JK2004 > Programme > Trail-O

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Trail-O, Rookhow Centre

The Trail-O events are being organised in line with the IOF General Rules for Trail Orienteering. Copies of these will be available for viewing at registration and can be found on the IOF website. Further information on Trail-O can be found on the Trail-O website.

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You are asked to approach the Trail-O from the south via Haverthwaite cross-roads on the A590. After leaving the A590 the route is on narrow country roads with stone walls. Please allow plenty of time for your journey and drive carefully. From there head North, following the JK road signs until you reach Rusland Hall at Grid Reference SD 340 888. Here the Trail-O route turns left away from the Day 1 and Relay access route. It is marked by Orienteering/Trail-O signs all the way to the road junction at SD 332 895. Then please follow signs and marshal's instructions as you enter the parking area.

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Car parking will be in the field immediately South of Rookhow at Grid Reference SD 332 894. Trail-O Car Park permits will cost £2 (valid for both days). You do not need to pay this if you have a JK2004 Foot-O Car Park Permit.

Disabled persons with very limited mobility may request a SPECIAL CAR PARK PERMIT allowing them to park (or be dropped off) up at the assembly area - saving a walk of some 200 metres or so.

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The map has been specially surveyed and drawn for this event at a scale of 1:2,500 with a 5 metre contour interval. A Trail-O map differs from a Foot-O map in several respects. The vegetation is depicted in relation to its effect on visibility, not runnability. White areas are woods without any effect on visibility, green (40%) shows woodland with reduced visibility and dark green (100%) is woodland with restricted visibility. Vertical green stripes show where undergrowth interferes with the definition of the landforms.

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The events will take place at Rookhow in the Rusland valley by kind permission of the Quakers, The Rookhow Wardens and M and C Dickinson of Bark House Bank Farm. The terrain to be used is a hilly wood with varied vegetation, crags, rocks, paths and some man-made features. The area is crossed by a power line which is too far from the trail to affect your compass. The decision points are alongside an easy-access graded path into the wood. For all Elite Trail-O Competitors, access to this private woodland is forbidden until the JK2004 competition.

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The decision point for each control will be indicated by a numbered stake. From some of the decision points it may be possible to see markers for other controls. If necessary, it will be made clear which control cluster they belong to by tapes separating the control clusters. Some side paths will be out of bounds to participants. This will be indicated by tapes laid across the path.

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On both the Saturday and the Sunday (Elite Course Day and Come-and-Try-it-Day) there is one course of 385 metres with 10 metres of climb (plus a return walk back down to the Assembly Area of another 385 metres). It is expected to use about 14 controls of which 2 will be timed. The Saturday and Sunday courses will not be the same.

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Saturday 10th April - ELITE level course only

There will be three different competitions using this one course.

1. Paralympic Class

2. Open Class

3. Come-and-Try-It Class: Entry to Come-and-Try-It Classes is open to all.

Entrants for Classes 1 & 2 must be members of BOF or of a National Orienteering Association from another IOF member country. Class 1 is for those who are unable to compete in Foot Orienteering on an equal basis because of disability (this does not exclude their participation in the Foot-O competition). Entrants into Class 1 will automatically be included in Class 2 and be eligible for prizes in both Classes. The performance of BOF members may rate for international selection purposes.

Sunday 11th April - INTRODUCTORY level course only

Come-and-Try-It Class: Entry to Come-and-Try-It Classes is open to all.

We hope that experienced Open and Paralympic competitors will stay on for Sunday to mutually coach each other or to advise newcomers.

"Come-and-Try-It" entrants will not be eligible for the prizes on the Saturday, but will receive certificates on the Sunday.

Event prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places on the Saturday. Junior Prizes will also be awarded if we have enough entries.

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Trail-O Start Times each day will be between 14.30 and 17.30 hrs. Courses will close at 18.30. A maximum of two hours is allowed for the Elite Course on Saturday (excluding "timed controls"). Note that any competitors starting after 16.30 on Saturday will have less than the maximum time allowed.

Competitors will make their way to the start from the car park in the field immediately South of Rookhow. They will walk 200 metres North up the public road and inclined access drive to the assembly area where a sample control site will be set up. The first timed control will be near Assembly.

At the Assembly area participants will be lent a pin-punch to carry round and use out on the course. Competitors may bring their own punch if they wish. You are strongly advised to bring a compass.

When they are due to start, competitors will be called forward singly to the first timed decision point. Following completion of that exercise they will be issued with their map and have the start time recorded on their control card. Each multiple-choice control marked correctly onto the card will score one point. Competitors have 2 hours to complete the course. One point will be deducted from their score for each 5 minutes - or part thereof - over the time limit.

At the timed controls competitors will be seated and asked to confirm that they can see all of the flags. A covered board will be placed before them, containing a small orientated piece of map with one circle, a control description (using IOF symbols) above the map and a clear North arrow. Nearby a 'Pointing Board' will be held containing the letters A-B-C-D-E. As the map cover is removed the stopwatches will be started, then stopped again when one of the response letters is touched, to give your answer. You are asked not to answer verbally as other competitors may hear your call.

Before the final timed control, competitors will have their time of arrival at the Finish recorded on their card. They will wait in a designated area to be called forward to this control. All maps and control cards will then be collected, for later return at the assembly area, after the start has been closed.

After doing the second timed control, participants will walk back along the easy-access path - past any competitors still taking part - back to the assembly area. They must avoid discussing anything about the course with anyone still taking part, or waiting to start. They are asked to register their return to Assembly with an event official for safety reasons.

On arrival back at the Assembly area, participants will find water available to drink and a first aid point. It is also hoped to have Tea, Coffee, Squash and cakes available for a small charge.

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On Sunday at the Come-and-Try-it event the organisation will be less formal. Just come along and the format of the event will be explained.

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£9.00 payable by the pre-entry closing date for Senior competitors on the Saturday (Paralympic or Open classes)

£5.00 payable by the pre-entry closing date for Junior competitors on the Saturday (Paralympic or Open classes)

£3.50 payable on the day at Registration for non-competitive "Come-and-Try-It" participants - £2.50 if aged 20 or under (Saturday or Sunday).

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It is intended to make the Trail-O results available free of charge via the JK2004 website.

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Organiser and Mapper: Alan Goodall MEROC
Planner: Beryl Blackhall SELOC
Controller: Dave Gittus WREKIN

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