Finnish Championships in middle and Suomen Cup event on Saturday 24.8.2024 and Finnish Championships in relay on Sunday 25.8.2024

Rules

The rules and special instructions of the Finnish Orienteering Federation (SSL) apply together with the instructions given by the organizers. 

The bicycle used in the competition performance must not have any electrical or other assistance. It is obligatory to use bicycle helmet. The start number is fastened in the front of the bicycle, on the handlebar or on the frame. The race number must be readable from the front. 

Meeting competitors dodge each other from the right. A competitor must on request dodge for a faster competitor coming from behind. Taking shortcuts is allowed, except for prohibited areas. The competitors must take into account, that there might be other people than MTBO competitors in the competition area. Please make sure that you will not leave any trashes in the terrain (maps, sports nutrition wraps etc.)

The use of action camera and recording GPS-device is allowed, but downloading the recording is only allowed on Sunday after 14 o´clock. 

Jury

Chairman
Jukka Niemi, KanSu

Member
Sami Friman, HyRa

Member
Eve Lahti, S-JKL

Event centre

The event centre is on both days located at the Hiittenharju skiing centre (Hiittenharjuntie 3, Harjavalta). There are several parking areas along the road Hiittenharjuntie, which will be filled according to the instructions of the parking attendants.

Info desk will be open on both days from 9 o´clock onwards. Start numbers, cable ties for their fastening, GPS-devices for the main categories and the rental emiTag cards are to be collected from the info desk. The payment methods at the info desk and in the café are cash and cards (Zettle).

The competition centre has very limited changing rooms, separate for men and women, and a few toilets. We recommend the Harjavalta city indoor swimming pool (info only in Finnish).

There will be a little event market area in the event centre, where sports nutrition, bike racks and MTBO map holders will be sold and geocatching presented. AV pyörähuolto performs maintenance procedures on bikes.

Soup will be sold at the event centre on both days between 11.00-15.00 hours for the price of 5 €/portion (on Saturday minced meat soup, on Sunday pea soup). The café offers coffee, soda, doughnuts, and sweets. The scouts sell sausages and pancakes.

The Nature School Tikankolo organizes nature themed programme for the kids in the close proximity of the event centre between hours 10-13. 

Cleansing of bicycles is not allowed in the event centre (groundwater area). A possibility to cleanse the bike is offered in a nearby hall (address: Harjuntie, Harjavalta), which is located approximately 2 km from the event centre. Open on Saturday at 13-15 and Sunday at 14-16.

Start numbers

Start numbers fixed on the bike handlebar/frame are used in all classes. The competitors collect their start numbers and fasteners (cable ties) from the info desk. The numbers are removed in the Finish. For a not returned or missing start number a fee of 20 € will be charged.

Terrain

Both days’ terrain is fast ridge terrain with lots of trails. The tracks are mainly pine needle paths, but there is occasionally some gravel and sand ground.

Ski path ground and forbidden bicycle path parallel to the road "Valtatie 2"

There is an asphalt paved cycle path parallel to the road “Valtatie 2”, and a gravel paved ski path ground next to it. It is forbidden to use the asphalt paved cycle path, which it is marked on the map on the following way (see the picture below). The gravel path/ski path ground is allowed and marked on the map with black colour.

Disc golf fairways

There is a disc golf course in the competition area. The throwing places have been marked on the map with brown rectangular shapes with black borders (1) and disc golf baskets with grey circles (2) according to the picture below. The disc golf fairways are at some places stony. Stony ground has been marked with small gray circles. The frequency of the stony ground describes the speed, please see the picture below. 

1 = Very fast, 2 = quite slow, 3 = very slow

Some of the disc golf fairways are located on flat surface, and the ground on sides of the fairway has become worn due to a lot of walking. It is possible to bicycle on the sides, and these specific forest areas have been marked on the map with white-orange marking.

The area is a popular outdoor recreation area, even for dog owners. Even though we have efficiently informed about the competition and requested the public to withhold from there during competition, the competitors do need to be prepared for occasional encounters in the terrain.

Map

Digitally printed MTBO map, contour interval 2,5 m (not 5 m as in bulletin 1). Weatherproof material. The middle race map size (unlike in bulletin 1) is in all categories 30 cm x 30 cm. Relay map size is A4 in all categories. Scale is 1:10 000 or 1:7 500.The control codes/description numbers are marked after the control numbers on the map. Mapping by Emil Laaksonen and track descriptions by Emil Laaksonen and Mika Rantala 2024.

When there is more than one map to the competition course, the maps have been printed one-sided and stapled together in correct order.

