RULES OF COMPETITION 

 

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE RACE

HDR is an obstacle course race against time (except the Mud Dog Race, where there is no timing), which a person completes while leading their dog on a leash, tackling each obstacle together. The track goes through a diverse terrain and the full distance differs based on the race’s type (HDR Base: approx. 6km, HDR Wild: approx. 12km, HDR Mud Dog Race cc: 2 km). The organizer of the race reserves the right to change the race length and the number of obstacles. The obstacles are partly natural, partly constructed. Each obstacle may be muddy or dirty. The participant accepts that their body or clothing and their dog’s hair may become wet, muddy or dirty during completion of the event.

Organizer of the Race (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic)
Hard Dog Race Kft.
Registered Office: H-1036 Budapest, Lajos utca 78.
E-mail address: info@harddograce.hu
Company registry number: 01-09-291006

Co-organiser data in Poland:
Kornelia Radzikowska
Address: ul. Poligonowa 2/18, 04-051 Warszawa, Poland
E-mail: infopl@harddograce.pl
Tax number: 113-235-94-48

1.2.THE RACER:

Anyone over 18 years of age and in their full capacity may participate in the Race as long as: every minor who has reached the age of 14, every minor who has reached the age of 12 but is under the age of 14, provided that:

• they are registered according to the rules;
•  they accepted the terms set by the Rules of Competition, the GTC  and the ethical principles available on the website https://www.harddograce.eu/, as well as understood the terms laid out in the document titled Our recommendations to participants;
• they accept and sign the Privacy Protection and Responsibility Agreement documents  as well as enter their starting number that is made public at least 72 hours before the race, found under Manage Racer > “My Applications” in their account or the Application menu on the website;
• they insure themselves against accidents in order to cover the costs of the risks originating from the Race, ie. they accept that the application fee includes the mandatory accident insurance fees as well; The insurance does not cover dogs or damage caused by dogs!
• their dog meets the conditions laid out in section 1.2.3 of this document
• Under 14, has a parental liability waiver. IMPORTANT: Minors between 12-14 years old can only participate in the 3in1 and Team categories, where the dog can only be handled by the 14+ year old competitor of the pair/team!

1.2.2. Any minor who has reached the age of 12 and has limited legal capacity or is legally incompetent (except for HDR Wild) can participate in the Competition as a Competitor, provided that they meet the conditions set out in point 1.2.1 and their legal representative has given written consent to their participation in the Competition. The minor intending to participate in the Competition and the legal representative are jointly and severally obliged to prove the status of legal representative in person before the representative of the organizer of the Competition. The rules for the HDR Not Just Run and Mud Dog Race are contained in a separate section of the Competition Rules. Only persons who have reached the age of 18 and are fully competent may participate in the HDR Wild Competition as Competitors.

1.3. THE DOG:

The Racer may race with a dog of any breed, size, castrated or not, as long as they meet the following conditions:

