17th European Rogaining Championships

Bulletin 3

17th European Rogaining Championships Qualifying Event for the World Rogaining Championships

Date 4–5 September 2021

Event European Rogaining Championships 2021 (ERC2021) are held as a 24 hour rogaine. Additionally, a concurrent 6 hour open (non-championship) race is organised.

Organizers  MTÜ Seiklushunt and Estonian Orienteering Federation (EOF)

Rules 

ERC2021 is held as an IRF sanctioned event, in accordance with the IRF Rules of Rogaining.

Competitors must follow the safety measures introduced by the organisers with the purpose to prevent and limit the spread of COVID-19. This is a mandatory requirement!

To allow the tracking of a team’s course, each team entered for the 24h rogaine shall be issued a GPS device as an item of mandatory equipment. One team member shall carry the GPS tracking device at all times, attached to the upper arm. The team shall receive its GPS device before entering the start area.

While planning the route, it is forbidden to use any kind of technologies (laptops, software etc.) for route optimisation purposes, to transfer the location of checkpoints from paper-based map to electronic devices, or to perform any other actions that may have an effect on the result.

During the competition the competitors may not use GPS watches and other GPS capable devices, mobile phones, step counters or any other devices with features that may help to navigate through terrain, calculate the distance, communicate with other persons, or may influence the result in any other manner.

The competitors are allowed to use a mobile phone or a device with equal functionality only in emergency situations or when assisting another team. It is allowed to carry the devices along on the course provided they give no audible feedback and are sealed in a non-transparent bag provided by the organisers. Using the prohibited devices for other purposes will lead to disqualification of the team.

The competitors shall be guided by a sense of fair play. While on the course, the competitors are prohibited to travel by any type of vehicle or accept assistance from third parties if this can have an effect on the results. During the race it is forbidden to visit shops, cafeterias or other places, where you can buy food or get assistance from third parties or ask for water or food from local households. Rule B12 (A team shall not accept assistance from, nor collaborate with, other people during course planning or on the course /…/)

Mandatory equipment

Mandatory equipment items for each participant competing in the 24-hour event:

– SI card with a non-removable wristband (the wristband is provided by the organiser);

– visibly attached competition number bib;

– whistle;

– GPS tracking device (one per team, to be provided by the organiser);

– Survival Blanket (Space Blanket).

COVID-19
We will follow state and local guidelines regarding COVID-19. Organizers will be closely monitoring the recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and will continue to communicate best practices as they evolve up until the ERC2021. 

Latest information about traveling to Estonia: https://vm.ee/en

Registration at Event centre

To get to the Event Center area and participate in the race, everyone has to have proof of one of the following:

1) Vaccination certificate proving that the vaccination has been fully completed;

2) Certificate proving recovery from COVID-19 (diagnosed in last 180 days);

3) A negative PCR-test result, taken up to 72 hours before the competition;

4) A negative rapid antigen test result, taken up to 48 hours before the competition.

NB! These restrictions do not apply for minors (18-years and under)

There is a chance to do a rapid antigen test at the Event Center entrance gate, costing approximately 5-8 euros. Paying only with cash!

Everyone, who has provided a proof will receive a wristband, to make the further entrance to the Event Center area quick and clear. 

Who cannot provide their certificate and does not want to do the rapid test, cannot enter the Event Center and cannot take part in the ERC2021!

Event Centre

The Event Centre is located at Tehvandi Sport Center, Nüpli village 67408, Otepää municipality, Estonia. GPS coordinates: N58.0535204, E26.5025675

Website of the Event Centre host: https://www.tehvandi.ee/
Google maps link!

The Event Centre is part of the event site. Hash-house is in the Event Centre.

It is forbidden to drop empty gel tubes, food wrapping or any other waste while on the course! These can be disposed of only in the event centre, to the public waste containers and in the waste containers next to water drops.

