Great Gnome-Out Official Rules Published

The Offical Rules and Regulations for the Great Gnome out have be published. For our readers, the rules are published below:
(gp: January 10, 2010)

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The 2010 Great Gnome-Out Official Rules and Regulations

Contest explanation:

The Great Gnome-Out asks our friends, the Gnomes, to assist us in determining the arrival of True Spring by helping to determine that the ice has finally left our fair waterways.

To make this interesting, this determination has become a ritual gathering of Gnomes, and further more, a Gnoming contest supported by the humans.

In mid winter, the Gnomes will gather on a pre-determined ice flow/frozen body of water. The Gnomes will wait out the rest of the winter until the spring thaw begins. True spring will be determined, and the winner of the Great Gnome out will be crowned (if found) when the last Gnome standing goes down with the melting ice.

Official Rules:

1. Any Gnome, Garden Animal, or similar entity may participate. Religious objects or icons are banned to reduce possible divine influence on the outcome.


2. Participants are encouraged to be 6” in height or length as a minimum, and cannot be naturally floating (ex: inflatable, made of Styrofoam, wood, or wearing water wings).


3. Positions on the playing field (pond) will be established on a first-come first-served basis


4. Spacing between participants must be maintained as a minimum of 24”, and must be directly on the ice. Intermediate objects (ex: snow piles, boards, sleds, pontoon boats, etc.) cannot be used.


5. Once the participant has established a position, they cannot move location, and must stay for the duration of the contest.


6. Participation is entirely at the participant’s own risk. Ability to swim is optional, but rescue cannot be guaranteed, and will not be attempted until summer.


7. Human intervention beyond assisting in the initial location of the participant will result in an immediate ban from the contest.


8. Last participant floating on the ice will be declared the winner.


9. Registration will continue through the last day for January 31, 2010. The first day of the contest will be Monday, February 1, 2010


10. The host family, event sponsors, and security personnel cannot be held responsible for anything.


11. Additional rules will be made up by the event sponsors as deemed necessary and as they feel like it,


12. Intervention of natural flora and fauna cannot be controlled (dogs, cats, beavers, otters, trees, etc.)


13. Participants give up all media rights to their image and reporting on activities for the duration of the contest.


14. Final prize to be determined by the event sponsor.

As long as the criteria listed in rules 1 and 2 above are met, the sponsors of this event will not discriminate against participation based on color, size, years of age, body shape (or lack thereof), parentage (or lack thereof), store bought at, UPC number, clothing, paint style, team affiliation, gender (or lack thereof), sexual orientation (or lack thereof).

Let the games begin!