Competition Instructions

42^nd Venla Relay

The competition will start as a mass start on Saturday, 15^th June 2019 at 14:00. Runners must register their Emit card details no later than 20 minutes before the start of the race. After the Emit card has been read and reset runners proceed to the warm-up area. After this, instructions given in the section “Start” will be followed.

The courses include approximately 1200 – 1300 meters of marked route. All legs have forking. Competitors born in years 2003 – 2004 are recommended to run leg 2. The finish line for the Venla Relay will be closed at 22:30.

71^st Jukola Relay

The competition will start as a mass start on Saturday, 15^th June 2019 at 23:00. Runners must register their Emit card details no later than 20 minutes before the start of the race. After the Emit card has been read and reset runners proceed to the warm-up area. After this, instructions given in the section “Start” will be followed.

The courses include approximately 1200 – 1300 meters of marked route. All legs have forking. Competitors born in years 2003 – 2004 are recommended to run leg 4 or 5. The finish line for the Jukola Relay will be closed at 15:00.

Competition Rules and Instructions

The rules of the Finnish Orienteering Federation (FOF) apply together with the instructions given by the organizers. The FOF rules for orienteering sports can be found in Finnish at www.suunnistusliitto.fi. The organizer’s competition instructions are posted on the competition’s information board.

Competition Terrain

The competition terrain is located in Heponiemi, Kangasala. The most recently held national orienteering competition on this terrain took place in 2004. An old map of the area can be seen at the competition information board and on the Kangasala-Jukola website.

The Kangasala-Jukola competition terrain is variable backwoods where altitude difference between the lowest and highest point is about 80 meters. There are only few trails by human tramping but, due to logging and forestry, machine made ruts are seen broadly. The run-ability of the terrain varies a lot. Trees are mostly young resulting in limited visibility. Anyhow, with successful routing the competitors will experience the best features of the terrain. For a good accomplishment the orienteerer needs resolution, persistency and brisk sports spirit.

TV production related constructions in the terrain are not marked on the competition map. TV controls are not marked in the control descriptions. You may also come across organizers running with cameras, camera helicopters or camera cars in the terrain.

Competition Map and Control Descriptions

The competition map is in the scale of 1:10 000, with a contour interval of 5 meters, description ISOM2017. Mapped in 2017-2018 by Janne Weckman. The size of the map is about A3. The map is enclosed in a plastic cover. The control descriptions are printed on the map. The control codes are printed next to the control numbers.

There is warm-up training map available during the competition weekend using terrain close to the competition center. The course markings and control descriptions are the same as the ones used in the competition. There are flags and codes in the control points. Maps are sold €10/pc at the competition Information center on Friday 14^th June 2019 starting at 10:00 am.

Out-of-Bounds / forbidden Areas

Out-of-bounds areas are indicated with purple criss-cross stripes on the competition map. A continuous line on the edge of an out-of-bounds area on the map means that there is also a continuous Stop tape in the terrain. All private yards, gardens and cultivated land are also forbidden to enter. In addition to these forbidden areas mentioned above, there are a number of small out-of-bounds areas like bird nests, dangerous steep cliffs or other nature points in the terrain which are cordoned off with an out of bounds tape. Due to their small size, these are not indicated on the competition map.

Out of bounds / forbidden area tape

There will be service traffic by the organizers on the roads in the competition terrain. The competitors are allowed to use these roads during their run if that is not specifically forbidden with a route marking. (Refer to the Competition Instructions – Kangasala-Jukola Route Markings). There are compulsory markings on the routes, which the competitors must obey. Those markings are lined with fences and white tape. Be careful when moving on roads!

On the last part of each leg at a road crossing there is a so called moving marking (canal port) where orienteerers are directed to run one after each other on either side of the port. Runners must follow the official’s instructions.

Controls and Punching

The actual race controls are similar to the model controls. Model controls are located at the competition information center and adjacent to the entrance gates. The Jukola relay controls for legs 1–4 are provided with reflectors. The controls have to be visited in numerical order. The control’s number and code are printed on the map next to the control symbol. The competition also requires competitors to punch in the finish and in the changeover, at the end of the finish and changeover lines.

Please be aware that in the terrain control points can be very close together and are very similar looking.  Please make sure you visit the correct control point that is marked on the map.

