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PART
B - COMPETITION
version
2.7 (January 15th, 2005)
Contents:
14.
Categories
15.
Training and model event
16.
Starting order
17.
Team officials’ meeting
18.
Terrain
19.
Courses
20.
Restricted areas and routes
21.
Maps
22.
Equipment used by competitors
23.
Starting tickets and marking devices
24.
Start
25.
Transmitters
26.
Finish and time-keeping
27.
Results
28.
Prizes
29.
Fair play. 7
Appendix
1: Technical Specifications for Amateur Radio Direction Finding
Equipment
1. Receivers
2. Transmitters
3. Time-keeping system
4. Other equipment
Appendix
2: Principles for course planning
1. Introduction
2. Basic principles
3. ARDF course
4. Siting referee
Appendix
3: Approved starting tickets and marking devices
Appendix
4: IARU ARDF International Class Referees
Appendix
5 : Starting list preparation
Appendix
6: Rules for Youth Regional ARDF Championships
14.
Categories
14.1.
Competitors are divided into the categories according to their sex
and age.
14.2.
Categories:
|
Women
(W)
|
Men
(M)
|
Age
|
|
W
19
|
M
19
|
19
and younger
|
|
W
21
|
M
21
|
regardless
of age
|
|
W
35
|
M
40
|
35/40
and older
|
|
W
50
|
M
50
|
50
and older
|
|
|
M
60
|
60
and older
|
|
14.3
Competitors belong to the M19 or W19 category up to the end of the
calendar year in which they reach the age of 19.
14.4 Men
competitors aged 40 or older or women competitors aged 35 or older
belong to each category from the
beginning of the calendar year in which they reach the given age.
14.5 To
qualify as an IARU World Championship, a minimum of six societies
must have applied to participate.
14.6 Each
society may enter a team of up to three competitors per each
category.
15.
Training and model event
15.1 For
training purposes the organising society shall offer a model event
on both bands on the day prior to the first competition to
demonstrate the transmitter features, the set-up of transmitters
and antennas, the marking devices etc., which will be used
in the competitions. If possible, also the terrain type and map
quality shall be shown.
15.2
Competitors, Jury members, team officials, IARU officials and
media representatives shall be invited to participate in the model
event.
15.3
Equal opportunities for training in the model event shall be
offered to all societies.
16.
Starting order
16.1 The
start draw shall be supervised by an ARDF International Class
Referee being the member of the Jury. The start draw may be public
or private. It may be made by hand or by computer. The starting
draw shall be done separately for each band.
16.2 The
start list shall be published on or before the day prior to the
competition and before the team officials’ meeting.
16.3 All
competitors and teams correctly entered shall be drawn, even
including competitors who might not have arrived at that time.
16.4
Competitors from the same society and category may not start at
the same time or consecutively. If they are drawn to start
consecutively, the next competitor shall be inserted between them.
If this happens at the end of the drawing list, the competitor
before them shall be inserted between them.
16.5 The
competitors start at equal start intervals. The normal start
interval is 5 minutes.
16.6 All
competitors of a particular category shall start into the same
starting corridor and at the beginning of the same minute of the
5-minute cycle.
16.7
Competitors participating unofficially shall not start until 15
minutes after the last official competitor has started.
17.
Team officials’ meeting
17.1 A
team officials’ meeting shall be organised on the day prior to
each competition. This meeting shall start not later than 19.00
hours. The Chairman of the International Jury shall lead or
supervise the meeting.
17.2 All
competition material (start number bibs, start lists, transport
schedules, latest informations, etc) shall be handed out well
before the meeting starts.
17.3 Team
officials shall have the opportunity to ask questions during the
meeting.
18.
Terrain
18.1 The
terrain shall be suitable for setting competitive ARDF courses
without any serious hazards to competitors and avoiding man-made
objects which could interfere with direction finding activities.
18.2 The
competition area shall not have been used for ARDF for as long as
possible prior to the championship - at least not for the last two
years - to guarantee fair play.
18.3 The
competition area shall be embargoed as soon as it has been
selected. All corresponding informations published in the country
of the championship should be handed over to the ARDF-WG Chairman
for further dissemination.