• the dog’s age is over 12 months;
• is not in heat (also includes the one week period before and after the heat period). This is established during veterinary examination. Breaking the rule results in immediate disqualification from the race without appeal;
• pregnant (from 2nd month onward) or lactating bitches may not take part in the race. This is ascertained during veterinary examination. Breaking this rule results in immediate disqualification with no right to appeal;
• has an identification chip (dogs without such chips may take part in the race in the countries listed under the 14th point of this document);
• has the required vaccinations. The required vaccinations for the race are: rabies vaccine (R), Leptospirosis vaccine (L) and combined vaccine (DHPPi), or a combined vaccine that contains the rabies vaccine. All the vaccinations do not have to be delivered in one dose and can be administered separately. If a dog had previous allergic reaction to Leptospirosis vaccination or is over 8 years old and there are contraindications to that vaccination please contact us at info@harddograce.hu (See all other rules that may differ at section 15 of the Rules of Competiton). Absence or expiry of the rabies vaccination (R) will result in immediate exclusion without recourse. It is recommended that: vaccinations be administered up to three weeks prior to the day of the competition; the kennel cough vaccine, i.e. Nobivac KC or Versican BB oral vaccine;
•  has a healthy, appropriately social behaviour
• the dog is physically capable for the race, phisically healthy (not overweight, has no chronic physical syndrome, etc.), its physical health and/or its life is not in danger during the race.
  To make sure that everything is absolutely ok with your dog we would highly recommend to consult with your vet before resgistering for the race!
• Dogs under veterinary treatment are not allowed in the competition! Dogs that have undergone veterinary surgery can participate in the Competition after at least 4 weeks have passed from the surgery.
• A dog with a positive test for heartworm disease that has been treated for heartworm disease by any method may not compete until it has a new negative test result. We recommend: annual heartworm screening of dogs and increased parasite control.
• If the dog displays aggressive social behaviour, then in order to protect the safety of the participants, the Race Director may mandate the use of a muzzle; in case of extremely aggressive behaviour, they may recommend disqualification. If the racer refuses the use of a muzzle, they must leave the event and the application fee will not be refunded.
• The dog has to have had anthelmintic treatment recently (not more than 3 months before the race). The deworming medication must be administered no later than the last day of the two weeks preceding the given race! This treatment has to be present in the vaccination book or the dog passport. If there is insufficient space in these documents, the owner may: (A) provide proof of deworming on a separate sheet certified by a veterinarian; (B) provide an invoice/bill for the deworming agent purchased.  We recommend the use of a broad-spectrum anthelmintic for the treatment of infestations of dogs against Giarda species and the nematodes and tapeworms listed below. Nematode: Toxacara canis, Toxascaris leonina, Uncinaria stenocephala, Ancylostoma caninum, Trichuris vulpis. Tapeworms: Echinococcus granulosos, Echinococcus multilocularis, Dipydium caninum, Taenia spp., Multiceps multiceps, Mesocestoides spp.
• “Dogs born after 20 April 2022, and which are subject to the Regulation Act XXVIII of 1998 of the Protection and Welfare of Animals, may not take part in competitions in Hungary, Article § 10. (2), i.e. reads:  “No surgical intervention may be performed on the animal in order to change its appearance, and other than to prevent the animal’s health damage or to prevent the subsequent damage to its health – with the exception of sterilization, and any other intervention defined in the legislation issued as the implementation of this law with the exception of further intervention.” Exceptions to this rule are:- 41/2010. (II. 26.) Government decree on the keeping and distribution of pet animals -(5) * In order to change the appearance of the dog, tail trimming can be done to up to the dog’s age of seven days.  As well as a dog that has been certified as adopted by the owner, on which the current owner did not happening perform the appearance-changing surgery, e.g. ear cropping. “

The chip verifying the dog’s identity (see 15th point), the dog’s health, social behaviour, the dog passport or vaccination book will be examined by a veterinarian before the race, who may recommend disqualification if they find discrepancies. The Race Director has to approve or deny such recommendation.

1.4. The auditory body of the Race is the Race Committee, led by the Race Director. The Committee’s responsibilities are as follows:

• performing all necessary steps to execute the Race safely and successfully;
• inspecting the Racers and their dogs;
• determining the results of the Race;
• deciding on disqualifications.

1.5. Members of the Race Committee may perform their duties alone, unless the Rules of Competition require otherwise.

1.6. Racers take part in the Race by their own risk. Every racer may ask for medical aid for themselves and their dog.

1.7. Littering is strictly forbidden at the location of the Race! Failure to heed this rule may result in immediate disqualification!

1.8. Smoking is only allowed in the designated locations!

2. APPLICATION AND LOCAL REGISTRATION

2.1. APPLICATION

2.1.1. Participants can apply at the link nevezes.harddograce.hu

2.1.2. · During application, the Racer has to agree to the Rules of Competition and the General Terms and Conditions

2.1.3. Application is successful when every required data field is filled in. Data provided by the Racer are used in order to successfully execute the Race, to identify the racers and dogs and to provide necessary information. The Racer has to give their consent for the aforementioned use of their data to apply.

2.1.4. To apply for the Race, an application fee has to be paid. Fees and discounts are available at https://harddograce.hu/nevezes/nevezesi-dijak-kedvezmenyek/. This fee has to be immediately transferred upon a successful application via bank transfer or online debit card system within 2 working days. (Except Poland: 5 working days) The Race Organiser provides the opportunity at the location of the Race if there are available race slots, or someone else cancels their application. The fee for applying at the location can be found on the Hard Dog Race website, under the Application fees and discounts table  for the pertaining race. In this case, no discounts apply in any form whatsoever, regardless of team or solo entry. Local application requires handing in of the filled-out Application, the Responsibility Agreement and the Privacy Protection documents, and the application fee has to be paid at the venue. No discounts are available for individual or team entries. 

2.1.5. The application fee includes the following services:

• free parking (not for all competition)
• finisher’s medal and T-shirt (not for all competiton)
• finisher’s package (contents vary by race)
• time measurement with chip (not for all competition)
• group insurance (does not include the dog)
• free access to cloakroom

The application fee does not include racer photographs. Multiple professional HDR Press photographers work on the track during the entire event, but the Service Provider cannot guarantee that everyone will be featured in at least one photo.

2.2 LOCAL REGISTRATION

2.2.1. The Racer has to register at least an hour before their own event at the race venue. The Race Organisers will examine the data provided during application by checking the Racer’s identification documents that includes their picture.