The above figure shows the locations of the last control points. There is signposting from the last controls to the changeover and finish. Be careful that you visit the correct final control point.

Emit punching system

Punching in the competition will be carried out with the electronic Emit punching system. Instructions of how to use the system can be found close to the competition information center. Each team must have at least three Emit cards. The same card can be used in both the Venla relay and in the Jukola relay. Same card cannot be used in two consecutive legs or by two different teams in the same relay.

The team material includes an Emit card check slip for each member of the team. This must be attached to the Emit card. On this slip, the competitor must write the letter V (for the Venla relay) or the letter J (for the Jukola relay), your team number and your leg number. The backup slip should be attached to the Emit card with a small piece of thin tape.

The number of your Emit card will be red in the emit-tent on your way to the start / changeover area through the entrance gate (marked with the text “MARSMARS”). You have to insert the card into an Emit reset unit, which clears the card for your leg. After reset, the Emit card cannot be changed. If your Emit card cannot be read at the registration you will be given a rental Emit card provided by the organizer. You are not allowed to compete with a broken / unread card. After finishing the leg, you must return the organizer’s card to the Info, where you will be charged 40 € for using the card. Your own card will then be given back to you.

Only a competitor with a competition number can access the start / exchange area. Competitors cannot leave the start / exchange zone after Emit reset. The emit reset point is opened 75 minutes before the start of the Venla / Jukola relay and is open during the relay. The reset point closes 30 minutes after the later restarts.

After finishing their leg, competitors will be guided to the Emit-punching check-out. There the data of the card will be read. If there are any problems with the punching data, the competitor will be guided to the Wailing Wall.

All hired cards must be returned to the Info, each card of one team in the same bag as they were on receiving them. If a team has hired multiple cards they must be returned together. Unreturned or lost cards will be charged at 80€ each. If a card is hired only for the Venla relay it must be returned to the information center immediately after the Venla relay is finished.

Make sure that you use Jukola’s proper competition card. Only the original unregistered electronic competitive card is allowed in competitions.

The last-minute rental fee for the EMIT card is 40€ / card. If you want rented Emit cards with the team material, you need to make a pre-booking via the registration system by no later than 29^th May 2018.

There are Emit card testing units at the information center and next to the emit check-in area. To test your Emit card, place it onto an Emit card testing unit which is provided with an LED light. If you see the LED light blinking, your card works. If the card’s battery is run down or is about to run down the light does not blink. In this instance the competitor will need to rent a new card before checking in at the entrance gate.

Competitors are also advised to test their emit cards in the model control points which are located at the information center and next to the entrance gate. The actual controls, the changeover and the finish, all have the same kind of punching as the model controls. For the electronic punching to work properly, the Emit card must be put onto the control unit in the right way all the way into the bottom. Because of its shape, the Emit card fits to the control unit one way only. When the punching is done properly, the backup slip in the Emit card will be marked with a pin, in addition to the electronic mark in the actual card. This will prove your visit at the control point in case of failure in the electronic system.

Starts

The starts of both relays take place on the road Heponiementie leading through the competition center. The starting area is fenced.  The start area is located far away from the entrance gate and the start grid is longer and narrower than usual. Therefore the competitors will be called into the start area in groups starting from the highest team numbers 40 minutes before the start. Make sure you enter the warm-up area through the Emit registration and reset well in advance. The gate from the warm-up area to the start area will be closed 15 minutes before the start. Late starters will get their maps at the help point HELPPI at the northern end of the changeover fence about 10 minutes after the start.

At the start area, follow the instructions given by the announcer and the officials. There will be 10 competitors in each row.

You will be given a folded map by an official. When you get the map, you must make sure that the map has got your team’s number on it. It is the competitor’s responsibility to check that the map is the correct one. It is strictly forbidden to unfold the map before the start signal. Opening the map too early will lead to the disqualification of the team.

The start will be signalled by a starting gun fired by the Finnish Defense Forces and a flypast with light effects. You are not allowed to move forward before the gun is fired. Teams that false-start or make others to false-start will be disqualified! The handing of the maps and the actual start will be recorded.

The route from the start area to the K point (the actual starting point of the course) is signposted on both sides. There is no Emit punching at the K point.

The starting route is narrow. Observe precautions when starting.

There are separate instructions and a drawing about the starting arrangements on the web page of Kangasala-Jukola.

