Rules and Regulations
1. Upon registration, all competitors agree to abide by the rules and regulations, terms and conditions as set out by Sandbaggers Ltd. Terms and conditions may be subject to change at short notice.
2. In any dispute, the Race Directors decision will be final and binding on all parties.
3. Sandbaggers Ltd reserves the right to alter or modify any aspect of the Gobi Challenge race itinerary at short notice in response to unforeseen circumstances in order to ensure the safety and security of all participants. Therefore, the organisers and representatives strongly encourage each participant to purchase trip cancellation insurance.
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AGE:
All competitors must be 18 years of age or older.
ENTRIES:
Open to men and women, individuals and teams.
TEAM ENTRIES:
1. All teams must have at least three members.
2. To qualify for a team ranking all team members must complete the race.
3. Individual team members will also receive individual overall rankings. Team times will be calculated as the time taken by the slowest member to complete the race.
RACE STAGES:
1. There will be 7 stages over 7 days varying in distance from 10km to 50 km.
2. In the interests of safety each stage will have a maximum time for completion. Failure to complete a stage in the allocated time will result in that individuals elimination from the race.
ALTERATIONS TO THE RACE ITINERARY:
Sandbaggers Ltd reserves the right to alter or modify any aspect of the Gobi Challenge at short notice in response to unforeseen circumstances in order to ensure the safety and security of all participants.
CHECKPOINTS:
1. These will be located every 10km.
2. Competitors must pass through and check-in at all the checkpoints on each stage.
3. At each checkpoint a water ration of 1.5l will be distributed.
4. Failure to pass through a checkpoint will result in elimination from the race.
FINISHING A STAGE:
1. A water ration will be distributed to each competitor at the completion of each stage.
2. On the completion of each stage each competitor and team will be timed in.
RACE NUMBER:
Each competitor will be issued with a unique identifying race number. This must be displayed clearly at all times during the race.
MANDATORY EQUIPMENT:
Competitors will be required to carry a number of essential items of equipment necessary to ensure their safety. Failure to carry any of these items will incur a time penalty and/or disqualification from the race.
WATER SUPPLY:
For the duration of the race, officials will supply and distribute a water ration to each competitor: before the start of each stage, at the conclusion of each stage and at each checkpoint along the route.
It is the individual participant’s responsibility to manage his or her water intake and prevent dehydration.
OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE:
1. The only assistance permitted is from race officials.
2. No use of any form of transport or outside provisions is allowed during the race.
3. Any infringements of this rule will result in disqualification.
FOOD:
Competitors will be required to carry food of sufficient calorific value for the duration of the race.
WITHDRAWAL:
Competitors wishing to withdraw from the race can do so at any time by informing a race official of their wish to do so. Should they so wish, arrangements for return to Dalandzadgad and Ulan Bator can be made at the competitors expense. Sandbaggers Ltd. cannot guarantee the availability of return flights in such an eventuality. Additional accommodation arising as a consequence of this shall be met at the participants’ expense.
PENALTIES:
1. Awarded time penalties will be added to individual times at the end of each stage.
2. Appeals must be made to the race director at least two hours prior to the start of the next stage.
3. At the discretion of the race director, time penalties of one hour shall be made for any breach of the rules and regulations.
4. Severe breaches, which can be construed as willful cheating may result in disqualification.
DISQUALIFICATION:
Disqualification will result in the competitor leaving the race with no ranking and no refund. Transportation to the finish line and accommodation will be at the runner’s expense unless they elect to remain with the remaining runners and race officials until the conclusion of the race.
RACE RESULTS:
Competitors will be ranked with times indicated in hours, minutes and seconds. Prizes and finishers medals will be distributed according to position.
HEALTH AND SAFETY:
The safety of all competitors is of paramount importance to Sandbaggers Ltd. While it remains the concern of race officials, the responsibility for personal safety ultimately rests with the individual participant. |