2.2.2. Members of uniformed organisations (police, army, disaster prevention, fire departments, voluntary fire brigades, anti-terrorist organisations, law enforcement, tax and customs offices, ambulance, civilian police, rescue dog teams, special rescue organisations), students (in possession of student ID which is valid at the time of the race) and racers participating with adopted dogs (contract adoption is necessary to be eligible for the discount; if not available, contact the organiser at applicationinfo@harddograce.com before finalising the application) receive a 5% discount from the application fee. Racers need to tick the relevant boxes pertinent to discounts when they provide their data; discounts are NOT applicable later. Racers need to present their valid license, membership ID or student’s ID at registration. Racers competing with adopted dogs need to provide their adoption contract or the certificate provided by the organiser upon e-mail contact and verification of the dog’s adopted status.

2.2.3. The Race Organiser will examine whether the conditions laid out in sections 1.2.1. and 1.2.2. are met during application.

2.2.4. The Race Organiser will verify the data provided by the racer regarding their dog by matching the dog’s identity documents (vaccination book, dog passport) to the dog itself presented during registration.

2.2.5. The racer must give their consent to the above identity confirmation procedures carried out by The Race Organiser (verification of official documents confirming their and their dogs’ identity).

2.2.6. The Race Organiser will check whether the conditions regarding the dog laid out in section 1.2.3 are met during registration.

2.2.7. The Racer must sign the Responsibility Agreement and the Privacy Protection Agreement (in the framework of a fully conclusive private document) and hand over a signed copy to the The Race Organiser. The registration is the latest opportunity to do so. If the racer has not brought these documents to the event, those can be printed out at the location. The penalty for this is 30 squats per page. Should the racer miss their race because of the above process, they can still participate in the next available slot. In this case, the organisers will decide which race the racer may participate in. If there are no free slots left, they can only compete in the auxiliary race which takes place after the very last event. If the racer refuses, the organiser is under no obligation to refund the application fee.

2.2.8. The Racer may be disqualified from the Race if they do not cooperate with the Race Organiser during the identification process or their identity cannot be confirmed for any reason.

2.2.9. The Race Organiser may disqualify the racer from the Race if the requirements regarding the dog laid out in section 1.2.3 are met but the dog’s behaviour jeopardizes the Race’s safety.

3. GENERAL RULES OF THE RACE

3.1. The Race is comprised of multiple slots. Every Racer may participate in the event they registered for.

3.2. The Racer may compete in one Race with one dog. One Racer and the dog they announced at registration will be referred to as “Duo”. A Racer may only compete with a dog they either registered with or one they swapped their original one for according to the following conditions. If the Competitor wishes to com

pete with a dog other than the one he/she has registered, he/she may change dogs independently during the online registration period. Once the entry is closed, Competitor must notify us at applicationinfo@harddograce.com no later than 72 hours before the start of the competition, giving his/her entry code, name and the name of the dog, and record the details of the new dog in the system if he/she has not already done so. After this deadline, it is not possible to change the dog!

3.3. The Race Organiser provides the opportunity for one Racer to compete with two different dogs in two different time slots. They will be handled as two separate Duos, which requires two different registrations. In this case, the Racer receives a 25% discount for the second application fee. To be eligible for this discount, the Racer must let the organisers know about their decision to compete in two races with two dogs by writing to applicationinfo@harddograce.eu.

3.4. It is possible to participate in the Race in teams. One team comprises of 6 duos. The team members in a team of 6 each get a 5% discount from the full price as long as the whole fee of the 6 members is paid in one instalment. In a team of 6 there may be two Racers who can participate without a dog. The team results are calculated by adding up the first and the last arriving team member’s times (if the first or the last racer to arrive competes without a dog, then the next best or worst time will be considered, that is, the time of the racers without dogs will not affect the results). The team member without a dog has to pay the same application fee as the others. If a racer wishes to compete without a dog they need to announce that during team application! If there are several teams from the same community, e.g. dog school or shelter (e.g. Bodri Dog School Team 1, Bodri Dog School Team 2, Bodri Dog School Team 3), please contact our customer service for a special discount.

3.5. The competition is won by the Duo or team that completes the course within the shortest amount of time according to the rules laid out by this document.

3.6. If a racer arrives late for their race and there is no free slot in a later one, they can only compete in the auxiliary race after the last scheduled race. Only one auxiliary race is organised, whose positions (44 maximum) are filled by the Race’s organiser in order of arrival.

3.7. Races start every 15 minutes. The first race starts at 9.00, the last one at 17.00. The auxiliary race starts at 17.15. 44 racers start along 11 lanes. 4 duos run along one lane, and they have to maintain at least 1.5m distance from one another. There is a 2m wide distance between lanes. Each lane starts with intervals of 1 minute 30 seconds. In case of teams, the team members start at 1 minute intervals. One team may decide to forego the opportunity to start the race separately for safety reasons and start simultaneously if they have handed in a written request to do so, and have confirmed this to the organisers verbally at the start gate. The Organiser of the Race reserves the right to deviate from the above at certain races the number of racers that may start in one slot and adjust the number of lanes or the time intervals between two starts on the same lane.