Warm-up area

The model orienteering area close to the event centre will function as the warm-up area. The map will be given to the competitor at the info desk together with the start number. The area is available between 16-20 on Friday 23rd and on Saturday 24th from 9 onwards. There will be control flags at the control points. No punching.

Forbidden areas and routes

The forbidden areas and routes have been marked on the map. Competitors seen on forbidden areas and/or routes will be disqualified. There are controllers in the terrain.

Classes, distances, scale & number and size of maps

Relay

Starts 

The first starts will on both competition days be at 11.00. Start will happen during both competition days in the proximity of the competition centre. All classes start from the same place.

Activity in the middle-distance start: 

• 4 minutes: The competitor is called to the starter grid.
• 3 minutes: EmiTag-card reset. It is the competitor’s responsibility that the resetting is done. 
• 2 min: -
• 1 min: 1 minutes: The competitor is allowed to take the map and check that it is the right course and there is right number of maps.
• 0 min: Start takes place on the sound of the clock. 

NB! The competition map is not visible in the starting place. 

K-point has been marked with a control flag.

Controls and punching

There will be a control flag, control code/description number and emiTag punching device at each control point. The controls are located at the tracks so that it is possible to punch under way. The punching devices will be fastened on trees or posts. The control flag will be situated below the punching device.

The function of the EmiTag card can be checked at the model control point at the event centre. There will be extra rental emiTag cards at the info if needed. The competitor is responsible for the functionality of the card and that the card number is right. Emit recommends that emiTags with number below 3929600 to be changed before the summer season 2024. According to the rules of the Finnish Orienteering Federation (SSL) the performance will be disqualified when a competitor has used another electronic card than the one informed to the organizer (rule 11.518).

A rental EmiTag will be reserved for those who have not informed their EmiTag number. The rental EmiTag can be collected from the info desk for the price of 10 € (cash or card payment). The rental price is the same regardless of whether the EmiTag will be used during one or two days. For changes after registration deadline, a 5 € fee will be charged. For a missing rental EmiTag a fee of 100 € will be charged.

Streaming and GPS-tracking

Participants in the classes H21 and D21 will carry a GPS device. The competitors must collect the GPS device from the info desk. The competitors need to have their own carrying vest or device for the transmitter. GPS device must be returned to the info desk after the competition performance. GPS-tracking will be opened for the public only on Sunday 25th August.

The middle-distance race of classes H/D21 will be streamed through ISTV. It is strictly prohibited for the competitors and their guardians/caretakers to watch the live steaming, and violation of the prohibition will result in disqualification.

Finish

The finish time is taken from the crossing of the finishing line. After the finish the competitor continues to the emiTag control check. If there is any unclarity about the performance, the matter will be cleared out at the wailing wall. Please keep your distance to the competitor at the control check to avoid any disturbance in the timing system.

Competitors who quit the race must report at the finish.

The competitor must have all the maps of the course when entering the finish.

The competition maps will be collected from all participants on Saturday. The map can be collected back on Sunder 12.30 onwards. If you are not present on Sunday and want to have you map sent home to you, please bring an envelope large enough to the info desk on Saturday with your name and address on it.

Results

The results will be published on the Internet. There will be no result board at the event center 

The route gadget will be published after the competition weekend.

Misdemeanour notification

Eventual misdemeanour notifications must be given to the competition leadership at the latest 10 minutes after the last competitor has finished.

Prizes

In the middle-distance race, three best of each class will earn a Finnish Championship medal. In the classes H/D15 – H/D21 places 4-6 will receive a plaque. The top three competitors in H/D11-13 – H/D21 will be given product prices. The middle-distance competition is open for foreign competitors, who in case they succeed, have the right to receive the product prices even though they wouldn’t fill the criterion for the Finnish Championship medals.

Hiittenharju competition is the last competition of the Pyöräsuunnistuksen Suomen Cup 2024, so even the distribution of cup prizes will take place on Saturday.

In the relay three best teams will be awarded a Finnish Championship medal, and in the categories H/D15 - H/D21 the teams 4-6 will receive plaques. 

Distribution of prizes will take place in the event centre. Please listen to the announcements.

Special instruction for the Finnish Championship relay

The internal order of the competitors in the relay team and their EmiTag numbers must be registered in IRMA before 18.00 hours on Saturday 24th August 2024. A team that has not informed the internal competition order in due time will not be allowed to start. If the team competes in a different order than informed, the team will be disqualified.

Relay material

The start numbers of the relay teams and the fastenings (cable ties) are collected from the info desk. The first competitor of the team uses a number starting with 100 and the second one a number starting with 200, e.g. the team number 1 uses the numbers 101 (legs 1, 3 and 5) and 201 (legs 2, 4 and 6).

