TrailO
Scone Palace Gardens • Friday 3rd April
Faskally Woods • Saturday 4th April
Results
Maps, solutions, and results are all now available
https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/site/trailo/416/
General
Overview
Both days of TrailO will be part of the 2025 British TrailO League (BriTOL). Both days will use the PreO Sprint format. Courses will have time limits of approximately 30 minutes each. PreO Sprint is a faster-paced TrailO competition, where each problem has a single kite, and it is up to you to decide if it is (A) or isn’t (Z) in the correct place. The important thing is to get the problems correct, and time will be a secondary factor in sorting results, assuming you didn’t break the time limit. If you do break the time limit, there will be a penalty of 1 point per minute (or part thereof) that you are late.
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.
Start Times
The start times will be such that you will be able to partake in both FootO and TrailO if you so wish. They will be 14:00-16:45 on Day 1 and 14:00-17:00 on Day 2.
Entries
Pre-entries will be available via the SIEntries waiting list until 30th March, and then we will also be accepting Entry on the Day, at a cost of £6/12 (Junior/Senior), subject to map availability.
Equipment
We will be using SI timing for the start and finish timing, so please bring your dibber. There will be some available for hire (free) if you don’t have one.
You are advised to bring a compass.
You will be given a control card to mark your answers, for which you’ll need a punch. If you have your own punch you may use it, or we can provide them at registration if you don’t have one.
Results & Prizegiving
Results will be published on the TOP website and linked via the JK Results page.
Results on each day will be ordered by number of problems solved correctly, sorted secondarily by time taken on the course. As a result your primary objective should be getting everything right. Combined results across the 2 days will be a sum of the individual days.
Medals and a small prize will be presented to the top 3 (on combined result over the two days) in each of Elite Open, Elite Physically Challenged and Elite Junior. The prizegiving will take place on Saturday at Faskally after the competition.
Registration
Each day at or near Assembly/Registration you’ll find:
- Entry on the day (taking cash or card)
- An Accessible toilet (till at least 16:30 at Scone, no closure at Faskally)
- 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 Procedure
On each day there will be a taped route from the parking to the start. At the end of this route you will need to wait until called before you make your way along the final stretch to the start.
Officials (both days)
- Kieran Marsh INT (Planner)
- John Kewley MDOC (Controller)
Day 1 - Scone Palace Gardens
Car Parking
Go to the Trade + Business entrance. You should not enter via the normal signposted entrance, unless you wish to pay the standard visitor entrance fee of £14 per person!
Entry point off the A93 is:
- Google maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mD3Jk65AtVvAPA1G7
- W3W: ///spouse.eager.armrests
From the entrance above you’ll need to follow the signs to the field on which we’ll be parking.
Public Transport
There is an infrequent bus service that passes nearby the entrance - 3/58/58A (timetables can be found here). Or alternatively you can walk from Perth, approx an hour’s walk and 4.5km. Again it is important to enter by the entrance above - including to follow the marked route to avoid breaching the embargo.
Facilities
There are toilets (including accessible), and a cafe in the Palace.
Course Details
Registration to start: 400m, negligible climb
Course: PreO Sprint - 300m, 0m climb, 22 A/Z controls.
Time limit: 32 mins Open/Junior, 40 mins Physically Challenged
Track is hard standing the whole way, suitable for wheelchairs.
Finish to registration: 450m, negligible climb
Start Times
14:00-16:45, allocated on arrival.
Maps
Never been used for TrailO. Previous FootO maps can be found on Routegadget.
Special feature: Green crosses used as partially felled tree (chopped several metres from the ground) as well as rootstock
Terrain
Palace gardens with flower beds, trees, etc.
Day 2 - Faskally
Car Parking
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/88rHLrFZF2qPLkAi7
W3W: ///lessening.decorate.outline
These will take you to the road to the car park. You will need to turn left at the sign and follow the one way system round to find a parking space. In the event of the car park filling up, we will have to use the overflow car park and you will be directed there by a marshal. The cost of parking will be £3 for the day, or free for blue badge holders, payable at machines or by a mobile app.
When in the car park before you compete you must not leave the hard-standing (except to park of course) in order to not see the course unfairly.
Public Transport
Recommended to get the train or bus into Pitlochry, and then walk from there. To get to the event, you must walk along the road (A924) not through the terrain (and use the access point as above) so as not to break the embargo before competing. Approx 30 minute walk, 2km.
Facilities
There is an accessible toilet in the car park, and there may be 2 more if they are fixed in time!
Course Details
Registration to start: 600m, 5m climb
Distance: 330m, 2.5m climb, 20 controls.
Time limit: 31 minutes Open/Junior, 39 minutes Physically Challenged
Track is hard standing the whole way including to/from the course and suitable for wheelchairs.
Finish to registration: 250m, 15m climb
Start Times
14:00-17:00, allocated on arrival.
Previous Maps
TrailO (JK 2012) Old Map
FootO (2023) Routegadget
Terrain
Forest with plenty of contour, rock detail.
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.
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.