18.4 Any
rights of nature conservation, forestry, hunting, etc in the area
shall be respected.
19.
Courses
19.1 The
Principles for ARDF Course Planning (see Appendix 2) shall be
followed.
19.2 The
standard of the courses shall be worthy of international ARDF
events. The technical and navigational skill, concentration and
running ability of the competitors shall be tested. All courses
shall call upon a range of different ARDF techniques.
19.3
Transmitters including the finish beacon shall be located not less
than 400 meters apart. The transmitter nearest to the start shall
be located not less than 750 meters from the start.
19.4
Course lengths shall be given as the length of a straight line
from the start line via the transmitters in optimum order to the
finish line. They should range from SIX to TEN kilometers.
19.5
Total difference in level of the points of the course (start,
transmitters and finish) shall not exceed 200 meters.
19.6 In
the event of a thunderstorm, the Chairman of the International
Jury is entitled to recall the competition immediately.
20.
Restricted areas and routes
20.1
Rules set by the organising society to protect the environment and
any related instructions from the organiser shall be strictly
observed by all persons connected with the event.
20.2
Out-of-bounds or dangerous areas, forbidden routes, line features
that shall not be crossed etc. shall be described in the
information and marked on the map. If necessary, they shall also
be marked on the ground. Competitors may not enter, follow or
cross such areas, routes or features.
20.3
Compulsory routes, crossing points and passages shall be marked
clearly on the map and on the ground. Competitors shall follow the
entire length of any marked section of their course.
20.4 The
use of official transport during the Championship may be declared
mandatory by the organiser.
21.
Maps
21.1 Maps
and additional overprinting shall be drawn and printed according
to the IOF International Specification for IOF Maps. The map scale
shall be 1:15000 or 1:10000. Deviations need approval by the ARDF
WG.
21.2
Errors on the map and changes which have occurred in the terrain
since the map was printed shall be overprinted on the map if they
have a bearing on the event.
21.3 On
the day of the competition, the use of any map of the competition
area by competitors or team officials is not allowed until
permitted by the organiser.
21.4 The
competition map shall cover the whole competition area including
start, finish beacon and all transmitters. The starting point and
the point of the finish beacon shall be clearly marked on the map.
21.5
Unless otherwise noted, the area covered by the map issued by the
organiser shall be considered as the competition area.
21.6 The
IARU and its member societies shall have the right of free
reproduction of the event maps with courses in their official
magazines.
22.
Equipment used by competitors
22.1
Every competitor shall have a direction finding receiver for the
relevant band. The receivers shall meet the Technical
Specifications for ARDF Equipment (see Appendix 1, section 1).
22.2
Start number bibs shall be clearly visible and be worn on the
upper part of the body and on back and front of the competitors.
The bibs shall not be larger than 25*25 cm with figures at least
14 cm high. The number bibs may not be folded or cut.
22.3 As
long as the rules of the organiser do not specify otherwise, the
choice of clothing and footwear shall be free.
22.4 On
the day of the competition, the use of any telecommunication
device by competitors or team officials is prohibited until
permitted by the organiser. The penalty for this shall be
disqualification. If the team official breaks this rule, the whole
team shall be disqualified.
23.
Starting tickets and marking devices
23.1 Only
ARDF WG approved starting tickets and marking devices may be used
— see Appendix 3.
23.2 The
starting ticket together with the competition map shall be handed
out to the competitor 10 minutes prior to his/her start at the
latest.
23.3 When
non-electronic or combined systems are used, competitors are
allowed to prepare the starting ticket, eg. by writing on it, by
reinforcing it or by putting it into a bag, but not by cutting-off
parts of the starting ticket.
23.4 When
electronic systems are used, competitors must have the opportunity
to practise them at the model event.
23.5
Competitors shall be responsible for marking their starting ticket
at each transmitter using the marking device provided. They are
responsible for correct markings which must be clearly
identifiable.
23.6
Missing or unidentifiable control marks shall not be considered,
unless it can be established with certainty that the competitor
visited the transmitter and that the mark missing or
unidentifiable is not the competitor’s fault.
