sponsored By:
Sponsors who have been very kind and donated for the Fair Hill Challenge are being listed on the Fair Hill Challenge Sponsor Page. Thank you to returning sponsors from last year, All Paws Animal Wellness Clinic, A Call Away Small Animal House Call Veterinary Practice, Nooksack Racing Supply, Mindy A. Carletti, D.V.M., and Captain's Quarters Boarding, Grooming and Training. Also, thank you to new sponsors for this year, Annamaet Pet Foods and Tails of the Tundra Siberian Husky Rescue. Please see the Tails of the Tundra ad here for a coupon for use at the event. All sponsors' contributions are very much appreciated!.
Registration Form:
The registration form is available for download here: Registration Form. Please see the "Documents Available for Download" section near the bottom of this page or the "Forms and Documents" link on the left side of the page for any other downloadable forms or documents related to this event.
Registration will close December 7th at noon. Mushers may register at the race, however will be charged a $10.00 late fee.
The registration form for the post race meal and get together on Saturday is available here: Dinner Registration Form. Please see the "Event Information" section below which includes more details regarding the the meal.
This Event Will Offer:
- ISDRA Sanctioned (All-Breed/Pro) Events:
- 4 dog Gig
- 6 dog Gig
- All-Breed (Pro) Non-Sanctioned Events:
- 1 and 2 dog Scooter
- 1 and 2 dog Bike-Jor
- Purebred Events:
- 4 dog Gig
- 6 dog Gig
- Sportsman Events:
- Canicross
- 1 and 2 dog Scooter
- 1 and 2 dog Bike-Jor
- 4 dog Gig
- 6 dog Gig
Entry Eligibility Restrictions, Limitations and Requirements:
Purebred teams will need to provide purebred documentation if a dog is in question. American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club documents will be accepted.
As per the Summer 2006 Board meeting it is a new PSDC policy that all participants of PSDC racing events are required to be current PSDC members. Participants who are not current PSDC member may join during the registration process.
Important Venue Restrictions:
Use and possession of alcohol is prohibited at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area.
Event Schedule:
| Saturday, December 8, 2007: | |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Drivers' Meeting |
| 9:00AM | Canicross |
| 10:00AM | Scooter Classes |
| 11:00AM | Bike-Jor Classes |
| 12:00PM | Lunch (one hour break for race help) |
| 1:00PM | 6 dog Gig Classes |
| 3:00PM | 4 dog Gig Classes |
| Sunday, December 9, 2007: | |
|---|---|
| 8:30AM | Drivers' Meeting |
| 9:00AM | Canicross |
| 10:00AM | Scooter Classes |
| 11:00AM | Bike-Jor Classes |
| 12:00PM | Lunch (one hour break for race help) |
| 1:00PM | 6 dog Gig Classes |
| 3:00PM | 4 dog Gig Classes |
| 4:00PM | Wrap Up/Award Ceremony (on Sunday) |
If classes end early, time and schedule will be adjusted accordingly. There will be a 15 minute time gap between events. Teams will leave starting line in 2 minute intervals.
This schedule is to give drivers a tentative time table of events. It is not a solid schedule. Drivers will need to fallow time announcements during the race.
Sanctioning:
The 4 and 6 dog Gig classes will be ISDRA sanctioned.
Distances:
| Race | Distance |
|---|---|
| All 4 dog Gig | 3.5 miles |
| All 6 dog Gig | 3.5 miles |
| All 1 and 2 dog Scooter | 3.5 miles |
| All 1 and 2 dog Bike-Jor | 3.5 miles |
| Canicross | 1 mile |
Trail Description:
The trail will be 3.5 miles long, mostly closed loop with no head on passing. Hilly with open field and close forest trails with plenty of room for passing. Trail will consist of one bridge and one stream crossing. Trail will be well marked with caution signs for the challenging parts of the trail. All events for the race will run the same course except the Canicross event.
