Competition instructions

Venla relay

Competition will start as a mass start on Saturday, 14th June 2025 at 13:30. Registration of Emit cards will be staggered, starting with the biggest team numbers. However, runners must register their Emit card no later than 20 minutes before the start of the race.

After 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.

All legs have forking. Courses include approximately 800 meters of marked route. Competitors born in years 2009-2010 are recommended to run leg 3. Finish line for Venla Relay will be closed on Saturday at 22:30.

Jukola Relay

Competition will start as a mass start on Saturday, 14th June 2025 at 23:00. Registration of Emit cards will be staggered, starting with the biggest team numbers. However, runners must register their Emit card no later than 20 minutes before start of the race.

After 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.

All legs have forking. Sun sets on Saturday, 14th of June at 23:01 and rises on Sunday, 15th of June at 3:21 a.m. Courses include approximately 800 meters of marked route. Competitors born in years 2009-2010 are recommended to run leg 4-6. Finish line for Jukola Relay will be closed on Sunday at 15:00.

Competition Rules and Instructions

Rules of Finnish Orienteering Federation (FOF) apply together with instructions given by organizers. FOF rules for orienteering sports can be found in Finnish at www.suunnistusliitto.fi and competition info.

Terrain

Competition terrain is located south of the village of Tikkala in Mikkeli.

Old maps of area are available on competition info board and on Mikkeli-Jukola website.

Terrain for the Venla and Jukola relays is demanding South Savo production forest. Area is characterized by steep hills and small ponds and lakes. Areas spared from forestry are velvet spruce or old pine forest with a sandy base, but there is also enough sapling and thinning waste. Base of terrain is heavy but easy to run on.

TV production structures in the terrain are not marked on maps, nor are filming control points marked in control descriptions. TV cameramen may be running in the terrain with cameras. In addition, relay can be filmed with TV production drones or camera cars.

Competition Map and Control Descriptions

Digiprinted competition map is in scale of 1:10 000, with a contour interval of 5 meters, description ISOM2017. Mapped by Jussi Silvennoinen. Map is enclosed in a plastic cover. Punching system is Emit.

Size of map is A3 in the Venla Relay but varies in the Jukola Relay. Control descriptions are printed on map. Control codes are also printed next to control numbers.

In addition, note in particularly the following markings:

• Map marker “black X (symbol 531: clearly visible special object)” is used to describe man-made objects, e.g. a promotional car, a small structure.

EDIT 27.5.2025! Training

On competition weekend there won´t be a model event near the competition center.

Training maps of Mannilan Sydänmaa, Rantakylä and Urpola are available at competition info. Training courses will have either a crossing flag or a plastic pipe at control points. Mapping, course markings and control descriptions are same as those used in race. Maps will be sold at competition info on Fri 14.6. from 10.00 at 10 €/each.

Out-of-Bounds / forbidden Areas

Out-of-bounds areas are marked on the competition map in track colour. 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 are also forbidden to enter. There are number of small out-of-bounds areas like bird nests, dangerous steep cliffs or other nature points in the terrain which are marked with an out-of-bounds tape. Due to their small size, these are not indicated on competition map.

Out-of-bounds / forbidden area tape

Closed roads

Road sections to be closed during the competition are Tikkalantie and Kallajärventie.

Route markings

Course markings are in accordance with Finnish Orienteering Federation rules. Start and finish markings are enclosed by fences.

Controls and Punching

Competition will use Emit punching. Actual race controls are similar to model controls. Model controls are located next to competition info and entrance gate of check-in. There are no reflectors at control points. Control points must be visited in numerical order. Control’s number and code are printed on the map next to control symbol. Competition will use exchange and finish stamping.

Please be aware that control points can be very close to each other in the terrain and in similar places. Please make sure you visit correct control point with a correct control code!

Emit punching system

Punching in the competition will be carried out with electronic Emit punching system. Each team must have at least four (4) Emit cards in Jukola relay and three (3) in Venla relay. Same Emit cards may not be used by two different teams in same relay or in two consecutive legs. However, same Emit card can be used in both the Jukola and the Venla Relays.

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

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

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

Check-in happens in stages according to the competitor’s competition number:

Emit check-in and reset point will be closed 20 minutes before start signals for both Venla and Jukola relays and will be opened again straight after starts. Check-in and reset points will then be open through duration of the relays, until they will be closed 30 minutes after restarts.