23.7 When
systems with visible punch marks are used, at least a part of the
marking must be in the appropriate box for this transmitter or in
an empty reserve box. One mistake per competitor is acceptable, eg.
marking outside the correct box or jumping one box, provided all
markings can be identified clearly. A competitor who attempts to
gain advantage by inaccurate marking may be disqualified.
23.8
Competitors who lose their starting tickets shall be disqualified.
24.
Start
24.1 On
arrival at the competition area, competitors shall place their
receivers at the point indicated to them by the referee. Spare
receivers and components, clearly marked as property of a
particular team or competitor, shall be placed at an indicated
point just beyond the starting line beside the starting corridor.
All transmitters shall remain silent until collection of the
receivers is completed.
24.2 All
competitors shall have at least 45 minutes for undisturbed
preparation and warm-up at the start area. Only competitors who
have not started and team officials shall be allowed to enter the
warm-up area.
24.3 The
following information shall be shown on a special board at the
start area:
· time
limit
· transmitter
frequencies
· starting
list
· first
start time (in local time)
· sample
of the flag and marking device
· clock
showing the official time of the competition
24.4 The
start shall be organised with a pre-start before the time start,
situated at one edge of the warm-up area. The competitors’ names
shall be called or displayed. Beyond the pre-start, only starting
competitors and media representatives guided by the organiser are
allowed.
24.5
Competitors shall enter the pre-start area TEN MINUTES before
their own start. At the same time, they shall be given their
receivers, maps and starting tickets (see 23.2).
24.6 The
start shall be organised so that later competitors and other
persons cannot see the maps and the route choices of the starters.
24.7 When
the starting signal is given, competitors may switch on their
receivers and shall run along the starting corridor. Reaching the
end, they shall start searching for the hidden transmitters.
Competitors shall not stop in the starting corridor except for a
receiver malfunction.
24.8
Competitors, who find out a failure of their receiver, may return
within their own running time to the starting line and take their
spare receiver or parts from the referee. It is strictly forbidden
to give or take any assistance to or from any person except
referees.
24.9 At
least two starting corridors shall be provided by the organiser.
They shall not be longer than 250 meters. The end of each corridor
shall not be visible neither from the start area nor from any part
of the other corridor(s). The terrain at the end of the starting
corridors should offer normal runnability. The end of the starting
corridor shall be clearly marked.
24.10
Competitors who are late for their start time through their own
fault shall be permitted to start. The starting referee shall
determine at which time they may start which shall be as soon as
possible but under consideration of the possible influence on
other competitors. These late competitors shall be timed, however,
as if they had started at their original start time.
24.11
Competitors being late for their start time because of a fault of
the organiser shall be given a new start time.
25.
Transmitters
25.1
Transmitters used at IARU ARDF Championships shall meet the
Technical Specifications for ARDF Equipment (see Appendix 1,
section 2).
25.2 The
antenna installation shall not be changed during the competition.
25.3 All
transmitters including the beacon shall be well audible during the
whole competition from the starting point, using a receiver of
average sensitivity. All transmissions shall be monitored and
recorded by the organiser.
25.4
Transmitters begin to operate after all receivers have been
collected at the start. Transmitters shall remain operating until
the end of the time limit of the last competitor. The beacon
transmitter shall remain operating until all competitors have
finished.
25.5
Transmitters shall operate on each band in the following sequence:
· finish
beacon
sending code MO
continuously
· transmitter
No.1
sending code MOE
in the first minute
· transmitter
No.2
sending code MOI
in the second minute
· transmitter
No.3
sending code MOS
in the third minute
· transmitter
No.4
sending code MOH
in the fourth minute
· transmitter
No.5
sending code MO5
in the fifth minute
- of the 5-minute cycle, starting
at 0:00.
If the authorities of the
organising society make any transmitter identification compulsory
such identification can only be transmitted during the active
minute.
25.6
Transmitters shall be searched for by each category as follows:
- M21
category shall search all six transmitters including the
finish beacon.
