IditaProject Forum

I HAVE A POINT OF ORDER QUESTION

So Dallas Seavey arrives in Nome in second place, BUT he does not have his Vet Book which IS a required item according to ITC rule #16  

"Rule 16 -- Mandatory Items: A musher must have with him/her in the front sled, at all times the following items: Veterinarian notebook, to be presented to the veterinarian at each checkpoint."

5 minutes later Nic Petit crosses the finish in third place and has brought Dallas's Vet book which Dallas had left at Safety.
Shouldn't Nic, who has arrived with ALL his mandatory items be checked in as the official 2nd place finisher according to the rules?
  

Sounds good to me.

I suppose I already know what the answer will be from the official standpoint, but the words "at all times" seem to me to be the relevant ones.

I mean technically, if Nic had not brought it with him, Dallas would be required to go back and get it before he could be checked in. Right? How many have had to go back to retrieve their axe or take a penalty in the past!

True.

I was discussing this with someone last night.

Exactly WHAT is the penalty for arriving under the Burled Arch without a mandatory item? Let's say Nic had caught up to Dallas and handed him the vet book BEFORE reaching the arch, then I don't see a problem with the finish order. But it's clear that didn't happen. Sure, Dallas hadn't been officially checked in, however he had crossed the finish line.

What's the point of rules in a race if they are haphazardly enforced? Something doesn't seem right about this.

If there are no consequences, then I guess from now on mushers can make their own decisions about what to carry or not carry.

But does iditarod hand out time penalties?

When Robert Sørlie lost some of his mandatory gear in 2014 he got a fine.

According to the rules, you get a fine if the rule infraction has no competitive advantage.

Time penalties is given if there has been a competitive advantage.

From listening to the video, Dallas said something about the lady being new and not a vet. Seems like they have a controversy every year.

That would make sense Mira. In that case, he should be fined. (If the rules apply to Robert they should apply to everyone else.)

I just looked at the ITC's Facebook page and there are plenty of people none too happy. A few blame the Safety checker, but it appears most think Dallas should've verified he had all required items upon leaving the checkpoint.