If an athlete repeatedly bangs into another during the course of a race, goes out of their way to stop another runner passing them (i.e putting an arm out or pushing them). It isn't called "Just being competetive". The WRCA have an interesting definition of what can be disqualified bit I admire STRIKE WHIPPET'S common sense train of thought, if one of my dogs had a tendency to leaning on I'd pull it off the track too it's not safe for the other dogs for a start or fair.
I understand the WRCA ruling is probably very very different from that used in Non-Ped racing but deliberate impeding (leaning on and aggressive bumping etc.) is also an offence in the eye's of the Non-Ped racers and a disqualification offence. Sadly still though dogs slip through the net and get away with it (benefit of the doubt and sometimes not), I don't think there is much of a ruling as far as number of offences goes but I think one organisation has a 3 strikes and out rule.
One other thing the Non-Ped's have to deal with is seeding (i.e left and right hand runner) and the thing that gets on my nerves (and I know Vicky's too) is the wrong seeding of a dog whether deliberate or by mistake. That's when it gets hard to decide whether a dog is just running for it's side, not going in the direction it is seeded to (dangerous for other runners seeded the same way) or just deliberately going the opposite way in persuit of another dog or to deliberately impede another dog.
(You should put this topic in the general discussion forum then we can all put in our two-pennorth - Ped's Non-Ped and Coursers)
I understand the WRCA ruling is probably very very different from that used in Non-Ped racing but deliberate impeding (leaning on and aggressive bumping etc.) is also an offence in the eye's of the Non-Ped racers and a disqualification offence. Sadly still though dogs slip through the net and get away with it (benefit of the doubt and sometimes not), I don't think there is much of a ruling as far as number of offences goes but I think one organisation has a 3 strikes and out rule.
One other thing the Non-Ped's have to deal with is seeding (i.e left and right hand runner) and the thing that gets on my nerves (and I know Vicky's too) is the wrong seeding of a dog whether deliberate or by mistake. That's when it gets hard to decide whether a dog is just running for it's side, not going in the direction it is seeded to (dangerous for other runners seeded the same way) or just deliberately going the opposite way in persuit of another dog or to deliberately impede another dog.
(You should put this topic in the general discussion forum then we can all put in our two-pennorth - Ped's Non-Ped and Coursers)