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Race Rules

Race Rules and the Environment
By hosting the  Otter Run and Otter Challenge on one of our iconic hiking trails SANParks is sending a very strong message; that they are willing to consider other responsible uses of our National Parks. It also demonstrates that they recognise, welcome and value trail runners as visitors, users and lovers of our National Parks. It is not a decision that they have taken lightly and their future hosting of this event and similar events is dependent on the successful staging of this event and the recommendations of the associated Environmental Management Plan (EMP).  That said they have made it abundantly clear that they will not tolerate the compromising of any environmental ethos by the event management and participants in the staging of this event.
Illegal Running on the Otter Trail
The Otter Trail is South Africa’s premium hiking trail and an iconic SANParks wilderness experience. Groups of twelve hikers per day are admitted onto the trail which is hiked over five days and four nights and is booked out year round..  It is compulsory for the hiking groups to overnight in the hiking huts. Illegal trespassing on the trail impacts on the experience of the hikers and is strictly forbidden.  Persons trespassing on SANParks properties for the purposes of trail running reflect negatively on the sport and have an impact on the sustainability of all and any trail running on these properties.
As the opportunity for training for the Otter Run on the trail is not accessible, it is also against the ethics and rules of the event and regarded as cheating. Offenders face a life ban from SANParks, the Otter Run and will be publicly named.
Event Rules
The Rules for The Otter are intended as a template from which to base a fair and equal trail running contest whilst contributing to the safety of participants and enforcing a strict and ethical environmental code of conduct. The rules are designed to advance the spirit of trail running, foster an appreciation for and awareness of the pristine wilderness environment and engender the practices of competent and principled outdoorsman- ship on which this event was founded. It is hoped that participants in The Otter will respect and abide by the rules in letter and in spirit.
  1. Adjudication. The Race will be adjudicated by a race jury. Decisions and judgments pertaining to the contravention of these Race Rules and the implementation of penalties or disqualification will be done by the Race Jury whose are the sole arbiters of this event. The Race jury for the 2012 Race will comprise of;
1.1.    The Event Director,
1.2.     The Race Director and
1.3.     The Course Director.
  1. Amending of Event Rules. The race organisers reserve the right to alter, update and amend the race rules.
  2. Participation. Only persons whose entries have been accepted will be allowed to register and participate in The Otter.
3.1.    Categories; Participants will be entered into one of the following categories.
3.1.1. Open Male
3.1.2. Open Female
3.1.3. Veteran Male (40-49)
3.1.4. Veteran Female (40-49)
3.1.5. Masters Male (+50)
3.1.6. Masters Female (+50)
3.2.    All participants will be ranked in the Open Category as well as being ranked in age group categories.
3.3.    Prize Money; Prize money is awarded to the top three ranked participants in the Open Category only.
  1. Marshals, Event Officials and Safety Personal; The event is staffed by personal filling a variety of roles on the event and representing a variety of organisations including; SANParks Field Rangers, Mountain Club of South Africa Rescue Team, NSRI, medical staff and event Staff. In the Field Event Officials are identifiable by their Blue Bibs or Uniforms. The instructions of all event staff must be followed at all times whilst on event. Failure to do or the verbal abusing  so may result in penalisation or disqualification.
  2. Event  Format
5.1.    The Otter is staged in two departures.
5.1.1. The Otter Run 12th & 13th October
5.1.2. The Otter Challenge 14th & 15th October
5.2.     The two events are identical in format but for a difference in the difference in the Cut-Off times.
5.2.1. The Otter Run; 8 Hour Cut-Off
5.2.2. The Otter Challenge; 11 Hour Cut-Off
5.3.     The Otter is a Trail Running event comprising of two courses run on consecutive days;
5.3.1. The 4.2km Prologue and
5.3.2. The 42km Otter Trail Marathon.
5.4.    Participants are required to complete both courses on the two days of the event in order to receive an official ranking and medal.
  1. The  Prologue is a linear course starting at registration and climbing inland before descending back to the Stormsriver Restcamp. The course traverses a variety of type of trails which are very similar to the types of trails to be encountered in the Otter Trail Marathon Course.
6.1.1.1.              Briefing; The Prologue briefing will be given by the race official to participants at the start of the Prologue prior to race start.
6.1.1.2.              The Prologue is compulsory and must be attempted on the day of registration at any time between 10 am and 5 pm.
6.1.1.3.              The prologue may be attempted more than once.
6.1.1.4.              Format The Prologue is conducted in a time trial format with participants electronically timed by means of a timing chip.
6.1.1.5.              Participants are seeded for The Otter start according to their times recorded in this event and started in staggered intervals the following day on the Otter Run in batches of according to their seeding. Apart from the first batch, seeded batches will comprise of 4 participants.
6.1.1.6.              Race Timing; Race time is started at the checking of the timing chip at the start and stopped when the chip/dibber is checked at the timing station at the finish.
