Except you can't have THREE people , (or dogs), in the next heat !! On a straight, ladder system knockout, IE 32, 16, 8, 4, 2, 1; ypu cannot have people, (or dogs), taking the place of non-runners, apart from the 1st round, and then only if it is written in the rules !! If my 1st round is against a certain dog, then it pulls out , and a different dog is put up to race me, and if it is not written in the rules, why the hell should I race it ??? Once the draw has been done, that should be it !! I know LDR will discuss all rules well before the next comp, and it will be run fair and square, just