- M19
category shall not be scored for transmitter No. 3 (MOS)
- M40
category shall not be scored for transmitter No. 5 (MO5)
- M50
category shall not be scored for transmitter No. 2 (MOI)
- M60
category shall not be scored for two transmitters defined by
the siting referee.
- W19
category shall not be scored for transmitter No. 2 (MOI)
- W21
category shall not be scored for transmitter No. 4 (MOH)
- W35
category shall not be scored for transmitter No. 1 (MOE)
- W50
category shall not be scored for two transmitters defined by
the siting referee.
25.7 The
order in which competitors search for and discover the
transmitters is entirely at their discretion.
25.8 The
finish beacon shall be placed at the entrance of the finish
corridor. It has no flag and marking device and need not be
discovered and registered.
25.9
Transmitters No.1 through 5 shall be marked by a flag consisting
of three squares 30 x 30 cm arranged in a triangular form. Each
square shall be divided diagonally, one half being white and the
other orange or red.
25.10 The flag shall be
close to the transmitter antenna but not further away than 4
meters. The flag shall be visible to competitors when they reach
the transmitter antenna.
25.11 To prove the passage
of the competitors, there shall be at least two or more marking
devices in the immediate vicinity of each flag.
25.13 Each transmitter must
be easily recognizable by its code number (one to five), which
shall be fixed to the flag for easy identification by the
competitors. In case of competitions with transmitters working on
two different frequency bands there must be another clear sign
indicating the frequency band of the transmitter.
25.14 All transmitters
shall be guarded. Normally each transmitter is attended by the
transmitter operator and a member of the International Jury.
25.15 The time at which
each competitor finds a transmitter shall be recorded.
26.
Finish and time-keeping
26.1 The
competition ends for a competitor when crossing the finishing
line.
26.2 The
finish corridor begins at the finish beacon and ends at the finish
line. Its entrance shall not be wider than 10 m. It shall be
clearly marked on both sides by uninterrupted tape. The last 20 m
shall be straight. The length of the corridor shall be indicated
by the siting referee at the team officials meeting a day prior to
the competition.
26.3 The
finish line shall be at least 3 m wide and shall be at right
angles to the direction of the run-in. The exact position of the
finish line shall be obvious to approaching competitors.
26.4 The
finishing time shall be measured when the competitor’s chest
crosses the finish line. Times shall be rounded down to whole
seconds. Times shall be given in either hours, minutes and seconds
or in minutes and seconds only.
26.5
After a competitor has crossed the finish line, the starting
ticket and, if so required, the competition map have to be handed
over to the organiser.
26.6
Having crossed the finish line, a competitor may not re-enter the
competition terrain without the permission of the organiser. A
competitor who retires shall announce this at the finish
immediately and hand in the map and starting ticket. That
competitor shall in no way influence the competition nor help
other competitors.
26.7
There shall be medical facilities and personnel at the finish, who
are also equipped to work in the forest.
26.8 The
time-keeping system shall meet the Technical Specifications for
ARDF Equipment (see Appendix 1, section 3).
27.
Results
27.1 The
place of an individual competitor depends on (first) the number of
transmitters found and (second) his or her running time. Only
transmitters which are scored for the particular category are
considered. Competitors who have failed either to find any
transmitter or who have exceed the time limit, shall not be
classified.
27.2 The
place of a team depends on (first) the sum of transmitters found
and (second) the sum of times reached by the two classified team
members possessing the best results.
27.3 Two
or more competitors or teams having the same result shall be given
the same placing in the results list. The position(s) following
the tie shall remain vacant.
27.4
Provisional results shall be announced and displayed in the finish
area during the competition. The official results shall be
published not more than 2 hours after final approval of the
provisional results by the Jury. They shall be handed out on the
day of the competition to each team manager and to accredited
media representatives and presented openly at three different
places for general information at least.
27.5 The
official results shall include all participating competitors and
teams.
27.6 At
the end of the championship every competitor, Jury member, team
official and accredited media representative shall receive an
official results list and the competition maps. Further result
lists and maps may be sold at a small charge to all interested.
28.
Prizes
28.1 The
title of World Champion or Regional/Continental Champion shall be
awarded for the 3,5 and 144 MHz competitions and for each official
category separately.