Changeover

There are marked routes from the last controls to the changeover / finish line.  Incoming competitors will be split to separate lanes on the basis of their leg numbers. At the point of separation, choose the lane above which you see your leg number on an electronic screen. NB! The numbering of the lanes changes during the relay. The fastest teams of each leg will be guided to the rightmost lane. There will be organizers guiding the runners into the correct lanes.

Having arrived in the changeover area, punch your Emit card and hand over your map to an official. Then go to the map stands and get the map for the next runner of your team. Check that the map is the correct one: it has got your team number and the number of the next leg. NB! To unfasten the map, pull it upwards from the stand. Any other action may result in the breaking the map bag.

Take the map to the next runner of your team waiting at the changeover fence. There are guide signs on the changeover fence indicating at which section of the fence the changeover has to take place, depending on the team’s number.

There is a megafon available at the changeover fence for calling the next runner if  they seem to be missing. If the next runner is not found in a reasonable time, the map should be taken to the help point HELPPI at the end of the changeover fence to wait for the next runner.

It is the competitors’ own responsibility to make sure they take the correct map from the stand. It is also the leaving competitors’ own responsibility to check they have received the correct map. The wrong choice will lead to disqualification.

If there is no map for your team on the stand, the incoming competitor should report this to an official at the map stand. Then the competitor and the official will go together to the help point HELPPI. A help point official will give the competitor a spare map ticket, which the competitor will take to the next runner at the changeover fence. The spare map ticket has a map to the spare map stand and short written instructions for the next runner.

If you arrive at the changeover fence late, you must the contact the officials at the help point HELPPI after you have gone through the Emit registration and reset. The officials will give you the correct map, handed to them by the previous runner.

Only competitors wearing bib numbers are allowed to enter the changeover area. Competitors enter the area through the entrance gate and Emit card registration and reset. The competitors arriving from the terrain for a changeover can be seen from a distance of about 300 meters. In the changeover area there are also online terminals that can be used to find out when and where the team member currently in the terrain last visited an online control.

There are a toilet and a water point in the southern end of the changeover area. There is also a first aid point located outside the Emit checkout gate.

A competitor who has come from the terrain for a changeover can leave the area only through the Emit checkout point.

The changeover times and the positions of the teams are based on the changeover punching. The changeover punching area is under video surveillance.

Please pay attention to other competitors on both sides of the changeover fence! Avoid warming up in places where you might block runners already competing. Competitors waiting for the changeover can warm up in the field and forest area south of the changeover fence.

Closing of the Changeovers and Restart

Venla Relay

The changeover area will be closed on Saturday, 15^th June at 18:30. Runners who have not started by then will take part in the mass restart. The mass restart for the runners of legs 2-4 will take place at 18:45 from the map stands. The runners participating the restart will be required to register their Emit cards at the entrance gate no later than 20 minutes before the restart. After the registration and reset of the Emit cards the runners will go to the map stands about 5 minutes before the restart following the instructions given by the announcer and officials. False-starting teams will be disqualified. The finish line for the Venla relay will be closed at 22:30.

Jukola Relay

The changeover area will be closed on Sunday, 16^th June at 8:45.  Runners who have not started by then will take part in two separate restarts.

The restart for the 7th leg will take place at 9:00. This group has to be at the Emit card registration no later than 8:40. After the registration and reset of the Emit cards the runners of the 7th leg will go to the map stands about 5 minutes before the restart following the instructions given by the announcer and officials.

The runners of the legs 2-6 have to be at the Emit card registration no later than 9:10. The restarts for the legs 2-6 will take place at 9:30. During the first restart, the runners of the second restart will be guided to a waiting area to guarantee a safe start for the runners of the 7th leg. The runners of the legs 2-6 will go to the map stands about 5 minutes before the restart following the instructions given by the announcer and officials.

False-starting teams will be disqualified. The finish line for the Jukola relay will be closed at 15:00.

Finish

In both relays all the last leg runners will run to the rightmost lane following the guidance. The positions of the first 30 teams in the results will be determined by the finish judge based on the crossing of the finish line. Other teams’ results will be based on the punching immediately after the finish line. The punching time is the time when the Emit card is removed from the punching unit. The finish punching is controlled by video recording. After the finish line punching, Emit cards of the team anchors in prize winning positions will be read in the finish area. Other anchors continue along the marked path to the Emit checkout point.