3.8. During the race, the position within lanes and columns is flexible. The organizers can assist in determining this according to the dog’s habits and gender.

3.9. Completion time is measured by the chip given to the Racers before the race, and the Racer is responsible for it. The chip worn on the wrist must be touched to the middle of the so-called UFO timing device at the start and finish lines. The data is only entered into the system when the device gives an audible feedback. The Duo must crawl or walk on all fours under the obstacle at the start and the finish gates, and the hands must touch the time measuring surface that starts the chip. An exception to this is the Not Just Run race see. point 14. If an irregular starting or finishing prevents valid time measurement, the given Duo will be ineligible for prizes. In case the chip is lost or damaged, the Racer is liable to reimburse the Organiser. The amount of reimbursement pertaining to each country is found under the 15th point of this document. The chip has to be handed in at the end of the race upon receiving the gift package and medal that is awarded to everyone who completes the race. Anyone who cannot hand over the chip may only receive the package if they pay for the chip on location. If a chip is lost, the completion time cannot be verified, so the Duo loses their eligibility for all prizes except for the medal and the finisher’s package awarded to everyone finishing the race, if the race is otherwise completed according to the rules. In such cases, the Duo will be recorded at the last place on the list with the comment ‘time could not be verified’.

3.10. Racers may only compete in the race they selected during application on the website. After a successful, paid application, the time slots cannot be officially changed. In such cases, contact the organiser of the Race at applicationinfo@harddograce.eu, and if the time slot change is possible, the organiser of the Race will modify the time slot based on the email they receive from the racer, and then send a verification email on the change. The deadline to change the time slots – as well as to change other data, e.g. racer or dog data – is 120 hours before the race, depending on the slots still available.

3.11. Upon successful registration, every Racer must wear their number and have their chip on their person at all times. Starting numbers may only be worn at the front! We strongly recommend writing the number on the body as well!

3.12. Time measurement starts at the starting gate and ends upon crossing the finish line. Completion time is the time spent between these two points.

3.13. Every racer who completes the race according to the rules receives a medal and a finisher’s package.

3.14. The Race is completed in accordance with the rules if the Racer:

• covered the distance between the start and finish line without leaving the track, and
  • completed all the obstacles.

3.15. Completion of obstacles: the Duo either goes through/under/over the obstacle or performs a given task in the penalty zone – you will be informed about the exact number of squats by the race judges and also by the signs next to the obstacle. After completing the given number of squats, the Duo may go around the obstacle following the markings.

3.16. Leaving the track results in disqualification. Leaving means deviating by more than 2 meters from either edge of the track. If a racer cannot complete the race through no fault of their own (e.g. due to an injury or accident), the race is deemed incomplete. In this case, an appeal can be made, after whose evaluation the Organiser may provide a discount between 50-100% from the application fee of the next Race.

3.17. Every Racer competes at their and their dog’s own risk. The Organiser insures the Race against accidents; the application fee includes the insurance. Every Racer may ask for medical help for themselves or their dog. Every Racer must bring with them their valid social security card. Failure to do so prevents them from participating in the race.

3.18. The first two slots – first 30 minutes – of the race (the 9:00 and 9:15 races) is the ‘Battle of the Alphas’ period. We recommend these slots to those who wish to get the best time possible. Both solo and team applications are accepted.

4. SPECIAL RULES CONCERNING THE DOGS

4.1. The dogs may not be released in the whole area of the event during its time, from opening to closing. Use of leashes during the races and in the whole area of the event is therefore mandatory. Running belts are considered leashes. The length of the leash or running belt cannot exceed 250 cm, tolerance is 5 cm. The leash must have a harness for the hand, which must be used during the race. Flexi leashes or similar, automatic cord leashes are not allowed, regardless of manufacturer or brand. We strongly recommend simultaneous use of a running belt and a harness.

4.2. The Veterinarian may require a Racer to use a muzzle, or recommend disqualification in case of extreme behaviour. The Veterinarian will check whether the muzzle meets the physiological requirements of the dog (ie. if it can breathe easily, therefore keep itself cool). If not, they will suggest an alternative type of muzzle.

4.3. It is forbidden to use choking or studded collars!

4.4. It is allowed to give treats to the dog during the Race, thereby increasing its motivation.

4.5. Use of clickers is not allowed.

4.6. The Racer in the Duo is held responsible for their dog’s behaviour. The Racer shall collect the excrement of the dog competing in the pair and dispose of it in the bins provided.