28.2 The
following prizes shall be awarded in all competitions:
· 1st
place
Gold medal and certificate
· 2nd
place
Silver medal and certificate
· 3rd
place
Bronze medal and certificate
· 4th–6th
place
Certificate
28.3 If
two or more competitors or teams have the same placing, they shall
each receive the appropriate medal and/or certificate.
28.4 In
the team classification, each classified member of the team shall
receive the appropriate medal and/or certificate.
28.5 The
organiser shall arrange a dignified prize-giving ceremony.
28.6 The
prize-giving ceremonies shall be performed by the representatives
of the organising society and the IARU Regional Organisation.
28.7
During the prize-giving ceremony, the national flags of the first
three competitors/teams should be flown and the national anthem of
the winner may be played.
29.
Fair play
29.1 All
persons taking part in an ARDF event shall behave with fairness
and honesty. They shall have a sporting attitude and a spirit of
friendship. Competitors shall show respect for each other, for
officials, journalists, spectators and the inhabitants of the
competition area. The competitors shall be as quiet as possible in
the terrain.
29.2 It
is absolutely forbidden to give or take any assistance to or from
any person, including competitors, or to utilize any means of
transport, except:
· assistance
provided by referees within the scope of their defined duties, as
long as that assistance is equally available to all competitors;
· it
is the duty of all competitors to help injured runners. No
competitor will be disqualified for giving or receiving such an
assistance, as long as he or she does not gain competitive
advantage by doing so.
29.3
Doping is forbidden. The ARDF WG or during a championship the Jury
may require doping control procedures to be conducted.
29.4 The
organiser, with the consent of the ARDF WG, may decide to publish
the venue of the competition in advance. If the venue is not made
public, all officials shall maintain strict secrecy about the
competition area and terrain. In any case, strict secrecy shall be
kept about the courses.
29.5 Any
attempt to survey or train in the area embargoed by the organiser
is not allowed. Attempts to gain any information related to the
courses, beyond that provided by the organiser, are not permitted
before and during the competition.
29.6 Team
officials, competitors, media representatives and spectators shall
remain in the areas assigned to them.
29.7
Members of the international Jury and transmitter operators shall
neither disturb nor detain any competitor, nor supply any
information whatsoever. They shall remain quiet, wear
inconspicuous clothing and shall not help competitors approaching
transmitters. This also applies to all other persons in the
terrain.
29.8 A
competitor who breaks any rule, or who benefits from the breaking
of any rule, shall be disqualified.
Appendix
1: Technical
Specifications for Amateur Radio Direction Finding Equipment
1.
Receivers
1.1
Receivers and antennas of any type may be used by the competitors.
1.2
Any receiver producing audible interference in the 3,5 MHz or 144
MHz band at a distance of 10 meters or more shall not be used in
the competitions.
1.3
The International Jury may require tests on any competitor’s
receiver prior to its use in the competitions.
2.
Transmitters
2.1
It is the responsibility of the organising society to ensure that
all transmitters in use comply with the relevant radio regulations
in force in the country of operation with regard to their electric
parameters, identification and to their being operated only by
duly authorised operators.
2.2
All transmitters within one competition shall have the same
parameters and the same antenna installation.
2.3
The frequency of the beacon transmitter shall be significantly
different from the frequency of the other five transmitters.
2.4
When not scheduled to be transmitting, neither transmitter nor its
antenna may radiate any RF energy.
2.5
Antennas shall provide omnidirectional horizontal radiation
patterns.
2.6
Specifications for the 3.5 MHz transmitters:
· Carrier
frequency *
3510 ... 3600 KHz
· Frequency
stability
better than 50 ppm
· Undesired
products level
conforming to the national regulations
· Output
RF power 1
- 5 W
· Mode
A1A (keyed unmodulated carrier)
· Keying
speed 8 ...