Wailing Wall

The Wailing Wall, located in the vicinity of the entrance gate and the Emit checkout point, is open for from Saturday, 15^th June at 13:10 until Sunday, 16^th June at 16:00. The wailing wall is the place where disqualifications as well as other competition related issues are dealt with. If necessary, a team leader can be present when discussing possible disqualifications. Officials at the Wailing Wall will give instructions about summoning the team leader if needed. To report a rule violation or hand in a protest, teams should contact a member of the jury or the Wailing Wall. The protests and reports must be in writing and the persons leaving them must give their name and contact information.

Dropouts and Disqualified Teams

Even if dropped out or disqualified, a team may continue the race. The result of the team will be shown on the result board as a dropout or disqualified. The runners go through the changeover in the same way as others. However, if a dropout / disqualified team is less than 30 minutes behind the leading team, the team will be delayed at the next changeover so that the time difference to the leading team is at least 30 minutes. The map for the next leg of the team is removed from the map stand and replaced by a yellow card with the team’s number and race number. The incoming competitor must take the card from the map holder and give it to the next leg runner who should proceed to the help point HELPPI at the northern end of the changeover fence. There the competitor will be given a map and a permission to start when 30 minutes from the changeover of the leading team has passed.

If possible, a dropped-out competitor must return through the changeover area along the marked route and proceed to the Emit checkout point. If the competitor is not able to do so, the team leader, or first aid worker, must contact the Wailing Wall to inform the officials about the situation and return the competitor’s map. A team is categorized as a dropout if the competitor informs about dropping out at the Emit checkout point.  In the case of an injury in the terrain, the map is given to the first aid personnel. These teams will also be listed on the notice board at the help point HELPPI at the end of the changeover fence.

Results

During the competition, live results will be available on the results board, on the Kangasala-Jukola internet site www.jukola.com/2019, and in the Jukola application. If there is any confusion regarding the results, competitors should contact the Wailing Wall. The drop-out and disqualified teams will be reported on the results board and also by the announcer in the case of leading teams. The official results will be published on the website after the competition.

Refreshment and First Aid Points

There are points for refreshment and first aid in the terrain. They are marked with purple map symbols following the specification for orienteering maps. At the refreshment points you can find water in addition to the official Jukola sport drink, orange flavoured Dexal. At the refreshment areas there are also litter bins for the mugs, gel packages, and other possible litter. Respect nature and put your litter where it belongs! There are also toilets at a distance of about 300 meters from some of the refreshment areas.

Running order

Teams should register their running order using the registration service at registration.jukola.com. The same club-specific login details are used as when entering for the competition. The running orders for both relays must be registered by no later than 18:00 on Friday, 14^th June 2019. The running order can be given as non-public. These running orders will be automatically made public on Friday, 14^th June 2019 at 18:00 and can be seen thereafter on the Kangasala-Jukola website.

If there is an urgent need to change the running order after the above mentioned deadline, the team has to contact the competition Information point with reasons for the change no later than thirty minutes before the start of the relay in question.

The person who has entered a team in the relay is responsible for giving correct information regarding the team members as well as for ensuring that the age limit is being followed properly. Only those born in 2004 or earlier are eligible to enter the competition.

Team Specific Material

Team specific competition material can be collected at the Information point between 10:00 – 22:00 on Friday, 14^th June and between 8:00 – 22:00 on Saturday, 15^th June. Team material will be released upon presentation of the team’s pick-up ticket on condition that all payments have been made and the running order has been entered into the registration system. The pick-up ticket for the team material will be delivered to clubs by email at the beginning of June.

The team material includes the team’s number bibs and Emit back-up cards as well as the Emit cards rented from the organizers and number bib vests for specifically nominated teams. There is also a coupon with which the club can collect a fresh set of competition maps after the relay. There is only one such coupon per club, usually included in the material of the club’s first Jukola team. Note that the material does not include safety pins for attaching the number bibs. Safety pins can be bought at the Information point and in the Jukola shop (1 € / 4 pins).

Competition Numbers

The competition numbers (bib numbers) are based on the results of Venla and Jukola relays in 2018. If a club has several teams, the first team of the club will wear the smallest of the club’s bib numbers. The bar code in the number bib must be undamaged when entering the start / changeover area.

