Standard formats

SITiming is designed to handle relays that have one relay leg per team member (for example, forest relays with three legs and three runners, sprint relays with four legs and four runners).  In this context, by leg we mean the unique set of controls that each team member runs in a relay.  If you plan a variation on this format (for example, where you want competitors to run multiple legs), it’s likely that you will strike problems when trying to set up the race in SITiming. SITiming might be able to accommodate different relay formats, but some tweaking could be required. 

Why does SITiming impose a one runner-one SI card limitation?

When a runner downloads, the only identifying information available to SITiming is the SICard number. If there are multiple instances of that number associated with the event, which instance is the correct one? One option would be to compare the course information (controls visited) with the courses specified for that SICard and assign the result to that SICard+course combo, but that will only work where the runner has not mispunched, requiring organiser intervention if there is no match - simple enough for small events, but an organisational headache for competitions with hundreds of teams.

Workarounds 

1 – races with multiple legs per runner (for example, four legs, two runners: runner 1 - runner 2 – runner 1 – runner 2).

• Setup the relay  as a four-person relay and assign the SICard for the two team members to legs one and two for the first use of each card – initially, the SICard number for the third and fourth legs will be unassigned. When competitors finish legs 1 or leg 2 they download as normal. After they have downloaded for the first time, SITiming will allow their SICards to be assigned to the third and fourth legs. One way of doing this quickly and accurately is to use SITiming’s Punch Registration option (Entries>>Registration>>Punch registration) using a master station in Clear mode to allocate the SICard to leg 3 (or 4) and clear it ready for a second use. This process should easily be doable while their teammates are out running. 

2 - One-person relays

• In one-person relays (“Hagaby” format) there is a mass start and runners normally complete two or more short loops before running a common final leg, which is much longer than the earlier legs. The shorter loops serve the purpose of spreading the field to minimise following in the final long leg (for example, three short loops S1, S2, and S3, followed by the long loop L1).
• In the current version of SITiming, this race format can only be set up by creating multiple courses that are simply combinations of the short and long courses – e.g. S1, S2, S3, L1; S2, S3, S1, L1 etc.

Help is on the way!

The SITiming developers inform me that a future release of SITiming will lift the one runner-one SICard restriction, but for the moment, it remains, so for any course planners out there hoping to organise a variation on the standard format:

1. Find out if SITiming supports your variation;
2. Don’t advertise the event on Eventor until you have either confirmed that SITiming supports the format or figured out a way of fitting it into SITiming’s requirements.

One more thing

Setting up relay teams in SITiming should be coordinated with the course planning in Condes:

Condes

1. Set up the teams by allocating relay classes, team numbers, and leg variations (called “gaffles” in SITiming) (Relay >>Open Team Allocations…).
2. Export course data (Export >>Export Event Data>>Export Event data (IOF XML)… (select  “Export only relay variations used by relay teams”).
3. Export teams from the “Relay Teams” tab (Export to XML …).

SITiming

1. Import the courses allocated to your relay teams from the file created in step 2 above (Courses >> Import XML Courses).
2. Import the team allocations from file created in step 3 above (Entries>>Import/Export Entries>> Import XML Gaffles). Leave the “Default Relay Class” line blank if you want to import all relay classes. At this stage the team info in SITiming is team number, optionally team name, and leg gaffles – the team member detail is added once teams are finalised.
3. Relay classes must be specifically defined in SITiming – they are not imported from the course data file generated in Condes (Courses>> Relay Classes>>Add Relay Class).

Once the relay team members have been finalised you can add actual relay member data to the teams created when you import the team gaffles. The simplest way to do this is to create a spreadsheet and import the data from a CSV file (Entries>>Import/Export Entries>Relay Teams Import). The CSV file layout is described in the “Help>>View Help” on the SITiming Relay Teams Import page.

Publishing results in Eventor

Unfortunately, there is an incompatibility between SITiming and Eventor when it comes to relays, so publishing relay results from SITiming to Eventor can only be done via the Documents and Links option:

• In SITiming: Results>>Print Relay Results (use the “Microsoft Print to PDF” option).
• In Eventor: Edit>>Documents and Links>>Add other document (upload the file produced in SITiming).