First leg runners will be arranged to starting line in stages according to the competitors’s bib number, starting 30 minutes before start:

Starting area will be closed 10 minutes before the start.

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

All rented cards must be returned to competition info, in same team bag where they were. Unreturned or lost cards will be charged at 80€ each. If a card is rented only for the Venla relay it must be returned to competition info immediately after the Venla relay is finished.

Make sure that you use a proper Emit card. Only original unopened electronic card is allowed in the relays.

Last-minute rental fee for Emit card is 40 € / piece. If you want to receive rented Emit cards with team material, you need to make a pre-booking via registration system by no later than 31st May.

There are Emit card testing units near competition info and Emit check-in area. To test your Emit card, place it onto Emit card testing unit which is provided with a LED light. LED will indicate that your card works by flashing. If card’s battery is run down or is about to run down light does not flash and you will need to rent a new card before checking in at the entrance gate.

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

Starts

Start of both relays is located on a gravel field in competition centre.

Runners cannot leave their warm-up gear on the fence surrounding the start area.

Announcer and start officials will give instructions for lining up to start rows.

Start grouping from back rows at least 30 min before departure! Competitors will move directly to starting grid starting from back row. Lowest number in each line will be placed on left-hand side of the line. Competitors can check their starting line on sign next to map distributors and with start staff.

Entrance to start area will be closed 10 minutes before start. Late starters will get their maps at MAP-HELP point at changeover fence, where maps are available for 30 minutes after start.

Maps will be handed out to competitors. When receiving a map from start staff, competitor must ensure that competitor has a map corresponding to race number. It is competitor’s responsibility to check that map is the correct one. It is strictly forbidden to unfold map before start signal. Opening map too early will lead to disqualification of team.

Start will be signalled by a starting gun. 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! Entire start procedure is recorded.

Start, change and finish lines are delimited by fences. K-point is marked with a control flag. No stamping is required at K-point. Runners of first leg can familiarise themselves with starting line toward K-point. Running on the start line toward K-point is restricted to a specially marked point.

Exercise caution during start.

Changeover

There are marked routes from last controls to changeover / finish line.  Incoming competitors will be split to separate lanes on basis of their leg numbers. Choose lane above which you see your leg number. NB! Numbering of lanes changes during the relay. Fastest teams of each leg will be guided to  rightmost lane. There will be organizers guiding runners into correct lanes but especially when there are a lot of runners entering lanes at the same time, each runner needs to pay close attention to choosing the correct lane.

Having arrived in changeover area, punch your Emit card (at finish line) and hand over your map to an official. Then go to map stands and get the map of your bib number for next runner of your team.

NB! To unfasten map, pull it upwards from the stand. Any other action may result in breaking a map bag.

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

Competitors waiting for exchange may warm up in the exchange area and toward K-point until specially marked point provided by organiser. Avoid warming up on route of departing competitors. Competitor who is moving to Emit checkpoint will give way to competitors who are changing.

It is the competitors’ own responsibility to make sure they take correct map from the stand. It is also competitors’ of next leg own responsibility to check they have received correct map. Wrong choice will lead to disqualification.

If the next runner is not found in a reasonable time, map should be taken to MAP-HELP -point at end of changeover fence. Competitors who are late for the changeover will register after the Emit check-in and Emit reset at the Kart-Helppi point. Official will then give to competitor the map of runner of previous leg.

If there is no map for your team on the stand, incoming competitor should report this to official at map stand. Then competitor and official will go together to MAP-HELP -point. Official of MAP-HELP -point will give a spare map ticket to competitor, competitor will take the ticket to next runner at changeover fence.

Spare map ticket contains a picture of location of spare map point and a short verbal instruction. Competitor of next leg will receive map of leg from reserve map point in exchange area for a reserve map ticket.

Only competitors wearing bib numbers are allowed to enter changeover area by going through the Emit check-in and Emit reset. In changeover area there are also online terminals that can be used to find out which online control was last used by competitor of team currently on the course. There is no line of sight from changeover fence to last control or to finish line. Competitor waiting to change will only see competitors arriving when they are at map stands.

There are toilets and water point in changeover area. First aid point is located outside Emit checkout gate. Competitor who has come from terrain to a changeover can leave area only through Emit checkout point.