Event site

The Event Centre nearby Estonia’s winter capital Otepää (population 2167) lies in South Estonia, 43 km southwest of Estonia’s second largest town Tartu. The competition area (about 300 km²) of the ERC 2021 terrain covers most of Otepää Nature Park – the country’s largest, created in order to preserve the spectacular landscapes with its views and habitats. A beautiful hilly land has patches of both primaeval forest and small-scale logging areas, interspersed with open grasslands and homesteads – some of which are out of bounds. The majestic Lake Pühajärv (Holy Lake) and also one of the most spectacular chains of lakes in Estonia in the primaeval valley at Vidrike stand out from the myriad of lakes, streams, and small marshes that characterize the terrain between hillocks. The network of roads and trails is generally good. Many of the open hilltops and slopes provide stunning viewpoints, while both the pristine and the young growth forests can be quite demanding in terms of runnability and visibility in early September.

Parts of the competition area have been used for local and international orienteering events, major ones including European Orienteering Championships in 2006 and the World Ski Orienteering Championships in February 2021. 

In 2015, a 3-hour rogaine was held on the terrain, see the map of this event: link: 

All old orienteering maps of the area can be viewed here: https://kaardid.orienteerumine.ee/ (you have to zoom in and click on the desired marked area). Automatically generated Estonian topographical map: https://okaart.osport.ee/

Photos from the terrain: link!

Embargoed area

Map link

Under the embargo, independent or team training on the terrain with a map, as well as participation in any rogaining-type or adventure events or activities are prohibited from January 2021 until the start of ERC2021. The embargo does not preclude the following activities:

1. participation in skiing events held on the ski tracks of the terrain in winter 2021 (such as Tartu Ski Marathon);
2. participation in EOF calendar orienteering events held on the terrain, within the limits of the courses and orienteering maps of those events;
3. participation in running and biking events held on the terrain along the defined tracks of those events;
4. skiing, running and biking training without a map, which is confined to major roads and tracks.

Participants

A team shall consist of two or three members.

Competition classes

MO, WO, XO (open class – men, women, and mixed teams);

MJ, WJ, XJ (youth, under 23 years of age – men, women, and mixed teams);

MV, WV, XV (veterans, at least 40 years of age – men, women, and mixed teams);

MSV, WSV, XSV (super veterans, at least 55 years of age – men, women, and mixed teams);

MUV, WUV, XUV (ultra veterans, at least 65 years of age – men, women, and mixed teams).

The age requirements specified for the given class should be satisfied as on the first day of competition, 4th September 2021.

Any team that has a member under 14 years of age shall also have a member 18 years of age or over. All participants under 18 years entered for a 24-hour rogaine should present written permission from parents or legal guardians upon registration. 

Changes to the team composition are free of charge until the end of the entry deadline. If a new member is added to the team already entered, the entry fee shall be the one effective on the new member’s entry date. Any changes after the entry deadline bear a charge of EUR 5 per change.

Event Programme

2 September 11.00 – 3 September 21.00 model event

3 September, Friday

from 10.00 Event Centre is open
from 10.00–21.00 Registration and handing out event materials

4 September, Saturday

from 7.00 Registration and handing out event materials
from 8.00 Breakfast for participants
9.00 Map handout for ERC2021
12.00 ERC2021 mass start for all classes
12.15 Map handout for 6h open race
13.00 Mass start for all classes in 6-hour open race
19.00 Finish for 6 hours rogaine
20.00 Prize-giving for the 6-hour rogaine
from 20.00 Hash House opens
20.02 Sunset

5 September, Sunday

06.20 Sunrise
10.00 Hash House closes
from 10.00 After-finish catering
12.00 ERC2021 finish
12.30 Finish closes
12.45 Deadline for submitting protests
14.00 ERC2021 prize-giving
18.00 Event Centre closes

Distribution of the competition maps

A team may receive its maps for planning the route only after registration and collection of the team’s number bibs. Only one team member shall appear for the map collection. Maps will be handed out in the starting area entrance.

Start

All 24h competitors shall enter the start area by 11.45 at the latest for the pre start procedures. Teams who arrive later, can´t start before doing their pre start procedures. The whole team shall arrive and enter the start area together. The attached SI cards will be checked by the organisers at the start area gates. Each competitor must attach its own SI card using the wristband. The start is given at 12, noon, on Saturday, September 4 with a well audible sound. Start for 6h rogaining will be given at 13.00.

