SPORT TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Registration
All participants of the Healthpact 9th Australian Masters Games must undergo accreditation at the Games Centre (Canberra Labour Club). In addition Orienteering competitors need to register at the event venues. Upon registering, you will receive your control descriptions which will also be on the back of maps), any other relevant event information and hired SportIdent e-cards (if applicable).
Registration will be available on Saturday 8 November at the Mulligans Flat site from 12noon, and on Sunday 9 November at the Innabaanya site from 9.00am.
Parking
Parking will be adjacent to the assembly area on both days.
Toilets and water
Toilets will be at the assembly area. Water will be available at the assembly area and at the finish.
Catering
There will be no catering at the event.
SportIdent -- Electronic Punching
The SportIdent electronic punching system will be used for both days.
For those not familiar with SportIdent, it uses an electronic control card - called an "e-card", rather than the conventional cardboard control card. The e-card is in the form of a small plastic stick, which can be attached to one of your fingers by means of an elastic band, which is part of the e-card. The e-card is passive and without any form of battery, so it is very unlikely to malfunction.
Between the races, each runner is responsible for their hired e-card. If an e-card is lost by a competitor they will be charged $37.50 to cover the replacement cost. SportIdent will block any lost e-card to prevent its future use.
Each e-card has a unique identification number. Runners using a wrong e-card may be disqualified.
Pre-Start Procedure: At the start area runners must clear their e-card at the station provided. Runners must remember to hold down their e-card for several seconds until the red light and beep signal that it is cleared.
The runner will also insert their e-card into another station for a final check. This will only take 0.3 seconds before the beep occurs.
During the race: At each control, the end of the e-card must be placed into the hole on top of the control unit mounted on the control stand until a red light and a beep indicates that registration has occurred. Registration is quick, taking about 0.3 seconds, but it is the runner's responsibility to ensure that the OK signal is received. Note that the red light and beep does NOT guarantee that the runner is at the correct control. This must be checked in the usual way by reading the control number.
If a runner accidentally uses the e-card at a wrong control, the runner can simply continue to the correct control. The SportIdent system will automatically discard the wrong electronic punch. Up to three mispunches are permitted. After three the competitor may be disqualified.
Each control also has a traditional punching device (with pins). In the highly unlikely event of a malfunction of the control unit i.e. if the runner does not get a red light and beep, the runner should use the manual traditional punch. The punch marks must be made in one of the three punch boxes marked on the orienteering map or if there are no boxes, anywhere on the map. Runners who use the manual traditional punch without due cause may be disqualified.
At the finish: When a runner reaches the finish line, the e-card must be placed into one of the control units situated directly on the finish line. When the red light and beep occurs, the finish time has been recorded and the race is over.
After crossing the finish line the runner should proceed to the finish tent where three administrative things happen. First, the e-card is read to download the electronic control punches and split times into the computing system. Second, the official will advise that all is okay. And third, the runner will receive a personal copy of their split times.
Runners who have had to use the normal punches (with pins) must notify finish officials so their maps can be collected and named for later analysis.
For those who are unfamiliar with the SportIdent system a unit will be on display at the Orienteering registration to try or you could visit the SportIdent web page at http//www.sportident.se
Start locations (New)
The starts on each day will away from the Assembly area. Competitors should note the distance and estimated walking times on day.
Saturday 8 November - 300 metres - Competitors should allow 10 minutes from Assembly area to start call-up at 4 minutes prior to their start time. No water at the Start.
Sunday 9 November - 1,300 metres - Competitors should allow 35 minutes from Assembly area to start call-up at 4 minutes prior to their start time. There will be water at the Start.
There will not be a toilet at the Start.
Start arrangements
At the start area runners must clear their e-card at the station provided. Runners must remember to hold down their e-card for several seconds until the red light and beep signal that it is cleared. They must then place the e-card in the check unit to verify all data has been cleared.
It is the runner's responsibility to ensure that he or she is present at the correct time when they are called forward to the start box.
At 4 minutes prior to their start time, runners will be called to the pre-start. The "next start time" display will indicate to runners when they are to move to the pre-start.
At 2 minutes prior to their start runners will be asked to move to the start point.
At the start area runners will be directed to boxes containing maps for their course and be asked to write their name on the back of a map. Note that the maps will be located at the pre-start area. At the end of six beeps from the start clock, runners will pick up their map but they will not be allowed to turn over their map and commence their course until they have punched the Start unit. They are to follow tapes to the Start Triangle. They must proceed through the area of the Start Triangle.
Late starters must report to the official at the pre-start clock and wait for instructions. The starter will slot late starters in as course vacancies arise. Where a starter commences late throught no fault of the organiser's they will be deemed to have started at their scheduled start time.
Course closure time
All courses will close by 3.00 pm Saturday, and 1.00pm Sunday. That is, if you are still on your course at this time you are asked to make your way straight back to the finish. Control collection will start from course closure time.
Control descriptions
Competitors will receive their own course control description sheet. Control descriptions will also be printed on the back of the map. Descriptions will be in international symbol format and in English. Note that with electronic punching you won't have a control card on which to write descriptions.
Control stands
Each control will be identified by a code number placed horizontally on top of the control stands. Control stands will have one electronic punching device and one conventional punch. The manual punch is only to be used in case of a control unit failure.
Maps
Maps have been drawn according to the IOF International Specification for Orienteering Maps (ISOM).
The map scales are
Day 1 Mulligans Flat 1:10000
Day 2 Innabaanya 1:10000
Maps will be in plastic bags
The previous orienteering maps of each of the competition areas will be displayed at the assembly area on each day. Competitors are not permitted to bring a previous version of the map to the competition area.
Clothing and equipment
No restrictions on clothing or footwear will be enforced, however full leg and arm cover is recommended. Protective glasses are also advisable for those in the habit of wearing them. Given the nature of the terrain and the later than normal start times it is also highly recommended that you carry a whistle.
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