4.7. The Racer has to keep the dog on a leash even on the track. They are also obligated to not let go of the leash during the race or during the whole event; the dog must be prevented from breaking free. If this nevertheless happens, the Racer is obligated to rectify the situation immediately. Failure to do so leads to disqualification. If the Racer has difficulties getting their dog under control again, they may ask any of the other Racers or the assistant organizers delegated by the Organiser for help. The combined use of a harness and running belt is highly recommended to avoid such situations!

4.8. If the dog is released with intent, the Racer is immediately disqualified.

4.9. The racer leading the dog is held responsible for the dog’s behaviour, and for possible damages the dog causes, whether to a person, another dog or an object.

4.10. The dog may be picked up, assisted at any obstacle. Picking up the dog by its collar, hair, skin or limb is forbidden. Allowed lifting techniques: -lifting the entire body by reaching under the legs (taking the dog in one’s arm); -using a harness. If the jury decides at the obstacle that the dog cannot be humanely made to complete the obstacle or the duo has spent a long enough time to risk the safe passage of the racers behind them, they may, at their own discretion, mandate the racer to skip the obstacle by completing a penalty task. The number of penalty squats may differ at different obstacles. The distance between the obstacles however has to be covered by the dog itself. The dog may be picked up 1 m before the obstacle, and upon its completion, must be put down on the ground within 3 m at most. The dog may run ahead of or beside the Racer. If the dog gets behind the Racer, the running belt or leash may not become taut.

4.11. There are refreshment stations located throughout the track. These may be used by all Racers. However, time is not paused while they are at the stations. We ask racers to provide water to their dogs in moderation, either at these stations or 15 minutes before / after the race for health reasons.

4.12. Before and after the Race, the Racers have opportunities to set up a mobile carrying box, whose occasional use we recommend.

4.13. The Racer accepts that the mandatory insurance against accidents does not extend to their dog.

5. OBSTACLES

5.1. The Race Organiser reserves the right to remove certain obstacles, modify parts of the track or cancel the event in order to ensure the safety of attendees (racers, spectators and organisers), eg. in cases of extremely bad weather, storms or heatwave alerts. The races are held when the weather is not ideal but tolerable (eg. a light drizzle).

5.2. There is a waiting zone in front of the obstacles for cases when multiple duos get crammed while completing it. In such cases, the assistant organisers will direct the racers to the obstacle in order of arrival. The racers have to stand in one column in the zone while maintaining a safe distance of 1,5m from one another.

5.3. If a racer cannot or will not complete one of the obstacles, they need to perform 30-90 valid squats in the penalty zone next to the obstacle, regardless of age or gender. Only afterwards are they allowed to continue the race. The assistant organizers will check the validity of the penalty task and will strictly enforce the rules. If the task is not completed properly or cheating is attempted, the Racer gets disqualified. The task has to be performed in a way that does not inhibit the rest of the racers in the completion of the obstacle.

5.4. In case of water obstacles, the water depth may exceed 100 cm (no maximum depth given). Different depth pertains to Racers of the HDR Junior event, see section 13.1 for details.

6. DISQUALIFICATION

6.1. The Racer may be disqualified by the Race Director. Disqualification happens when one of the rules laid down by this document is violated. If a Racer is disqualified, the dog they are paired with is also disqualified. The Race Director is obligated to provide their reason behind the disqualification.

6.2. There is no grounds for appeals against disqualification.

6.3. Disqualification may be communicated and explained verbally. At the end of the Race, however, the verbal disqualification must be written down.

6.4. Application fee is not refunded in case of disqualification.

6.5. The disqualified Racer and dog must leave the location of the Race without delay.

6.6. Racers who violate the Rules of Competition or the Ethical Principles can be disqualified at any time and evicted from the premises of the race (and the whole event). There are no options for redress.

6.7. Unsportsmanlike behaviour results in disqualification. An indicative list of typical unsportsmanlike behaviour are as follows:

• deviating from the track, shortening the distance, marking the track, moving or dismantling of obstacles;
• wilful obstruction of others: slower runners have to allow faster racers to pass them. If they do not, it will be considered dishonest (e.g.: trying to perform penalty task in the way of other runners on purpose);
• wilful disruption, pushing of other dogs is also considered unsportsmanlike behaviour;
• ignoring the rules of health and safety – if someone notices an accident or injury on the track, they must immediately notify the nearest assistant. In certain cases it may be wise to stay with the injured party, perhaps even against their protests. Failing to provide help to those in need of it is regarded dishonest behaviour and may even result in legal action. Whether it is a person or a dog in need of aid, we make no difference. The racer providing help will lose time, and appropriate compensation is difficult. The Race Director may decide to award a Fair Play prize to reward truly selfless and sportsmanlike behaviour and to compensate for the time lost.
• not following the instructions of the Referees
• racing while drunk or under the influence of drugs, or any attempts to do so result in immediate disqualification without possibility of redress.