The Canicross event will be run on a 1 mile trail with plenty of room to pass.
Purse Payouts and Awards:
Purse pay out will be awarded for finishers 1st through 3th for the Pro and Purebred classes.
Awards will be awarded for finishers 1st through 3rd for all classes. Purse payout will be 65% for all-breed/pro classes and 35% for purebred classes (PSDC sliding scale sys will be used to break up these percentages).
Entry and Event Fees:
Sorry, but we cannot accept foreign currency. All fees must be paid in U.S. dollars.
Please note all participants must be current PSDC members. Membership can be sent along with entry form.
| Event | Fee |
|---|---|
| All-Breed/Pro Classes | $28.00 per class |
| Purebred Classes | $22.00 per class |
| Sportsman Classes | $15.00 per class |
| Canicross | $15.00 |
The Pro and Purebred class will pay a purse this is why fees are slightly higher than the sportsman class.
Parking Fees:
Fair Hill requires a $4.00 fee for parking of spectator vehicles. Event racers will not have to pay this fee.
Race Organizer:
Chris Bannister
Address: 121 Marysville Rd., North East, MD 21901
Phone: (763) 229-2294
E-mail Address: xtremeweather@comcast.net
Kennel: Xtreme Weather Kennels
Web Site: http://www.xtremeweather.net/
Event Information:
There will be an gig inspection prior to the start of the race, all gigs must be cleared in order to race. Make sure your equipment is in safe operating order prior to the event.
Venue Policy:
Use and possession of alcohol is prohibited at the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area.
Fair Hill requires a $4 fee for parking of spectator vehicles. Event racers will not have to pay this fee.
There will be a designated area for all the dog trucks. Fair Hill NRMA has a leave no trace policy. Please respect this and leave your area the same way it was when you arrived. This is very important to a new race and the park. It will ensure the race to be successful in the eyes of the park and the future of the race event.
Event Rules:
DRIVERS MUST WEAR HELMETS AND SAFETLY GLASSES FOR ALL WHEELED CLASSES! THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS!
Gigs will be inspected for safety. Once a gig has passed inspection, it will be given a marker (colored electrical tape) that must be clearly visible to the race officials at the start line.
- Competitors caught racing without the inspection marker on thier gig will be disqualified.
- Gigs will be inspected for proper mechanical order and brake function.
For the 2-Dog Scooter event, mountain bikes with the chain disengaged are acceptable
More details regarding PSDC dryland racing rules adopted August 9th, 2006 by the PSDC Board, are available here. PLEASE REVIEW THE NEW CLUB DRYLAND RULES BEFORE THE RACE:
More details regarding the ISDRA dryland racing rules amended September, 2006 are available here. PLEASE REVIEW THE NEW ISDRA DRYLAND RULES BEFORE THE RACE:
Equipment Checked and Carried:
- Helmets
- Safety Glasses
- Gigs must be cleared in order to race
Auction:
During the Saturday evening dinner (information below) the silent auctions will be on display and closed at the end of dinner. We ask that you bring a unused sled dog related item for the auction. We thank you in advance for your contribution.
Food:
Food will be provided and sold by the PSDC (LuWanna Krause is in charge of food).
Post Race Meal and Get Together:
The dinner will start at 6:00pm on Saturday evening after the race. People are welcome to come & socialize even if you don't eat dinner. You may bring your own alcoholic beverages. The building will be available until about 10:00 p.m.
Location:
Four Seasons Community Meeting Hall
Cost:
The meal will be $15 per person, pre registration is requested.
Meal:
- LuWanna's Famous Lasagna
- Meatball Sandwiches
- Salad
- Desert
- Coffee
- Tea
- Hot Chocolate
- Soda Pop
Race Marshall: Christina Gates
Trail Boss: Doug Heitz
Race Timers: John Gates, Jessica Givans
Race Registrar:
Joy Heitz
Address: 259 Parkridge Dr, Perkasie, PA 18944-1024
Email: sleddogdriver@verizon.net
Registration will close December 7th at noon. Mushers may register at the race, however will be charged a $10.00 late fee.
