HOW TO ENTER AN ORIENTEERING EVENT
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HOW TO ENTER AN ORIENTEERING EVENT |
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Registering
In this document I'll describe the procedure for two different types of event. (1) A District Event using entry-on-the-day, electronic punching and pre-marked maps. (2) A District Event using entry-on-the-day, conventional punching and a master map system. Electronic punching and pre-marked maps When you arrive at the event, park as directed by the marshals or, if there are no parking marshals, using common sense. Next, you need a registration card for each entry. (Two people running together as a pair count as a single entry.) The parking marshal may give you registration cards. Otherwise, you'll find them in the registration area. Fill in your registration card. You'll need to put your name, club, age class, course, car registration number and a contact telephone number. If you're not a member of any orienteering club then give your club as "independent". An orienteering age class consists of a letter -- M for men and W for women -- and a two-digit age. To find your age class, first of all determine which of your birthdays falls in the current calendar year. It doesn't matter whether you've already had that birthday or it's still to come. It's the birthday in this calendar year that counts. If that birthday is between 21 and 34 then you're M21 or W21. If the birthday is 35 or more then round down to the nearest multiple of five. For example, suppose that you are 36, having had your 36th birthday earlier this year. You take 36 and round down to 35. Or, suppose that you are 39 and your 40th birthday is later this year. You take 40 and round down to 40. Note: I still need to add a description of the system for juniors. See the next page for information on how to choose an appropriate course. The car registration number and contact phone number are to help the organiser to do a safety check to ensure that everyone has returned safely from their runs. Walk along to registration area, taking your registration card, money for your entry fee and dibber hire fee and 30p in loose change. At registration, go to the dibber hire station and hire a dibber. The hired dibber number needs to be entered on your registration card. Then go to the registration station, hand in your registration card and pay the entry fee. Some events allow you to just turn up at the start and go when you're ready. At other events you're allocated a start time when you register. When you're selecting a start time, remember to allow time to get changed, go to the toilets, sort out any other members of your family, and walk to the start. It's worth checking how far it is to the start. At some events you'll be given a "start slip" that you need to take to the start as proof that you have paid your entry fee and are entitled to a run. You should be able to pick up set of control descriptions somewhere in the registration area. You should now have a dibber, a set of control descriptions, and possibly a start slip. These days, results of orienteering events are made available via the Internet. If you want a paper copy of the results then look for a "results envelopes" box. Take an envelope, write your name and address on the front, put the required money into the envelope and then -- without sealing it -- put the envelope into the box. Now go back to your car and get ready for your run. Conventional punching and master maps When you arrive at the event, park as directed by the marshals or, if there are no parking marshals, using common sense. Once you've parked, walk along to registration. Take with you a red pen, money for your entry fee, 30p in loose change and, if it's raining, your map bag. At District Events, registration is generally done from several parked cars. There is often a "pay car" for entry fee payment and map issue, plus two or three cars dealing with the registration for the various courses. At smaller events the whole process may be handled from a single car. The first thing to do is to pay your entry fee and get a map. Then you need to register for your chosen course. Go to the appropriate car and give your name, club, age class, course and preferred start time. See the next page for information on how to choose an appropriate course. If you're not a member of any orienteering club then give your club as "independent". See above for a description of orienteering age classes. When you're selecting a start time, remember to allow time to get changed, go to the toilets, sort out any other members of your family, and walk to the start. It's worth checking how far it is to the start. When you register you'll be given a control card and a set of control descriptions. You should now have a map, a control card and a set of control descriptions. Next, look for map corrections. These will be on map display boards in the registration area. Use your red pen to copy the map corrections on to your map. These days, results of orienteering events are made available via the Internet. If you want a paper copy of the results then look for a "results envelopes" box. Take an envelope, write your name and address on the front, put the required money into the envelope and then -- without sealing it -- put the envelope into the box. Now go back to your car and get ready for your run.
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