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

Closing of the Changeovers and Restart

Venla Relay

Changeover area will be closed on Saturday, 14th June at 18:30. Runners who have not started by then will take part in mass restart. Mass restart for runners of legs 2-4 will take place at 18:45 from map stands. Runners participating in the restart will be required to register their Emit cards at entrance gate of check-in no later than 20 minutes before restart. After registration and reset of Emit cards runners will go to map stands about 5 minutes before the restart following instructions given by announcer and officials. False-starting teams will be disqualified. Finish line for the Venla relay will be closed at 22:30.

Jukola Relay

Changeover area will be closed on Sunday, 15th June at 9:15. Runners who have not started by then will take part in two separate restarts.

Restart for 7th leg will take place at 9:30. This group has to have gone through Emit card registration no later than 9:10. After registration and reset of Emit cards runners of the 7th leg will go to map stands about 5 minutes before restart following instructions given by announcer and officials. False-starting teams will be disqualified.

Runners of legs 2-6 have to have gone through Emit card registration no later than 9:25.

Restart for the legs 2-6 will take place at 9:45. During first restart of leg 7, runners of second restart will be guided to a waiting area to guarantee a safe start for runners of 7th leg. Runners of legs 2-6 will go to map stands about 5 minutes before restart following instructions given by announcer and officials. False-starting teams will be disqualified.

Finish line for the Jukola relay will be closed at 15:00 and removal of control points from competition terrain begins.

Finish

In both relays all last leg runners will run to rightmost lane following guidance. Positions of first 30 teams will be determined by finish judge based on crossing of finish line. Tight spurt situations will be double checked with a finish line camera. Finish line is marked with a painted line and a finish line sign. After crossing the finish line, anchors must be stamped immediately. After finish line punching, Emit cards of team in positions 1-30 will be read in finish area.

Other teams’ results will be based on punching immediately after finish line. Punching time is time when Emit card enters the punching unit. Finish punching is controlled by video recording. Anchors from teams other than 1-30 will follow signs along stalls to Emit checkpoint for card reading.

Wailing Wall

Wailing Wall, located in the vicinity of entrance gate of Emit check-in and checkout point, is open for from Saturday, 14th June at 13:00 until Sunday, 15th June at 16:00. Wailing wall is 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 Wailing Wall will give instructions about summoning team leader if needed.

Protests

Any reports of rule violations and protests will be submitted during the race and no later than 30 minutes after technical end of race. Protest shall be addressed to the Jury and shall be submitted in writing on paper only. Person lodging protest must leave his/her name and contact details.

Dropouts and Disqualified Teams

Even if dropped out or disqualified, a team may continue the race. Result of team will be shown on result board as a dropout or disqualified. Runners go through the changeover in the same way as others. However, if a dropout / disqualified team is less than 45 minutes behind leading team, team will be delayed at next changeover so that time difference to the leading team is at least 45 minutes. Map for the next leg of team is removed from map stand and replaced by a yellow form with team’s number and leg number. Incoming competitor must take the form from map holder and give it to next leg runner who should proceed to MAP-HELP -point at changeover fence. There competitor will be given a map and a permission to start when 45 minutes from changeover of leading team has passed.

If possible, a dropped-out competitor must return through changeover area along marked route and proceed to Emit checkout point. If competitor is not able to do so, team leader, or first aid personnel, must contact Wailing Wall to inform officials about situation and return competitor’s map. Team is categorised as a dropout if competitor informs about dropping out at Emit checkout point.  In the case of an injury in competition terrain, map is given to first aid personnel. These teams will also be listed on notice board at MAP-HELP -point at changeover fence. If a runner drops out during a leg, map of next leg will be delivered to MAP-HELP -point. Runner of next leg can continue by picking up map from MAP-HELP -point.

Results

During competition, results will be available on results board, on Mikkeli-Jukola internet site http://www.jukola.com/2025 and in Jukola application which can be downloaded from the App Store (iOS) or Play Store (Android).

Drop-out and disqualified teams will be reported on results board and also by announcer in case of leading teams. Official results will be published on website after competition. All notifications about results during competition will be done in competition info. Notifications about results after event can be sent directly to Timo Kokko, timo.kokko@jukola.com.