This is a brief note accompanying some pictures that show how SI equipment is now stored in the  Australopers shed at the Regatta Grounds. 

A more detailed document about new SI procedures is being prepared by Sally Wayte

Kate Lucas, backed up by Rowan Wolf have taken over the SI management role from Martin Bicevskis

Basically everything SI related or electronic in nature is in two unlocked steel cabinets in the shed. 

A significant procedural change is that the wooden boxed MOAB (Mother Of All Batteries) is now the primary power source for ALL events where the Australopers trailer is used.  The MOAB is never removed from the trailer but left on charge to 240 volts while in the shed.  Its quite safe to leave the lead acid MOAB on charge indefinitely.  The MOAB is so bulky because the case contains a battery charger as well as an inverter.

It would be physically very difficult to close the side tilt up door over the thick charging cable as it passes from the trailer to a wall power socket and drive off.  But a memory task  equally important is reconnecting the MOAB the 240 power after the event.

If the trailer is not taken to an event, then either the lead acid or lithium ion Projecta Power Hub batteries in the steel locker should be taken for power.   These are fully charged and sealed with tape and the date of charging.  Notify Kate that if they have been used and need recharging .

The clear plastic cases used for small items on the registration desk have been replaced, relabelled and organised in such a way they are less likely to be misplaced. 

The computers will be held by Kate and Rohan so they can set up the events at any time.

Note that all the reserve stock of P cards is stored in the Wunderbar computer bag which will be at all events.  The computer operator using Wunderbar will also have any P cards that have been allocated to persons that have bought a P card on line for pickup at the event.

Here is a link to pictures that show the changes in the shed. Equipment shed photos

The following article is from John's April 2012 Controller's Corner.  I believe we are pretty good at handling this issue these days but John's thoughts are a good reminder.

What should you do as a competitor if when locating a control you feel that it’s in the wrong position?  You might be tempted to move it to what you consider to be the correct placement.  But should you?

The rules are in fact pretty clear on this one:

26. Fair play 

26.1 All persons taking part in an orienteering event shall behave with fairness and honesty and a spirit of friendship. Competitors shall show respect for each other, for officials, journalists, spectators and the inhabitants of the competition area. The competitors shall be as quiet as possible in the terrain. Competitors or spectators shall not interfere with control equipment.

At the recent 3 Day event at St Helens (back in 2012), a competitor did move a control which he / she presumably considered to be incorrectly placed.  No comment was made to the officials on the day – they learned of the matter through hearsay.

Now not only does this breach rule 26.1 in terms of both interfering with a control but also shows (lack of) respect for the (experienced and accredited) officials on the day. At events such as these, every control site has previously been visited probably on at least three occasions: by the Course Planner who puts out a tape; by the Controller who checks the placement of the tape; and by whoever puts out the control stand, flag and SI unit.  The Course Planner and Controller have the responsibility to correctly place the control, and certainly that is sometimes a difficult task – especially on a detailed map such as Mt Pearson with its complex rock detail - somewhat compounded by distortions due to the change of scale to 1:10,000 (when it was originally produced at 1:15,000).

For the competing orienteer to make a judgement that a control is wrongly placed also assumes that the competitor is correct in his / her judgement – based on that one visit.

Nevertheless, we can all make errors – as Course Planners, Controllers and competitors.

So what should you do?  Move the control to where you consider it should be?  But then you are interfering with a control, and what does that do to the fairness factor?  What are the consequences in terms of those competitors who have been through the control before you moved it and those yet to run?  Can it be fair for all? And does it show respect for the officials?  It’s your judgement against theirs.  And if you do move it, how can the correct location be properly checked if a complaint is lodged?

The procedure should be:  do NOT move the control, but on completion of your course report your concerns to the Controller or Course Planner.  You have the right (and the responsibility) to make a complaint – especially if you feel the course might have been compromised.  The issue can then be investigated by the officials.  If you are dissatisfied with their ruling you can then lodge a complaint and a three person jury will make a final ruling.  We have a fairness rule – let’s make sure we keep to it.