Finish

The control time for 24h competitors is 12.00, noon, on Sunday, September 5.

The control time for 6h competitors is 19.00 on Saturday, September 4.

After finishing the course (by punching the SI station ‘Finish’) only organisers will be allowed to remove the wristband and download the reading of the SI card. Participants who carried prohibited devices on the course will need to present the unopened sealed bag right after their finish. A representative of a team shall turn in the GPS device to the finish referee.

Results

After the finish, each competitor gets a printout of the SI card data. The individual SI printouts shall be considered as a preliminary and not a final result. Preliminary team results will be displayed at the Event Centre. Final results will be published on the ERC2021 website and posted/displayed at the Event Centre.

Protests

Within 45 minutes of the nominated finish time, a team may submit a protest about any team allegedly having breached the rules, about the preliminary results of the team or about any actions of the organisers that they believe to compromise the fairness of the competition. Protests shall be submitted to the organisers in writing in English.

Jury

Any protests are reviewed and decisions will be made by a three-person jury: Valters Kaminskis (LV), Miroslav Seidl (CZ), Volodymyr Lipka (UA).

Eduard Pukkonen (EST) is a substitute member of the jury.

Punching

SPORTident (SI) Air+ punching system will be used. Punching works in contactless mode up to a distance of 0.2 meters from the SI station. SIAC cards will be available for rent (EUR 2) to the participants of 24h and 6h rogaines. 

If the participant is using their own SI card, then it is his/her own responsibility to have the SI card with enough memory space. Any protest related to SI card capacity will not be discussed.

Map

The scale of the competition map is 1:25 500, contour interval 5 metres. Map sheet size is 700x1000mm. The map is oriented to the magnetic north. The map is based on Estonian Land Board data. Fieldwork and cartography autumn 2020 to summer 2021 by Markus Puusepp, with help by Taavi Tatsi, Timo Sild and Taivo Timmusk. Map data processed by Mihkel Järveoja. Previous orienteering maps have been used for additional details by the kind permission of the owners – OK Ilves, Otepää SK, Lutsu talu, OK Põlva Kobras and OK Kape. The map will be printed on waterproof material.

ERC2021 map sample from “Väike Munamägi” (the Small Egghill)

Map and terrain notes 

• Fieldwork has been thorough with the help of previous orienteering maps and Estonian Land Board data although inaccuracies may occur because of forestry or agricultural work, construction works and other human activities. Also, vegetation growth has been very fast this year, meaning that smaller tracks and paths, and some other features may be somewhat hidden.
• Mapmaker and Course Setter have given their best to identify all cultivated land. All known cultivated areas are mapped as out-of-bounds (purple overprint) regardless if the crops are still growing or have been harvested. Unmapped cultivated lands shall also not be crossed. The same applies to pastures with electric fences.
• Clarification for the use of out-of-bounds areas: Please note that the narrow gap between the fence symbol and the out-of-bounds area symbol is there to improve the legibility (i.e to make the fence visible on the map). Participants may not cross the fence and move along this narrow area not overprinted with the out-of-bounds symbol. You may encounter this type of symbol use also on the Model Event map.
• Clarification for the use of out-of-bounds areas (02.09.): In situations where the out-of-bounds area symbols follows the exact edge of the cultivated land/forest etc symbols, participants may move along the edge of the out-of-bounds areas as long they do not damage and disturb the crops, electric fences, private property etc that the area protects.If the out-of-bounds area extends further into the forest/other open areas, then participants shall stay further away (sample 2)

• Water bodies and marshes marked with a black bounding line are uncrossable for the average participant and may pose a danger. Cross only at your own risk! 
• There has been quite a lot of rain in the second half of this summer, which might influence the water levels in swamps and marshes. Beavers are active in a number of places and some flooding or dams may appear different from what is represented on the map.
• Dangers: unmarked barbed wires (very short sections found on the terrain); beehives (a few have been spotted outside in the terrain away from the settlement); dogs (most known dogs have been instructed to be leashed during the competitions); ticks; roller-ski track close to the start and finish area which is actively in use – please stay cautious while crossing!
• As the private landowners around Otepää tend to be very strict about the use of their land, please take care NOT TO CROSS OR ENTER any of the forbidden areas neither during the model event nor the ERC competition and possibly stay further from the settlement than the map allows.
• Markings for permanent orienteering controls can be found in various parts of the terrain. Examples:
  

Course notes

The course has a total of 84 controls which add up to 493 points (values from 2-10).

