Championship Points Program
Statement of Definition
As a service to its members, to recognize excellence, and to provide cohesion to the local race circuit, North Star Sled
Dog Club has established the North Star Championship Points program (NSCP). The NSCP is a system for ranking the overall performance
of Club members in as accurate and fair a manner as possible and for identifying the champion of each class at the end of
each race season.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the NSCP is to foster participation in races in Minnesota and the vicinity and provide cohesion to the
race organizations. The program is designed to provide incentive to the race giving organizations to standardize their events
as well as work together to build a cooperative race circuit that will strengthen the entire sport in Minnesota and its vicinity.
Because the NSCP is a service to Club members, the race giving organizations have no responsibility to the program but
are encouraged to take it into account when planning their events. To this end, the program will recognize only those classes
that demonstrate viability by staging a minimum number of events in a year. The championship is not a participation award,
nor can it be won in a single try.
General Conditions
All North Star Sled Dog Club members in good standing are eligible to earn points by participating in races which are
part of the North Star Circuit. Family members are eligible for points only if a "family" membership had been paid
and all family members are listed as members with first and last names on the NSSDC membership roster.
Points will be awarded in all classes that have a minimum of three events in the race season.
Points will be given to all race finishers (not just NSSDC members).
Only the points for NSSDC members will be included in the NSCP.
A race of one or more days may be included in the NSCP.
All races will be counted for points. Purse size will not be a consideration for point value, the rationale being that
a higher purse will attract more entrants. Thus, finishers would have a chance of earning more points.
Tallying of Points
The total number of points in any class is determined by the number of teams that begin the race on its first day.
Points awarded will be in reverse order of a participant's finishing position. For example, in a race with nineteen starting
teams, first place would earn nineteen points; second place earns eighteen points, etc.
Teams which DNF, DNR, or DQ earn no points, but their positions will count for the other teams' points/positions. However,
in order for them to count in other teams' points/positions, they must have started the first day's heat.
Points will be tallied for each participant, in each class, for the season. Net points will be maximized for each participant
according to the following schedule:
Total Events # of Events Counted
3 3
4 3
5 4
6 5
7 5
8 5
9 6
10/Up 7
For example, in the 6 Dog class there were seven events held in a given season. Only a competitor's top five point-getting
events would be tallied in the final point calculations. These five events would constitute his/her net points. If a participant
competes in only four or five events, then points from all those events would be tallied in the final, net point calculation.
Awards
Medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each class having a minimum of three events.
There will be no certificates awarded except in the Junior classes for each participant who is not eligible for a medal.
Race Schedule
For a complete 2009 Race Schedule please see our events page by clicking here.
North Star was formally incorporated by Minnesota state statutes in 1965 with Don Gale as its first president. Since then
it has grown from a membership of around 20 to almost 200.
North Star Sled Dog Club (NSSDC) sanctions several sled dog races during the winter months in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin,
North Dakota, and Manitoba and Ontario in Canada. During the summer months they promote the local Dryland events, including the Byllesby Dryland Classic.
NSSDC is a member of the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) and Mushing USA, the United States governing
body of sled dog sports. ISDRA is an international organization which serves to promote sled dog racing and the welfare of
sled dogs.
NSSDC Purpose
The object and purpose of the North Star Sled Club are to promote the sport of sled dog racing and the welfare of the
sled dog and to familiarize the public with the work of the sled dog.
NSSDC Events
NSSDC holds at least three meetings a year: in April, July, and October. The July meeting is usually in conjunction with
the annual summer seminar, and the October meeting is held at a northern Minnesota home where training trails are available
so that members can also participate in a training session and luncheon prior to the meeting. Other special meetings are occasionally
called at the request of the executive committee.
NSSDC Projects and Committees
NSSDC has accomplished many projects over the years. Most recently, it developed a program for kennel certification, called
CHAMP (Canine Health and Maintenance Program).
NSSDC has two standing committees: the RGO Committee (Race Giving Organization Committee), which works with the various
organizations that are hosting races; and the Junior Committee.
NSSDC also has several ad hoc committees, currently including the history, race giving manual, and championship program
committees.
The TUGLINE
Created in 1969 with Joyce Lillie as its first editor, the TUGLINE is the official newspaper of the North Star Sled Dog
Club. It is published six times a year and is issued in January, March, June, August, October, and December. Originally done
on a mimeograph machine, it is now designed on computer and serves to keep members informed about mushing news and views.
mushing without snow
Dryland is a great way to teach a new dog the basics of mushing while having the control of "Dryland" under your feet. Summer is a great time to begin training your yearlings and new leaders. Early morning, late evening or cool days are perfect to get out with the dogs to canicross, scooter or cart. read more here
Fall meeting
Our fall club meeting and picnic will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at Rick and Nettie's in conjunction with the Fall Fun Run.
The meeting is from 1:00 to ? Everyone is invited to attend. If you have an interest in the dog powered sports venues please join us! Bring a dish to share, your mushing stories and all your dog powered sports questions. Address is: 2327 County Road 142, Mahtowa, Mn 55707
North on 35-W to the Mahtowa exit. (this is next exit after the Barnum exit) At the stop sign turn right onto Cty. Rd. 4 and drive to next stop sign, (which is a T) at Hwy. 61 and turn left. Go about three blocks to first cross road and turn right, back on to Cty. Rd. 4. Follow # 4 for 3.5 miles and turn right on Cty. Rd. 142 and follow it for .9 miles and we are on the left. There will be a turn off at the south corner of the field, before the wind mill to enter the field and parking area.