7. EVALUATION AND RESULTS

7.1. The Organiser will announce the following winners:

• Female 1st, 2nd and 3rd places (according to completion time)
• Male 1st, 2nd and 3rd places (according to completion time)
• Team 1st, 2nd and 3rd places (the sum of the completion time of the first and last team member running with dog to finish)
• Surprise award 1-4 (the Organiser will not release information about the conditions and reserves the right to determine the exact conditions and the awarding of these prizes)
• Oldest duo (highest sum of the dog’s and the racer’s age)
• Fair Play award (if circumstances require it)

7.2. Prizes are awarded during the award ceremony, where the results are announced. The announcement begins 15 minutes after the last Racer in the last race slot crosses the finish line.

7.3. If a winner of a prize is not present at the ceremony, the Organiser will notify them about their prize via the e-mail address provided during registration. They can claim their prize at the Organiser’s office afterwards.

7.4. The Fair Play award can only be awarded after the Race Committee has had opportunity to thoroughly examine the circumstances. Therefore, this award can be claimed similarly to when a racer is not present at the ceremony.

7.5 There is no timing in the Mud Dog Race event, therefore, no awards, no rankings, no winners will be announced.

8. PRIZES

The prizes are specifically determined for every race, check the website for more details.

9. APPEALS

Appeals can be given verbally to the Race Director, who makes a short record of the appeal. Appeals can be made against any decision of the Race Director or the behaviour of another Duo (whether during the race or before/after it) excluding cases of disqualifications.

The appeal is evaluated by the Race Committee in the following two weeks. The evaluated appeal is valid and obligatory for all Racers.

The cost of an appeal is 10.000 HUF. If the appeal is legitimate, this cost is refunded. Appeals may only be made before the announcement of the results.

10. RESPONSIBILITY

10.1. The Organiser prioritises the importance of safety when organising the Race. Nevertheless, the Race carries inherent risks. By fully adhering to all the points of the Rules of Competition, the risks can be mitigated but not completely excluded.

10.2. The Organiser accepts the tasks of constructing all obstacles in compliance with safety protocols in order to reduce inherent risks (of accidents, injuries, deaths), to facilitate safe traverse of obstacles, and enforces rules to further mitigate the risks. However, the risk of injury, financial damages or fatal accidents befalling racers or dogs cannot be completely excluded. In such cases, the Organiser can only be held responsible if the harmful event is caused by the Organiser’s neglect of one of his duties specified by the Rules of Competition. Therefore, the Organiser is especially (but not exclusively) NOT responsible for the following:

• the behaviour of racers and their dogs, if an injury, accident, death or loss occurs because of a reason inherent to the racer or their dog (eg. they participate in a physically unfit state);
• the behaviour of the spectators of the Race before, during and after the Race;
• injury, accident, death or financial damage occurring to unforeseeable reasons that are outside the responsibility of everyone and cannot be reasonably avoided;
• a dog that was previously deemed fit to compete displays destructive behaviour at a later time.

10.3. If the Organiser has to pay a Racer for damages according to the Rules of Competition, the maximum amount cannot exceed the amount set for each country listed in the 14th point of this document per harmful event.

10.4. The Racer is obligated to download the document titled HDR – Responsibility Agreement from the Race’s homepage, fill in their data, print it, sign it and hand it over during registration on the day of the race.

11. DATA HANDLING

11.1. The Racer accepts that Hard Dog Race and the Race Organiser will ask for, process, record and use the following data in order to facilitate efficient execution of the Race: name, date and place of birth, mother’s name, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number, service license number (if applicable), dog’s name, chip number, vaccination book or dog passport number, bank account number. See the documents Rules of Personal Data Handling and Data Provision for further information.

11.2. The Racer accepts that the Race is a public event of which photographs and video recordings will be made. These may feature the Racer in an identifiable way. By participating in the Race, the Racer gives their consent to the making of the aforementioned recordings, and to the Organiser making the recording (or an edited version thereof) public without time limitations in the following channels: the Race’s website, Facebook page, Youtube channel, promotional media and press releases. The Racer has no right to any financial compensation for the use of these recordings.

11.3. The Racer is obligated to download the document titled HDR – Privacy and Portrait Agreement from the Race’s homepage , fill in their data, print it, have two witnesses sign it, and hand it over during registration on the day of the race.

12. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

12.1. HDR believes in the spirit of fair play. You may ask for another racer’s help during the event, who may be a team member, a solo racer or the member of another team. You may only ask another racer for help, you may not interact with spectators. The only exception from this is when someone helps catch a dog which is trying to get out from the track or has already done so.