The control flags are placed around 1.5m from the ground and have reflectors. For technical backup reasons, there will be manual needle punches. In case of damaged/broken/stolen stations and missing needle punches, please check and memorize the backside of the black-and-white ERC control site marking for code              (1 letter and one number).                             

The map has textual control descriptions printed on it in English. Pictorial control description sheets are available separately. 

There will be 6 self-service water drops which are marked with a purple cup symbol and a dot for exact location.

NB! There are a number of embargoed areas marked on the map. Crossing and entering them is not allowed and doing so will result in disqualification. GPS tracks will be checked during and after the race. In case of accidental entering, the team MUST quickly exit the forbidden area exactly the same route as they entered, but this does not guarantee disqualification and these cases will be reviewed by the jury. 

The model event in Neeruti

The model map is the same scale as the competition map and has 5 controls (random values). Descriptions and the presentation of the controls are the same as on the competition map. The model course is available from Thursday, September 2nd (11 am) to  Friday, September 3rd. The maps are available on September 2nd from the Tehvandi hotel administration and from the 3rd of September from the event centre! Model map will be published to the event homepage also!

The location of the model event is in Neeruti village, approximately 8km from the event centre to the northeast: 58.102327161919234, 26.569751933235693 

The start and finish are not marked at the site. Parking is at the side of the main road, please ask the organizers for parking directions in case you plan to go there by a large bus.

In the immediate vicinity of the competition area, the model event terrain represents the forbidden areas and semi-open cultural landscapes (fields, meadows and pastures) as well as the managed forests with smaller and medium hills and but not so much the more natural forests  (conservation areas) or the large hills of Otepää highlands. 

Scoring

Scoring is according to the IRF Rules for Rogaining. In accordance with Rule B17(b), to gain points for visiting a checkpoint, all members of a team should punch at the checkpoint within a time limit of 60 seconds.

A team’s total score shall be the value of the checkpoints visited by the nominated finish time, less any penalty points. In the event of a tie, the team that finished earlier shall be awarded the higher placing. Teams finishing late will be penalized at the rate of one point per any full minute or part thereof. Teams finishing more than thirty minutes late will be recorded as ‘Late’. 

Entries

Online registration by completing the registration form at https://eventor.ee/ will open on the 8th of February 2021. Entries will close at 23:59 on 23 August 2021.

Entry Fee (EUR)

24h / per person

Entry date	Entry fee
08.02.2021–10.03.2021	65€
11.03–10.07.2021	80€
11.07–23.08.2021	90€

6h / per person

Entry date	Entry fee
08.02.2021–10.03.2021	25€
11.03–10.07.2021	30€
11.07–01.09.2021	35€

The entry fee is valid when settled within a week (7 days) after the last day of the relevant entry period. 

The entry fee and any other payments have to be paid via a bank transfer to:

MTÜ Seiklushunt
Bank: AS Swedbank

Account: EE472200221061466747

BIC/S.W.I.F.T.: HABAEE2X

Registration No. 80381192

Registered address: Männi, Pupastvere küla, Tartu vald, Tartumaa, Estonia

Please specify the team name and ERC21 in the notes field of the transfer order.
For example: Team Seiklushunt/ERC21

If you need to negotiate an alternative payment method, please specify it in the notes or write to erc21@seiklushunt.ee. Any expenses related to the settlement of the entry fee should be met by the payer. In case any commissions or other charges are withdrawn from the amount to be paid, they should be compensated to the organizer by the participant.

The entry fee covers the following services:

For ERC (24h) rogainers
Race material (map, number bibs, etc), result service, catering (breakfast on 4 September, Hash House, after-finish catering with traditional as well as vegetarian and gluten-free food), prize pool, water stations on the course, souvenirs, and other organizing expenses, first aid during the race, parking in the Event Centre and tent space (2 nights) as well as other costs. 