Refreshment and First Aid Points

There are points for refreshment and first aid in competition terrain. They are marked with map symbols following specification for orienteering maps. At refreshment points you can find water in addition NOSHT sport drink. At refreshment areas there are also litter bins for mugs, gel packages and other litter. Respect nature and please do not litter! If weather is really hot and you think that you might need a lot of time to get through your leg, it is advisable to take a drink belt with you.

Running order

Teams need to register their running order using the registration service at registration.jukola.com logging in by using Jukola account of admin holder of club/team. running orders for both relays must be registered by no later than

• teams number 1-100 on Thursday, 12th of June 2025 at 6.00 p.m.
• other teams 6.00 p.m. on Friday 13th of June 2025 at 6.00 p.m.

Running order can also be given as non-public, in which case running order will be automatically made public

• for teams number 1-100 on Thursday 12th of June 2025 at 6.00 p.m.
• other teams on Friday 13th of June 2025 at 6.00 p.m.

Late registration of running order will result in a 100€ fee/team. Fee must be paid when picking up team material. After deadlines, changes can only be made in exceptional cases. Changes will be approved by Technical Advisor of competition. If there is an urgent need to change running order after above mentioned deadlines, team has to contact competition info with reasons for change no later than thirty minutes (30) before start of the relay in question.

Person who has entered a team in the relay is responsible for giving correct information regarding team members as well as for ensuring that age limit is being followed properly. Only those born in 2010 or earlier can enter the competition. Running an underage participant will result in disqualification of team.

Team Material

Team material can be collected at competition info between 10:00 – 21:00 on Friday 13th June and between 8:00 – 22:00 on Saturday 14th June. Team material will be released upon presentation of team’s pick-up ticket on condition that all payments have been made and the running order has been entered into registration system. Pick-up ticket for team material will be delivered to clubs by email at the beginning of June.

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

Bib numbers

Bib numbers are based on results of Venla and Jukola relays in 2024. If a club has several teams, first team of club will wear the smallest of the club’s bib numbers. Bbar code in bib number must be undamaged when entering start / changeover area.

Bib number must be visible throughout the leg. Please attach number bib number must be carefully attached with four safety pins.

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

GPS Tracking

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

GPS device will be given to runner at a special GPS point after entrance gate of Emit check-in. Teams pre-selected for GPS tracking will be given numerical GPS vests with their team material. GPS device and number bib vest that has a pocket for GPS device must be worn at all times from moment person enters  Emit check in until team has returned GPS device. GPS device has to be switch on at the latest 15 minutes before runner starts leg. During race, organizer may change teams that carry GPS devices. Teams selected for GPS tracking during race continue to use their normal bibs and they are given a GPS vest when they receive their GPS device.

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 competition. Recorded route data can be uploaded to  internet or other services only after restarts of Jukola relay have taken place (Sunday, 15th June 09:45).

Competitor may carry a personal mobile phone in case of emergencies. Phone must be switched off in changeover area as well as during competition itself, and it can only be used in emergencies. It is forbidden to distribute any material filmed during competition before technical end of competition.

Coaches

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

Interviews and Photos

Competitors’ TV, radio and arena interviews take place immediately after changeover at interview points located near changeover fence. Other media can interview athletes after EMIT checkout or in media center. Media events are organized for both top teams of the relay according to separate instructions given to them as soon as possible after finish.

Insurances

Competitors are not insured by the organisers.

Prize Ceremonies

Top 25 teams in the Jukola and Venla relays will be awarded medals and plaques. Honorary awards will also be given to best teams in both relays. Award ceremonies will take place on festival stage. The Venla relay ceremony will take place on Saturday, 14th June, starting at 19:00. Venla teams to be awarded will be asked to be seated next to the stage, in reserved places, by 18:50.

Jukola relay ceremony will take place on Sunday, 15th June, starting at 09:50. Jukola teams to be awarded will be asked to be seated next to the stage, in reserved places, by 09:40.

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

Message of the Jukola Relay

Following the tradition, the message of the Jukola relay will be read by the winning team in vicinity of finish line.

Returning of maps

Maps of both relays can be collected at competition info from 9:50 on Sunday, June 15th. Club’s first team’s material includes a coupon for return maps.

If return maps of all teams of club would like to be sent by post, a postal address and payment must be provided to competition info in advance.

Changes to competition instructions

Any changes to competition instructions will be published as appropriate. Competition instructions along with possible changes will be published on info board of competition info and on Mikkeli-Jukola website.

Competition officials