The bib number must be wholly visible throughout the leg. Please attach the number bib carefully to the chest with four safety pins.

The teams selected to wear GPS tracking devices shall wear a number bib vest. The vest must not be covered during the competition. The competitors of the selected teams must wear the vest until the Emit checkout point under threat of disqualification The vests will be distributed to the teams with other competition material in advance.

GPS Tracking

A GPS tracking system will be used in both relays on all legs. If a team refuses to carry the device, the team will be disqualified. Approximately 30 teams will carry the device on each leg of both relays.

The GPS device will be given to the runner at a special GPS point at the entrance gate to the start / changeover area. The runner will be guided how to wear the device. The runner must wear both the device and the number bib vest all the time after they have been put on until they are returned to the organizer after the Emit checkup after the leg. The GPS device has to be put on at the latest 15 minutes before the runner starts their leg. During the race, the organizer may change the teams that carry the devices. The teams selected for GPS tracking during the race continue to use their normal bibs.

Competitors’ Own GPS Devices and Phones

Competitors may only use personal GPS devices that do not have a map display. Devices that transmit live GPS data are strictly forbidden (apart from the organizers’ GPS devices). Recorded GPS data cannot be used in order to improve competitors’ performance in the competition. Recorded route data can be uploaded to the internet or other services only after the restarts of Jukola relay have taken place.

A competitor may carry their own personal mobile phone in case of emergencies. The phone must be switched off in the changeover area as well as during the competition itself, and it can only be used in emergencies. It is forbidden to photograph the map during the relay.

Coaches and Team Supporter Personnel

Coaches and team support personnel are not allowed to enter the start, changeover, and finish areas. All the required assistance and support can be given in the areas provided for the public.

Interviews and Photo Shoot

Competitors can be interviewed after the competitor has exited the Emit checkout point or later at the Media Centre. There will also be a separate media event for the top teams in both relays as soon as possible after the finish. The relevant teams will be informed about the media event.

Prize Ceremonies

The top 25 teams in the Jukola and Venla relays will be awarded medals and plaques. Honorary awards will also be given to the best teams in both relays. The award ceremonies will take place on the festival stage.

The Venla relay ceremony will take place on Saturday, 15^th June 2019, starting at 19:00. The Venla teams to be awarded will be asked to be seated next to the stage, in reserved places, by 19:00.

The Jukola relay ceremony will take place on Sunday, 16^th June 2019, starting at 09:40. The Jukola teams to be awarded will be asked to be seated next to the stage, in reserved places, by 09:30.

The teams to be awarded are not allowed to carry any advertising banners or other advertising materials. The club’s own banners and badges are permitted.

Message of the Jukola Relay

Following the tradition, the message of the Jukola relay will read by the winning team on Hiidenkivi at the festival stage after the finish.

Returning of the Maps

The maps of both relays can be collected from 9:30 on Sunday, June 16th 2019. The team material of each club’s first team includes a coupon against which the club or the team can redeem their maps.

Teams requesting the maps to be sent by mail will need to submit a postal address in advance and pay a 10 € fee. An additional postal fee will be added to the list price for large and international deliveries.

Changes to competition guidelines

Competition guidelines along with potential changes will be published on the competition info board and on the Kangasala-Jukola website.

Competition officials

Competition Manager

Harri Virta
+358 40 5656357, harri.virta@jukola.com

General Secretary

Antti Rantala
+358 41 4343394, antti.rantala@jukola.com

Communications Manager

Outi Hytönen
+358 40 0772574, outi.hytonen@jukola.com

Map and Course Manager

Mikko Heikkinen
+358 40 6309292, mikko.heikkinen@jukola.com

Course setters

Jarkko Liuha
+358 44 3274623, jarkko.liuha@jukola.com

Petteri Laitinen
+358 44 3346262, petteri.laitinen@jukola.com

Result Service

Kari Papinsaari
+358 40 7744738, kari.papinsaari@jukola.com

Technical Advisor

Jaakko Lajunen
+358 40 0142222, jaakko.lajunen@jukola.com

Course Controller

Ilkka Kivisara (Tampereen Pyrintö)

Jury Members

Chairman  Petri Paukkunen (Ms Parma)

Jouni Lipponen (Keravan Urheilijat)

Tuija Katajamäki (Kauhavan Wisa)