12.2. You must hold on to your dog’s leash while you are making squats.

Starting position: both feet fully on the ground parallel to one another, looking forward, 30-50 cm between them, legs and back straight.

Execution:

1. lower body weight, as if sitting down on a stool, the knees bend, the thighs and the lower legs are at a right angle or smaller; hands do not touch the ground.
   2. rise into the starting position, hands do not touch the ground. Performing step 1 and 2 in succession constitutes one squat.

12.3. Pictures and video recordings will be made during the event, anyone may appear in them and these may be made public. By entering the race area, the racer gives permission for their unlimited use with no claims for financial compensation or legal appeal of any kind.

12.4. The organizer of the Race reserves the right to change certain conditions of the Race if necessary.

12.4.1. The organiser of the Race reserves the right to deviate from the rules regarding the applicant’s eligibility to participate in the Race after the applicant’s physical examination in individual cases. The requirements for each individual race are decided by the Race Committee in every case.

12.5. It is strictly forbidden to visit the course or to survey the course prior to the race. Before the official opening of the event, only members of the HDR Team are allowed to be on the event and course. Violators of this rule may be disqualified from the event by the organiser without recourse. No refund will be given in case of exclusion.

12.6 Information about the possibility of camping (caravan, tent) in the parking lot of the event and the rules of camping will be provided in the information for competitors for the event. The information therein is considered part of the competition rules!

12.7 It is strictly forbidden to display or use the logo or message of any company, organization, event, or brand in any form throughout the event area. This includes, but is not limited to, banners, beach flags, or any other decorative material. It is strictly forbidden to carry out unauthorized advertising or commercial activities in the event area, including its parking lot.

13. RULES CONCERNING RACERS OF HARD DOG RACE JUNIOR (HRDJ) ONLY

The entirety of the Rules of Competition pertains to the Racers of HDRJ. The contents of this section only apply to Racers of HDR Junior.

Any legally incapacitated minor between ages 8-14 (i.e. already past their 8th birthday by the day of the race, but not past the 14th one) who meets the conditions below may apply:

• their legal representative has given their written permission for their participation in the Race. The quality of legal guardianship has to be verified by both the minor intending to participate and the guardian with the Race organiser’s representative at the Race. If the legal representative is unable to accompany the minor competitor, he or she has the option of transferring his/her rights to an adult person (over the age of 18) with a Supplementary statement parental responsibility HDR.
• the legal guardian present is liable to escort the Racer to the starting line, follow their activities, and to provide escort on the track if necessary.

13.1. The organiser of the Race will do everything in their power to make the race track as safely traversable as possible for minor Racers, they will provide an assistant to help the Racers at obstacles which will be adjusted to the minor Racers’ average height.

Certain wet obstacles may contain water deeper than 70 cm, maximum water depth is 100 cm!

13.2. The organiser only measures the minor Racer’s time in HDRJ events, and only the minors get a chip. In solo or team events of HDRJ, the legal representative of the minor Racer(s) may only step on the track if:

• if they ticked the box next to ‘I as the legal representative of the minor Racer wish to escort my child along the full length of the track’.
• The legal representative fills out a copy of the Responsibility Agreement and the Privacy Protection Agreement  and Picture Agreement  pertaining to their person as well, and hands in each copy at the local registration before the Race.

The organiser can only provide a racing number to the legal representative (which is a pre-requisite of entering the track) if the two previous points are fully met.

Those who enter the track must wear their racing number, which they acquire at the end of the local registration. Racing numbers have to be worn at the front!

13.3. The organiser of the Race urges the legal representatives of minor Racers not to provide any help during completion of the obstacles.

The legal representatives of minor Racers agree to not helping the Racer and their dog during the Race physically (e.g. with completing obstacles), adhering to the rules of fair play.

14. RULES APPLIED TO THE HDR NOT JUST RUN RACE ONLY

HDR Not Just Run is a cross-country running race against time which a person completes while leading their dog on a leash, harness or running belt, completing the distance together. The track goes through a diverse terrain and the full distance differs based on the race’s type (HDR Not Just Run Junior: approx. 2 km; HDR Not Just Run Adult: approx. 6 km). The organiser of the race maintains the right to change the distance.

14.1  Persons of limited capability over the age of 12 who meet the requirements outlined in 1.2.1 and whose legal guardian has approved their participation (necessary document: 12-14 yrs: declaration of parental responsibility for HDR Junior; 14-18 declaration of parental responsibility for HDR Base) are eligible for HDR Not Just Run’s adult race. Declarations may be downloaded here: (LINK: https://harddograce.eu/application/ downloadable-agreements/). Legal guardianship must be verified in person, together by the legal guardian and the minor intending to participate, before the representative of the Race Organiser. For the rules applicable to the racers of HDR Not Just Run Junior (8-14 yrs), refer to section 13 of the Rules of Competition, with the addendum that HDR Not Just Run racers do not have to complete obstacles.