6.1.1.7.              Checkpoints. The prologue has few checkpoints on the route and participants must record their visits to the checkpoints on their electronic dibber.
6.1.1.8.              Course Markings; the Prologue route is marked with standard course markers and arrows.
6.1.1.10.           Cut-off time. The Prologue has a cut off time of 45 minutes for the Otter Run and 55 minutes for the Otter Ramble. Participants failing to complete the Prologue in the cut-off time may be disqualified from further participation in the event.
6.1.1.11.           Compulsory Equipment; Only the Race Bib or Race Shirt and the Electronic timing Chip is compulsory for participation in the Prologue
  1. The Otter Trail Marathon; The Otter course starts at Nature’s Valley and traverses The Otter Trail to Storms River REst Camp where it follows 2 km along the road to reach Storms River Restaurant.
7.1.     The Otter Trail marathon event is about traversing The Otter Trail in its entirety and leaving the trail can result in disqualification.
7.2.    The Briefing for the Otter Trail marathon will be given on the first evening of the event.
7.3.    The Start;
7.3.1.1.              Participants in The Otter are set off in batches according to their batch seeding which is determined by their ranking in the Prologue.
7.3.1.2.              The first batch will consist of any participants that complete the prologue amongst the top ranked 16 male participants. This first batch will be known as the men’s Abangeni and are the only male participant eligible for prize money in The Otter.
7.3.1.3.              The top ranked 4 woman’s runners plus any woman’s runners who complete the Prologue in a time within two minutes of the top ranked female participant will start together set off in accordance with the overall seeding of the top woman. This batch is the only female participant eligible for prize money in The Otter.
7.3.1.4.              A 4 minute delay will follow the setting off of the Abangeni after which the rest of the field will be started in their seeded batches in 30 second intervals.
7.3.1.5.              The first participants are scheduled to be set off from 06h00 on the Otter Run and 06h30 on the Otter Challenge.
7.4.    Emergency Exits; The Otter Trail has a number of points where hikers can leave the trail. Participants in the Otter May not leave the Trail via any of the Exits without informing race officials of their moments.
7.5.    Checkpoints. Checkpoints with electronic Dibber Boxes are stationed along the route to facilitate race management. Checkpoints will be clearly marked. It is compulsory for participants to punch their dibbers at checkpoints and failure to do so correctly may lead to penalisation or disqualification
7.6.    Trail Markings and Route Finding.; The Otter involves following The Otter Hiking Trail which is marked with trail markers which are yellow painted Otter prints. The prints are painted on the rocks. For the participants assistance the event team will have supplemented these trail markings with additional route markers comprising of;
7.6.1.1.              Vinyl Arrows and
7.6.1.2.              Yellow ribbons.
7.6.1.3.              Significant trail heads may be indicated with sponsor’s banners.
7.6.1.4.              Additional event signage marking trail exits, land marks, check points are also positioned on the trail.
7.6.2. Tampering with Route Markers; tampering with route markers is penalisable with disqualification. Misplaced or damaged event signage must be reported to the next marshal immediately.
7.6.3. Note; The Otter is neither an adventure race nor a navigational test and as such finding the route involves no advanced navigation. Most of the course will be clearly marked however basic coast-steering and trail finding skills associated with elementary outdoorsmanship and common sense may be required to find the route on certain sections. It is entirely the participant’s responsibility to locate and follow the trail.
  1. Results and Timing; A participants time on the Otter Trail Marathon Starts when the Timing Chip is checked at the electronic checkpoint at the start and stops when the Timing Chip is Checked at the Checkpoint at the Finish. Participants in The Otter are ranked according to this time plus any time penalties that may be incurred.  This final ranking will determine the awarding of medals and prize money.
  2. Compulsory Equipment; The list of compulsory Equipment to be carried by participants whilst attempting the Otter Trail Marathon is dependent on the Weather Alert Level. Five Weather Alert Levels will be declared by the Race Organisers. The Weather Alert Level will be posted on the Event Notice Board at Registration and may be updated at final race briefing and possibly at the Race Start. The first 3 Levels will affect the list of Compulsory Equipment.
9.1.    Equipment Check; There may be an equipment check; prior to the start, during the race or at the finish line.
9.1.1.  The Equipment Check on the Otter involves displaying the compulsory items in the space provided on the Equipment Check templates.
9.1.2. It is the participant’s responsibility to display all the items in order to pass the equipment check.
9.1.3. Failing to display the equipment may result in penalisation or disqualification.
  1. Timekeeping.
10.1.Athletes will be timed electronically by means of a bidirectional chip based timing system. Each athlete will be issued with electronic chip referred to as a “dibber.”  This dibber must be punched (inserted) into electronic timing station “dibber box” in order to record a visit. A time stamp is recorded on both the dibber and dibber box. Information from the dibber s downloaded at the end of each race and used to generate the results.