For  6h  open race rogainers
Race material  (map, number bibs etc),  result service,  catering  (breakfast,  after-finish catering), prize pool, water stations on the course, souvenirs and other organizing expenses, first aid during the race, short-term parking in the Event Centre as well as other costs.

Entry fee reimbursement policies:

If a team or a participant (in the case of a 3 member team) cancels the participation after the entry fee has been settled, the fee is reimbursed as follows:

Cancelled by 31 June 2021 – 50%,

Cancelled by 15 August – 25%,

Any cancellations made after the 16th of August are not entitled to a reimbursement.

As there can be some travel restrictions from certain countries, we are willing to refund the entry fee, if you cannot travel to the race. The refund claim should be made before the race starts!

Starting materials

After arrival at the Event Centre, each participant and team shall register with the organisers in order to pick up the team package. 

The organisers will provide sealing bags upon registration at the Event Centre for sealing the prohibited devices as stated by the IRF Rule B7 (i.e. GPS devices, mobile phones, GPS capable watches, computer devices of any type etc.) to be taken on the course. Participants shall arrive at the start area with already sealed bags containing such devices and present them to the organisers upon their request when entering the start area. Records will be taken by the organisers.

! Please note: During registration, each competitor shall provide to the organisers a valid personal ID with birthdate and photo. Competitors not able to provide such a document will not be allowed to start in other age groups except Open, and teams comprising such members will be automatically moved to Open classes due to lack of clear evidence of the members’ age.

Participants under 18 years shall provide written permission (from their parent or legal guardian) for taking part in the competition.

All competitors shall sign an indemnity form that they participate in the competition at their own risk. The indemnity form shall be signed before receiving competition materials from the organisers.

All participants need to take their SI cards to the registration as organizers will check the SI-card numbers against the start list. 

Route planning

Having received the maps, competitors may use the Event Centre, parking and camping area for planning their route. Look at the map!

Competitors shall not leave this area starting from the moment of distribution of maps till the start signal. The organisers will be checking compliance with the IRF Rules during the planning stage by occasional inspections. All competitors are asked to use a fair play attitude while planning their ERC2021 route!

Prize-giving

The top three teams in all competition classes will be awarded medals and prizes.

Transportation 

Photo: Otepää tourist information http://www.otepaa.eu/en/

The event centre is located in Otepää which is the sports capital of Estonia, especially known for its wide range of winter sports possibilities. 

The closest international airports are situated in: 

• Tartu (43 km) www.tartu-airport.ee
• Tallinn (210 km) www.tallinn-airport.ee
• Riga (208 km) www.riga-airport.com

When choosing public transport then nationally Otepää is best reached by bus. Otepää bus station is at the address Tartu mnt 1.

• National bus ticket information can be found here: www.tpilet.ee or www.peatus.ee .
• When searching international bus connections from Riga then these links might be helpful: www.luxexpress.eu, www.ecolines.net. International buses do not make a stop in Otepää, so take into consideration the possibility of having to change to a national bus either in Valga or Tartu etc.

Car, bus, bicycle, motorcycles and caravan parking will be arranged at the Event Centre.

Accommodation 

There are a lot of options for accommodation in Otepää and also in Tartu. There are also good opportunities for the whole family to spend active time in Otepää and nearby.

A hotel at the Event Centre https://www.tehvandi.ee/

Other accommodation – the local Tourist Information Office (http://otepaa.eu/en/) offers a wide range of accommodations at various cost categories: holiday cottages, farmsteads, hotels, and budget accommodations. Area for camping in tents will be arranged right in the Event Centre. The event entry fee includes tent space for 2 nights (Friday-Sunday).

Weather and climate at the time of the race

According to long-term observations, at the beginning of September, the daily temperatures in South Estonia are normally in the range of +15–19ºC and at night +8–13ºC. The days are rather sunny and usually, it still feels like summer in September. The nights are longer and with cloudy weather, it can be more than 10hr darkness.

