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I am sending this again because it seemed to be out of sync on the last
ridecamp.
----- Forwarded Message -----
Date: Tue, 9 Jul 2002 16:31:00 -0600
Subject: What Constitutes a Start & Electronic
Communication
The current discussion on ridecamp is very timely. AERC Rules
Committee has a monthly article in Endurance News and the August EN article is
on Rule 6. The following excerpts from the Rules Committee Article in the
August issue explains the Rules Committee interpretation of 6a and 6k.
Rules Committee considers anyone who is physically present and seen or heard at
the designated start of the rid as an "entrant". Rule 6k was hotly debated
within Rules Committee and we could not reach a majority agreement, yet.
We have had occasions in the past where a crew with radio contact to the rider,
went out on trail and relayed information to the rider on the location of
competition in front and behind the rider..as well as other logistical
information the rider could not know without the assistance of the crew who was
traversing the trails on a dirt bike (motorcycle). This type of
communication is probably a violation of rules, but is definitely a violation of
"fair play". Real Life Examples such as the previous one is why Rules
Committee has not yet reached a majority decision on variations of 6k.
Basically, endurance is an "honor system" sport...if someone wants to
violate fair play, or even outright cheat, it is very likely the can succeed at
getting away with it. We have to assume that AERC members don't
intentionally cheat...however, it is probably in the best interest of the
competitors to not even give the appearance of cheating.
Randy Eiland - Chairman of Rules Committee
Rule 6. Completion requires meeting all of the following criteria:
a. All riders and mounts must be present and accounted for at the start
of
the ride.
**The entrant must be physically present and seen or heard at the start of
the
ride. That does not mean the entrant is required to actually start with
the
rest of the field. It is not a violation to wait for a reasonable amount
of
time before starting on the course...but remember, you only have a
defined
amount of time to complete the course and that time starts when
ride
management officially starts the ride.**
k. Not having been paced or prompted by an un-entered, withdrawn,
or
otherwise unauthorized equine, vehicle, or a person other than
another
entrant. This does not preclude the ordinary support services of
attendants
or pit crews. A crew may accompany their rider down a public road
in a
support vehicle (unless there is a ride management prohibition against
it)
provided they do not push or haze the equine.
**This criteria is in a gray area - could a "drag rider" be
construed as a
"pace or prompt"? If they are authorized by ride management to
be on the
trail, then they are not in violation of this
criteria. Is radio or cell phone use between
a rider
and the crew 'prompting"? Please note that this is an area that is
still being debated by your Rules Committee. Until the Rules
Committee
reaches a majority decision, it is probably best to limit electronic
communication during the ride to personal interests such
as alerting your crew that
you are at certain locations; are approaching the Vet Check;
and/or emergency communication
such as alerting your crew or management of rider injuries, loose equine,
etc.
If there is any question as to authorization or use, then check with ride
management. The best barometer
to use is, "if it seems to be fair, then it probably is - if it seems to
give you an unfair
advantage, then it may be a violation".**
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