10.1.1.1.1.                 Dibber boxes will be placed at the start and finish of the Races and at checkpoints and transitions along the race route.
10.1.1.1.2.                 Competitors  are responsible for the correct punching of dibber boxes at Checkpoints, Transitions and Start and Finish zones
10.1.1.1.3.                 Competitors are required to be in position of their dibber at all times during the race.
10.1.1.1.4.                 Competitors failing to check in at a checkpoint, incorrectly punching at a transition or losing their dibbers may be liable for a penalty or disqualification.
10.1.1.1.5.                 Competitors are required to download their dibbers at the Race HQ Unit shortly after the completion of each Race. Failure to do so will result in the Participants not being ranked and updating the results may result in a time penalty.
  1. Environmental  Rules
11.1.Littering. Littering or the discarding of any item on the race course is forbidden at all times during the race and indeed during the event as a whole. Litter collection bins will be provided in at the Munchi point and the finish line. Litter will be sorted for recycling purposes.
11.2.Fire. Smoking or the lighting of fires is forbidden at all times during the race.
11.3.Water contamination. Washing of apparel and equipment in streams or lakes is forbidden at all times during the race.
11.4.Erosion. The taking of shortcuts across switchbacks and off designated trails is forbidden.
  1. Outside Assistance
12.1.Competitors may assist and be assisted by fellow competitors registered and competing in the same category but cannot receive any form of outside assistance which includes but is not limited to;
12.1.1.1.1.                 Pacing. Pacing or any form of accompaniment from persons not registered as race participants in the same category.
12.1.1.1.2.                 Technical assistance with the repair or exchange of equipment from persons not registered as race participants.
12.1.1.1.3.                 Nutritional Assistance. Supply of liquid or solid refreshment or sustenance from persons not registered as race participants.
12.2.Technical and nutritional assistance from the race organisers and from competitors registered in different categories may be permissible under certain circumstances however this may result in a time penalty.
  1. The use of band performance Enhancing Substances is not permitted during The Otter. Event organisers reserve the right to test participants for Band Substances.  Participants failing to provide a sample on request will be disqualified from the event.
  2. The organisers reserve the rights to change the routing and format, or part thereof, of any leg, race or day at any time during the event. Every attempt will be made to communicate the changes clearly and timorously and to ensure that no competitors are unequally prejudiced or advantaged by such changes. Typically such changes may be necessitated in the event of inclement weather or circumstances beyond the control of the organisers.
  3. It is illegal to trespass onto the Otter Trail without a SANParks permit. Hikers on the Otter Trail are also obliged to stay in the Overnight huts consecutively. Whilst the organisers of the Otter trail actively encourage participants of this event to hike the Otter Trail we abjure any attempt to trespass on SANParks reserves.  As the Otter trail is equally off bounds to everyone for the purposes of training the event organisers will not hesitate to disqualify anyone who trespasses onto the Otter Trail outside of this event and band them from future participation. Past participants guilty of trespassing will have their previous results annulled and names publicized on the event websites and event correspondences.  Members of the event team who are involved in the permitted scouting and testing of the trail must wait a calendar year before being officially allowed to compete.
  4. Weather Alert. The Otter will be managed according to a Weather Alert Level grading which may affect the routeing of the course and will affect the list of compulsory equipment that the participant is required to carry.  The Weather Alert Levels are;
16.1.Level I                                  Fine, mild, hot but dry conditions
16.2.Level II                                Cool and/or Wet conditions.
16.3.Level III                               Cold, Wet and or Windy Conditions
16.4.Level IV                              Very cold and/or Heavy Rain and or, high winds, high seas
16.5.Level I                 Flooding and or violent storm conditions with dangerously high seas.
16.5.1.    The Weather Alert Level will be determined by consensus of;
16.5.1.1.           The Event Director
16.5.1.2.           The Race Director
16.5.1.3.           The  Course Director
16.5.1.4.           The Race Rescue Manager MCSA
16.5.1.5.           SANParks Trail Manager
16.6.The predicted Weather Alert Level will be posted at Race Registration with the Alert Level announced at Race Briefing. The Alert Level may be downgraded just prior to the start of the event.
RULE TRANSGRESSION 1ST OFFENCE 2ND OFFENCE 3RD OFFENCE
1 RACE RULE TRANSGRESSIONS Taking a short cut or failing to following the prescribed route Estimated Time advantage gained plus 30 minute TP Estimated Time advantage gained plus 1 hour TP
Tampering with route & course markers 1 Hour TP Disqualification
Receiving outside assistance 1 Hour TP Disqualification
Taking of performance enhancing substances Disqualification
Incorrect punching of dibber.
Failure to carry compulsory equipment 15 minutes per item TP
2 ENVIRONMENTAL RULE TRANSGRESSIONS Negligent Littering
Negligent Contamination of water
Negligent destruction of vegetation
Abusive and unsporting behaviour Abusive and unsporting behaviour