Make checks payable to the Pennsylvania Sled Dog Club or (PSDC).
On-Call Veterinarian:
A Call Away Mobile Vet (Dr. Mindi Carletti)
The Veterinarian will be on site.
On-Site Veterinary Technician:
Christina Gates
Documents Available for Download:
- Registration Form
- Dinner Registration Form
- PSDC Dryland Rules (Adobe Acrobat (PDF) form)
- ISDRA Dryland Rules (© 1997 ISDRA) (Adobe Acrobat (PDF) form)
Directions to the Event:
You can click this link to visit Mapquest to get directions to the race site (site address is preloaded). The address of 2900 Appleton Rd, Elkton, MD 21921 does precisely describe where the turn for the race site parking lot is. This method is recommended.
Directions are also available from the Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area Website, at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/fairhillguide.html. However, note that these directions take you to the Fair Hill NRMA office, which is about 1.75 miles WSW of the race site parking lot. This method is not recommended but is included to augment other direction information.
To use your GPS or electronic instruments to find the way for you enter the coordinates: 39°42'51.60"N, 75°49'19.87"W which is decimal 39.7143°N, 75.8222°W or UTM 429524.84m E, 4396375.05m N. These coordinates do precisely describe where the race site parking lot is. This method is also recommended.
From the North:
Take I-95 south to Exit 109A, route 279 toward Elkton. The first light is Belle Hill Rd. This is the hotels will be. To get to the race take route 279 South toward Elkton for 1.2 miles, then take a right onto 213 north toward Fair Hill. Follow for 6.1 miles and take a right onto Telegraph Rd/273 east. Follow for 2.9 miles and take a left onto Appleton Rd. Follow for 1 mile and take a left into the parking lot. You will see signs for the race as you get close.
From the South:
Take I-95 north to exit 109A and follow the same directions above.
Directions to the Meal from the Event Site:
- Make a right out of Parking lot onto Appleton Road. Follow to Blinker light ?
- Make a Left onto Telegraph Road (273 East)
- Follow 273 E past Newark Country Club. You will see a sign for JCT 896 - (3.3 miles )
- Follow curve in the road (at the University of Delaware brick wall). Follow 896 South (Elkton Rd) for 1.5 miles.
- At the light by Suburban Plaza/Applebee's, Make a left following 896 S. Go past Chrysler Plant - (1.5 miles). Follow signs for I -95
- Make a right still on 896 S, cross over I-95 and follow 896 S 2.3 miles to Four Seasons Plaza.
- Make a right on Four Seasons Parkway ? go .4 miles to parking lot on left.
Directions to Meal from Hotels Listed on This Site:
- Take 279 north (opposite of going to the race) follow for about 3-4 miles and come to the light for 896 south. Take a right. Follow directions above from Suburban Plaza.
Hotel Listing:
Knights Inn
141 Salisbury Street
262 Belle Hill Rd.
Elkton, MD 21921
410-392-6680
800-843-5644
http://www.knightsinn.com/KnightsInn/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=07381&brandInfo=KG
Rate is $55.00 per night. If you would like to have a pet in the room there would be a $10.00 extra charge.
Motel 6
223 Bell Hill Rd.
Elkton, MD 21921
410-392-5020
http://www.motel6.com/reservations/motel_detail.asp?MotelId=0768
Rates $45.00 a night with pets allowed.
Both hotels are giving a special rate for the mushers. When making your reservation please mention the Fair Hill race.
Restaurants:
Enjoy dinning at these restaurants that are in walking distance from your hotel room:
- Cracker Barrel
- Waffle House
- Iron Skillet
- KFC
- McDonald's
- Taco Bell
You can also enjoy dining at Applebees. It is about 2 miles up the road toward Newark, Delaware on 279.