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Rules

Each race is a one hour rogaine which works like this:

Shortly before the start at 7pm, runners and bikers will be given a map of the forest showing all the controls (checkpoints) set out amongst the trees. Each control is worth a certain amount of points: 10, 20, 30,... right up to 90 or 100 points for some controls. Competitors choose which ones they visit, with the aim being to amass as many points as possible, and return to the Start/Finish area within the 60 minutes allowed. Points are deducted for every minute a competitor is late back

Controls for the mountain bikers will be on tracks, so no riding off track is necessary. Controls for those on foot will generally not be on tracks.

Gear required is simply a compass and a headlamp (the brighter the better). All bikers must wear safety-approved helmets.

How to use SPORT ident:

The SPORTident electronic timing system is used regularly at major Orienteering events in NZ. Instead of competitors carrying a paper control card and manually punching their card at each control they visit, they instead carry an SI-stick which they insert into the SI unit at each control. The SI-stick records the control number and time visited. After the competitor "punches" the "finish" SI unit at the end of their course, the information on their SI-stick can then be downloaded to computer and a printout made showing the controls visited, time visited, split times between controls and total elapsed time.

If you hire a SI card you will need to return it after each event. If you fail to return your card you may be charged the purchase cost of a new SI stick of approximately $120.

Attach the SI-Stick to yourself
The SI-Stick comes with a finger loop which can be adjusted to fit any finger you wish to use.

Before you start, Clear and Check
We will clear the cards prior to each event but if you wish to do so for your own piece of mind then follow the instructions below.
At the registration you will see two SI units set up with "Clear" and Check" labels. The SI-sticks have a limited memory so they need to be emptied before each event. The "Clear" unit will do this and will take around 10 seconds before a beep is heard. The "Check" unit confirms that after clearing, your SI-stick is working OK and if is cleared correctly will beep. If not then clear the card once again.

What happens at a control?
When at a control you place the end of your SI-stick into the hole on the top of the unit. The unit has a small red light that will flash and/or will emit an audible "beep" so that you know it has recorded your visit. Make sure at least one of these happens otherwise it will be down as missing that control.

What happens if the control unit doesn't work?
Occasionally these units fail. If the light doesn't flash and there is no sound, there is a manual punch on the stand with which you should punch your map to show you've been to that control. There are extra square provided on the map for this purpose.

What happens at the finish?
At the finish you must punch the finish control box to finish your course. Your total time will be taken from this punch. You then need to proceed (in your own time!) to the download computer. At the computer you will be asked to punch a download box and you will be given a printout of your total time, as well as your split times for each control. After downloading you will then eed to hand it back.

*Adapted from a BOF article on SI for MTBO