TrailO

General Details

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. 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.

General Info

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

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

Any queries may be directed to the TrailO Coordinator (John Kewley, MDOC) via the Contact Form.

Event Centre

Each day at 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 (on D1 these will include a route map for the TempO as well as a separate PreO Sprint control card)
• Borrowing of SI-cards for those that don’t possess them and haven’t rented them for FootO (D1 PreO Sprint and D2 PreO will use SI-timing for the course) - 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 answers on your control cards on D1 PreO Sprint and D2 PreO) - and don’t forget to RETURN THEM afterwards!
• Limited Entry on the day for the Standard Class (subject to map and control card availability), but please bring cash (exact change preferred).
• Helper vouchers (for use at FootO vendors) for pre-registered helpers.
• 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.
• [Day 2 only] Sign-in sheet for non-competitors (incl assistants, family members)

Starts

Pre-starts will be within 50m of Assembly on both days. Start times will not be pre-allocated. First starts will be for those who are manning the TempO stations and they will need to finish their own courses (and in some cases also after having finished their FootO course) before we can start other competitors so please be patient.

Course Markings

Decision Points

Decision points (AKA Viewing Points) are marked on the ground for each PreO and PreO AZ control, but do not appear on the map. They indicate the location from which you can see all pertinent flags and in the correct order. You may view the kites from different positions by moving along the path, but the order of kites may change, so re-checking the chosen kite from the decision point is recommended. They will be marked using a small card by the side of the track. The number at the decision point will correspond to the control number on your map preceded by one of E (Elite both days), N (Standard class day 1) or A (Standard class day 2).

Tapes

Red + White tapes may be used in the terrain for a variety of purposes:

• The D1 PreO A/Z section will have tapes showing how far you can move up the track. As we won’t be able to block all other park users some of these tapes may be incomplete, but they will be marked on the map - please go no further. You also cannot return back through the Start or go beyond the Finish.
• For A/Z controls (labelled just “A” in the Control Description Sheet) a single tape from the decision point pointing away from the track (or a very narrow “V” shape) will indicate the “kite in question” for the longe- range kites that may be hard to see. This will apply for both Day 1 PreO Sprint and Day 2 PreO.
• To mark a small section of ground off the main path to extend the viewing area. You may move up but not cross these tapes (used on D2 Elite course for a DP, but Standard may use it too). See map segment below.
• To mark off a path at a junction to show where you MUST NOT pass (we will not be able to mark all of these on the ground, but they’ll be marked on the map with a bar). See map segment below.
• On Day 2 PreO as well as A/Z controls there will be some with multiple kites, the kite to be considered will in many cases be obvious, but where there is any doubt a “V” shape at the decision point will show which kites are to be included (the correct number of kites should be within the “arms” of the V. Where there are kites from a control close to another one at a distance where the “V” tapes wouldn’t be clear, a single tape may be placed in the terrain to separate the clusters.

Zero Tolerance

If the answer of a task is Zero, there will be no flag closer to the correct location than 4m. For extra long-range controls we will use a double kite for better visibility (the lower kite hung below the normal one) and for these controls an 8m tolerance will apply.

If there is at least one kite on the correct point (or minimum-sized) feature, then this will not result in a Zero answer.

Punching

Controls may be punched in any order within each part of the course (the lines between controls will be omitted as this is the convention for a “free order” course. The only exception to this is the one-way gate.

While an SI card will be used to time your course, answers for Preo will use a personal pin-punch which you take round the course with you. You should punch your chosen answer in the correct box of your control card which you will get at the Event Centre.

For a control to be accepted as correct, there must be only a single punch given for that control – no double punches will be accepted.

TempO & TCs

At both the Day 1 TempO stations and Day 2 Time Controls we are trying to speed things up to ensure effective throughput as due to the high number of entries we’ll be pushed for time to get everyone through the course.

The time limit at a TempO station is 150s (for 5 tasks) and at a PreO Time Control 90s (for 3 tasks), but please remember that these are limits not targets (we’d expect the majority to be answering in 20-50s).

At each such station you’ll be given the map bundle (make sure that you can see all the numbers down the side as that shows they are in the correct order) and shown the 6 kites. You’ll then be instructed “Your time starts NOW” at which point you should remove the cover sheet and place it underneath the other maps (do not drop your maps) and answer the first problem, you then repeat until you have answered all problems. Answering after you have started turning to the next map or saying anything other than Alpha/Bravo/Charlie/Delta/Echo/Foxtrot/Zero will result in an X for your answer.

There are two accessible aspects of such stations that we could do without our Marshals having to learn and cope with if no-one requires them. If you are really keen to use one of these alternatives then please contact the contact details at the top of this page.

• Loose vs bound maps: the maps come in a bundle of a cover sheet + 5 (for TempO) or 3 (for TCs) maps. Most people use them “loose”, but as we are an accessible sport and some people have problems gripping and holding we also usually offer the option of “bound” where they are tied together at the top of the maps using two treasury tags.
• Some people can’t talk or forget that the name of “A” is “Alpha” - these will appear for you below the map so you can tell the Marshals that you want to point. Other folks find precision pointing hard and so prefer some larger boxes to point at with their whole hand. These can be provided on request, but we must know beforehand so we can make the arrangements.

If either of these options are requested in advance then when you are next in the queue and the person shouts “Next” you must go forward a little and shout “Bound” and/or “Point” and return to the queue so they can make the additional preparations. When they shout “Next” again you proceed as above.

Complaints & Protests

Although there are no detailed British rules regarding complaints, for JK2025 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 once the Day 2 results are finalised, likely between 17:30 and 18:00.