The relay team members must have own, separate, emiTag-cards.

Relay start, changeover and finish

The relay starts take place in sets the proximity of the event centre.

• 15 minutes before start - the first leg competitors proceed to the start area, where the emiTag cards are reset 
• 5 minutes before start - the first leg competitors line up according to the team start numbers
• 2 minutes before start - the maps are divided on the map holders map side down. Please check that you have received a map that responds to your start number
• 15 seconds before start - the competitor is allowed to turn the map and put it in the mapholder when commanded ”KARTAT”
• Start takes place on the command ”AJA"

After the start the other/waiting team member goes to emiTag reset at the gate of the start area, collects the map roll for following leg and proceeds to the changeover area. It is not allowed to take off the rubber band around the map roll or look at the map before the changeover has taken place. 

EmiTag card control check and reset will be carried out between the legs.

The time of the incoming competitor is taken from the crossing of the finishing line. The incoming competitor then continues to the changeover area, where the changeover is carried out by touching the outgoing competitor, after which the outgoing competitor may open the map roll and cycle through the K-point to his/her leg. The competitor that came into the changeover will leave his/her map to the official. 

It is allowed to leave from the changeover/warm-up area, but the organizers hope that unnecessary exits would be avoided. The competitors are allowed to bring their own bag into the changeover area in beforehand, if they know they need something during the change. The competitor will receive the map for the following leg when coming to the changeover/warm-up area, either directly after the own performance or later when he/she is prepared to go to the changeover/warm-up are to warm-up and wait. The competitor must control that he/she has taken the right map for the course and the leg. The map is not to be looked at before the next changeover. Maps taken away by the officials will be returned after the competition.

Start schedule for the relay

• 11.00: H21, H20, H15, D120-, D15
• 11.10: H17, H140-, D17, D100-
• 12.00: H80-, D21, D20, D80-
• 12.10: H100-, H120-
• 12.15: Relay open B

First aid and safety

The first aid service during the event is carried out by Finnish Red Cross. There will be first aid point both in the event centre and in the terrain.

It is prohibited to make fire or use camping stoves in both the event centre and the parking areas. It is not allowed to stay overnight in the event centre, except with a camper in the parking pointed out for them.

Open classes

Open classes will be offered on both competition days. You can enrol at the info desk on the venue. The price for the open classes is 15 €. Even the open class maps will be collected on the Finnish line on Saturday. 

The start for the open classes will on both days be after the competition classes. On Saturday, the open class starting time is at for the open classes will on Saturday be between 14.00-15.00 and on Sunday between 13.30-14.00. On Saturday there will be three open classes to choose from - A: 15,3 km / B: 10,8 km / C: 5 km. on Sunday there will be one open class with the length of 6,1 km.

There will be a limited amount of map holders for rental at the info desk for the price of 5 € and emiTag-timing cards for 10 €. For a missing rental equipment, a fee will be charged. In the open class you can also take time with your own sports watch or with a traditional emit-timing card.

Open class participants who quit the course must report at the finish/info.

Photography and filming

There will be both photographing and filming on the event. The produced material may be used for marketing purposes.

Lost and found items

You can ask for the lost and found items after the event from Tämä sähköpostiosoite on suojattu spamboteilta. Tarvitset JavaScript-tuen nähdäksesi sen..

Response

We are happy to receive your response about the event by e-mail to Tämä sähköpostiosoite on suojattu spamboteilta. Tarvitset JavaScript-tuen nähdäksesi sen..

Officials

Event director, communications
Maija Hall, 0400-767 675, Tämä sähköpostiosoite on suojattu spamboteilta. Tarvitset JavaScript-tuen nähdäksesi sen.

Vice director, results
Joonas Pohjala, 044-534 6972, Tämä sähköpostiosoite on suojattu spamboteilta. Tarvitset JavaScript-tuen nähdäksesi sen.

Course setter
Mika Rantala (HS)

Course controller
Pekka Niemensivu (KanSu)

Event advisor
Arto Voutilainen (SSL)

Mapping
Emil Laaksonen (EsSu)

Turvallisuusyhteyshenkilö
Matti-Pekka Vanninen

Lähtö
Esko Priia ja Outi Priia

Info
Sari Granni

Kahvio
Ninni Hall

Ensiapu
SPR, Eeva Heikkinen-Kemppinen

Social Media accounts

Facebook: MTBO 2024 Hiittenharju
Instagram: mtbohiittenharju
TikTok: MTBO Hiittenharju