Accompanying persons and spectators

Accompanying persons and spectators (over 6 years of age) staying at the Event Centre shall pay a spectator fee of EUR 25 for 2-day camping, catering at the Hash House during the race and after the finish (24h), event map (to be delivered after the finish). Participants entered for the 6h rogaine and staying in the Event Centre throughout the 24h event shall pay a fee of EUR 20, which covers 2-day camping and parking, catering at the Hash House during the race and after the finish.

Services

The facilities made available to the participants and spectators in the Event Centre include Information Desk, First Aid Post, toilets, sale of sporting goods and sports food on 3 September, tent area, car parking lot. 

Accompanying persons and spectators (other than children of pre-school age) staying at the Event Centre after 20.00 on 4 September shall pay a spectator fee of EUR 25, or EUR 20 if they are participants of the 6-hour rogaine. Breakfast will be served to the participants and eligible spectators from 8.00 till 11.00 on 4 September for no extra charge. In addition, there will be drinking water, luggage storage, and car key storage – 24h made available to the participants. The service of luggage storage and car key storage facility is available when showing the number bib.

Hash-house operating hours: from 20.00 on 4 September till 10.00 on 5 September. To receive catering in the Hash–house, the competitors need to show a SIAC card attached to a wristband or the spectator’s wristband.

After-finish catering for the 6-hour rogainers is from 18.30 till 20.00 on 4 September; for 24-hour rogainers after-finish catering is from 10.00 on 5 September.

In the Stadium building, the local cafeteria is opened 3 September 11.00-16.00 and 4 September 9.00- 14.00. 

Visas

International travellers (in particular from non-Schengen countries, depending on your country of residence) may be required to hold a visa to travel to Estonia. For more information, please see the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia. 

Visa application has to be submitted through the visa centre https://visa.vfsglobal.com/ , NB, the application cannot be submitted earlier than 30 days before the race!

For the invitation, please send your information to Estonian Orienteering Federation eol@orienteerumine.ee:  Given names / Surname / Former names / Date of birth dd/mm/yyyy / Country and place of birth / Sex / Citizenship / Number of travel the document / Country which issued the travel document
Place of residence in foreign country: Street House/ Apartment / Postal code / Town/Village / Administrative unit / Country

If you require further assistance, please send us an email.

Insurance and responsibility

Competitors participate in the event at their own risk. We recommend that competitors have personal health and/or travel insurance. Participants are responsible for their own health and for insurance against accidents and possible injuries. If the participant is a minor (under 18 years of age), the responsibility lies with their parents/guardians. Upon registration at the Event Centre, all members of the team (in case of children, their parents, or guardians), shall sign a waiver of liability form, which states that the participant is responsible for their state of health, and any possible accidents or injuries during the race. At the time of the race, it is possible to take routes to keep away from health and life hazards. The waiver of liability form will be published together with the pre-start information.

Personal data

At the time of filling the entry form and when participating in the race, a participant agrees that his or her personal data (name, surname, age) can be published in written, including the electronic form for the purposes of compiling the entry, start and result lists, event news and reviews by the organizers (MTÜ Seiklushunt and EOF) both at the event centre as well as on the event web-site and other web pages. The organizers will also send a copy of the full final results to the IRF.

Contacts:

erc21@seiklushunt.ee (English, Estonian, Russian)

phone +372 5821 1203 (English, Estonian)
+372 501 2914 (Russian)

Organizing team:

Arvi Anton – Director of the 17th ERC2021

Dora Uibo – Event Secretary

Markus Puusepp – Mapper

Taavi Tatsi – Course Setter

Lauri Leppik – EOF Vetter and Event Advisor

Marili Zimmermann – Timing and Result Service

Tõnis Erm (sportrec.eu) – GPS tracking

Jury – Valters Kaminskis (LV) Miroslav Seidl (CZ), Volodymyr Lipka (UA)

Eduard Pukkonen (EST) is a substitute member of the jury 

Andreas Kraas – course consultant and additional course vetter

Aldis Toome and Reigo Teervalt – Official photographers

Tomi-Andre Piirmets – Video and live

Michell Luik – Volunteers

More detailed information about the event will be posted on the Internet website https://seiklushunt.ee/erc21/ as well as on Facebook @erc2021

Welcome to the17th ERC 2021!