14.2 Rewards: Participants of HDR Not Just Run race run on behalf of one organisation selected from HDR’s Selflessly partners. Prizes are received by the Selflessly organisation selected by the Racer during their application.

15. DUE TO THE DIFFERENCES OF LEGISLATION BETWEEN EACH COUNTRY or other unique factors, the following exceptions apply to the rules set by the above:

15.1. HUNGARY

• The entry fee in accordance with point 2.1.4. must be paid at the competition venue.
• The online payment service provider according to section 2.1.4. is Barion Zrt.
• The reimbursement for lost or damaged time measuring chips in section 3.10. is HUF 2,000, which the Racer has to pay the Race Organiser. Changes after the closed online registration are defined in point 3.10. These cases are chargeable for an administration fee. (Fee: 4 000 HUF)
• The amount paid by the Race Organiser to the Racer for damages detailed in section 10.3. may not exceed HUF 150,000 per harmful event.

15.2. POLAND

• The mandatory nature of chips for the dog’s identity verification in section 1.3. does not apply. Therefore, participation in HDR Poland’s races is allowed without such microchips.
• The entry fee in accordance with point 2.1.4. must be paid at the competition venue
• The online payment service provider according to section 2.1.4. is Stripe.
• The reimbursement for lost or damaged time measuring chips in section 3.10. is PLN 30, which the Racer has to pay the Race Organiser.
• The amount paid by the Race Organiser to the Racer for damages detailed in section 10.3. may not exceed PLN 2000 per harmful event.

Dogs with cut (copied) ears and/or tails may not take part in the competition in Poland in accordance with the regulations in force – article 6, sec. 1a of the Animal Protection Act of 21 August 1997 (Journal of Laws of 1997 No. 111, item 724, article 6, sec. 1a) which reads: “Animal abuse shall be prohibited. (2) Animal abuse shall be understood as inflicting or knowingly allowing to be inflicted pain or suffering on animals, in particular: 1. the intentional injury or mutilation of an animal which does not constitute a lawful procedure or treatment within the meaning of Article 2 Explanation of Statutory Terms, paragraph 1(6) of the Law of 15 January 2015 on the Protection of Animals Used for Scientific or Educational Purposes, including the marking of warm-blooded animals by burning or freezing, as well as any treatment aimed at altering the appearance of an animal and performed for a purpose other than saving its health or life, in particular the trimming of dogs’ ears and tails (copying).” Exceptions to this rule are dogs that have undergone tail and/or ear copying for health reasons or where the current owner has adopted a dog with already copied ears and/or tail.

15.3. CZECH REPUBLIC

• The mandatory aspect of the chip is excluded from the application requirements for dogs outlined in section 1.3, so for racers with Czech citizenship, participation with dogs without a microchip for their identification is allowed in case of the HDR Czech Republic races.
• The draft law of 246/1992 about the prohibition of animal torture in effect since 2004.03.01 – in particular, 1. 77/2004 – forbids the popularisation of animal torture and presenting such at public events in Czech Republic. Therefore, racers are not allowed to participate dogs with their ears or tail cut in the races of Hard Dog Race Czech Republic.
• The entry fee in accordance with point 2.1.4. must be paid at the competition venue.
• The online payment service provider according to section 2.1.4. is Comgate.
• The reimbursement for lost or damaged time measuring chips in section 3.10. is 180 Kč (7€), which the Racer has to pay the Race Organiser.
• The amount paid by the Race Organiser to the Racer for damages detailed in section 10.3. may not exceed 12 200 Kč (482€) per harmful event

16. THE LANGUAGE OF THE COMPETITION RULES

The Rules of Competition have been prepared in Hungarian, English, Polish and Czech languages. Should any differences in interpretation or linguistic problems occur, the Hungarian version will prevail.

RULES CONCERNING SPECTATORS AND VISITORS

1. During the event, dogs may only be kept on a leash, it is forbidden to release them!
2. If your dog is aggressive, antisocial toward humans or other animals, please put a muzzle on it! You are responsible for its behaviour!
3. You are responsible for your own and your dog’s wellbeing!
4. Everyone has to pick up the droppings after their dog, and dispose of them in the marked bins, including in the area of dog lavatories!
5. No littering! Dispose of what you do not need any more in the marked bins!
6. Only the racers are allowed to enter the track, which is separated from the viewing area by a barrier. Please cheer, record videos and take photos from outside the track only!
7. Photos and video recordings are made during the event. You may appear in them and they may be made public. By entering the area, you give your consent to be part of this without limitations.
8. By attending the event, you agree to uphold the rules concerning spectators at all times.

HARD DOG RACE Kft.
Organiser (Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic)

 

6. June 2024