TrailO

PreO Sprints • Friday 3rd April & Saturday 4th April

TrailO Ethos

We recommend those who haven’t done TrailO before, or haven’t done it for a while to have a read of the IOF Technical Guidelines and Rules on the IOF website (note in particular the rules for a PreO Sprint in Appendix 6). Here is a reminder of some important aspects of fair play (apologies if they sound a bit prescriptive):

TrailO is an individual sport with competitors reaching decisions on their own. When on the course do not discuss controls with other competitors (and do not discuss with others after you have finished in the vicinity of anyone who may not have done their course).
Please stay silent at all times on the course.
Do not enter the terrain. Follow the designated routes to/from the start/finish. Stay on the main track during the event and do not use side paths – note that some of the larger ones are marked with purple bars on the map, but not all will be marked in the terrain.
No mechanical or electronic navigation aids, other than an odometer, watch or compass may be used. Magnifying glasses are permitted. Competitors must not carry mobile phones or smart watches or any other device that could transmit or receive information.

Venues

Friday 3rd April 2026 - Scone Palace Gardens

Saturday 4th April 2026 – Faskally Woods

There is expected to be a car parking charge payable on site for both days. There will be an accessible toilet close to car parking on both days,

Assembly/Registration will be adjacent to Parking on both days, with the start and finish areas a short distance away.

General Info

Both days of TrailO will be part of the 2025 British TrailO League (BriTOL).

Both days will use the PreO Sprint format.

There will be three competition classes: Elite Open, Elite Physically Challenged, Elite Junior (M/W20-)

Note that a fair amount of the information on the General Info page applies to TrailO too.

Any queries may be directed to the JK Coordinator via the Contact Form.

Event Centre

Each day at or near Assembly/Registration you’ll find:

An Accessible toilet (till 17:00)
Handout of the TrailO specific number bibs - please add any medical conditions and/or medication you take on the reverse of the bib
Handout of Control Cards
Borrowing of SI-cards for those that don’t possess them and haven’t rented them for FootO (Both PreO Sprints use SI for course
timing) - and don’t forget to RETURN THEM afterwards!
Borrowing of pin punches for those that don’t possess them (these will be used to mark your PreO Sprint answers) - and don’t forget to RETURN THEM afterwards!
Solution Sheets once all competitors have started their course, we’ll try and arrange ones that are left over to be taken to Day 3 FootO Enquiries.

Start times

Starts will be from 1400-1730 on both days (subject to final confirmation). For car parking reasons, there may be a need to allocate entrants to a particular window of start times for Saturday at Faskally.

Complaints & Protests

Although there are no detailed British rules regarding complaints, for JK2026 we will be trying to match the IOF system. This means that any potential complaint should be discussed with the Organiser who will try to resolve it. A written complaint can be submitted if the competitor feels that this is appropriate. To be considered, the latest that a written complaint may be submitted is 15 minutes after the event results have been declared final. Following appropriate consultation, the Organiser will provide an answer and, if the complainant still wishes to pursue the issue, they must then submit a written ‘protest’. This will then be considered by the Jury who will make a final decision.

Results & Prizegiving

Results will be published on the TOP website and linked via the JK Results page.

Medals and a small prize will be presented to the top 3 in each of Elite Open, Elite Physically Challenged and Elite Junior. The prizegiving will take place for both days for both days at the main JK prizegiving on Sunday at Rannoch Forest.

Officials (both days)

Kieran Marsh INT (Planner)
John Kewley (Controller)

Maps

We have newly produced ISOM 1:4,000 maps with 2.5m contours adjusted for TrailO by Rudi Paul. It uses brown-infill for the forest tracks that you are permitted to use.

General Information about TrailO

Trail Orienteering is an orienteering discipline testing map reading in natural terrain. The discipline has been developed to offer everyone, including people with limited mobility, a chance to participate in a meaningful orienteering competition. Manual or electric wheelchairs, walking sticks, and assistance with movement etc. are permitted as speed of movement is not part of the competition. Trail orienteers must identify on the ground control points shown on the map. As this is done from a distance, both able-bodied and participants with disabilities compete on level terms. Proof of correct identification of the control points does not require any manual dexterity, allowing those with severely restricted movement to compete equally. Most trail orienteering events have classes open for everyone. Athletes who cannot participate on reasonably equal terms in the sport because of a functional disadvantage due to a permanent disability are eligible for the physically challenged class.

Any interested newcomers who have not taken part before can find more information on the British Orienteering TrailO webpage which explains the way the competitions work. All events will be suitable for able-bodied and disabled participants including wheelchair users, and the Elite class will have a separate classification for competitors who meet physically challenged criteria.