12 WPM
· Antenna
vertical
2.7
Specifications for the 144 MHz transmitters:
· Carrier
frequency *
144.5 ... 144.80 MHz
· Frequency
stability
better than 50 ppm
· Undesired
products level
conforming to the national regulations
· Effective
Radiated Power (ERP)
0,25 - 1 W
· Mode
A2A (keyed carrier modulated by AF tone or continuous carrier
modulated by keyed AF tone)
· Modulation
depth 75 +-
5%
· Keying
speed 8 ...
12 WPM
· Antenna
polarisation
horizontal
· Antenna
height 2 ...
3 meters above ground level
Note: ( * ) Carrier frequency
ranges indicated in these Rules are those normally used by IARU
Region I societies. Organizers in other Regions may employ
different ranges to meet their band plan regulations. According to
Part A 7.4 of these Rules transmitter frequencies are to be stated
in bulletin 2, which is to be dispatched 5 months before the
event.
3.
Time-keeping system
3.1
The official competition time shall correspond to the official
local time.
3.2
Two independent time-keeping systems, a primary and a secondary,
shall be used.
3.3
The maximum deviation of the clocks at the start and finish line
is ONE SECOND against the official time during the whole
competition.
3.4
The maximum deviation of the transmitting periods is FIVE SECONDS
against the official time during the whole competition. The
maximum transmitting overlap of two transmitters is FIVE SECONDS.
4.
Other equipment
4.1
Any other equipment used by the organiser (service radio net,
time-keeping system, computers, electronic marking devices etc.)
shall not cause audible interference to competitors’ receivers.
Appendix
2: Principles for course planning
1.
Introduction
1.1
Purpose
These principles aim at
establishing common standards for the planning of ARDF courses in
order to ensure fair competitions and to safeguard the unique
character of ARDF.
1.2
Application of these principles
Courses in all international ARDF
events shall be planned in accordance with these principles. They
should also serve as general guidelines for the planning of other
competitive ARDF events.
2.
Basic principles
2.1
Aim of good course planning
The aim of course planning is to
offer competitors courses correctly designed for their expected
abilities. Results shall reflect the competitors’ technical and
physical ability.
2.2
Siting referee’s golden rules
The siting referee shall keep the
following principles in mind:
· the
unique character of ARDF: the combination of direction finding
under time stress and the physical ability
· the
fairness of the competition
· competitors
enjoyment
· the
protection of wildlife and the environment
· the
needs of the media and spectators
2.2.1 Unique
character
Every sport has its own
character. The unique character of ARDF is to find a number of
transmitters hidden in unknown terrain against the clock. This
demands special skills: handling of the direction finding receiver
and interpreting measurements, accurate map reading, route choice
evaluation, concentration under stress, quick decision making,
running in natural terrain, etc.
2.2.2
Fairness
Fairness is a basic requirement
in competitive sport. Unless the greatest care is taken at each
step of course planning and transmitter placing, luck can easily
become significant in ARDF competitions. The siting referee shall
consider all such factors to ensure that the contest is fair and
that all competitors face the same conditions during every part of
the course.
2.2.3
Competitors enjoyment
The popularity of ARDF can only
be enhanced if competitors are satisfied with the courses they are
given. Careful course planning is therefore necessary to ensure
that courses are appropriate in terms of length, physical and
technical difficulty, transmitters siting, etc. In this respect it
is particularly important that each course is suitable for the
competitors doing that course.
2.2.4
Wildlife and the environment
The environment is sensitive:
wildlife may be disturbed and the ground as well as the vegetation
may suffer from overuse. The environment also includes people
living in the competition area, walls, fences, cultivated land,
buildings and other constructions, etc. It is usually possible to
find ways to avoid interference with the most sensitive areas
without damage. Experience and research have shown that even large
events can be organised in sensitive areas without permanent
damage if the correct precautions are taken and the courses are
well planned.
It is very important that the
siting referee ensures that there is access to the chosen terrain
and that any sensitive areas in the terrain are discovered in
advance.
3.
ARDF course
3.1
Terrain
The terrain shall be chosen so
that a fair competition is being offered to all competitors. To
safeguard the character of the sport, the terrain should be
runnable and suitable for testing the ARDF skills of the
competitors. On a good ARDF course, competitors are forced to
concentrate on navigation throughout the race. Sections requiring
no attention to navigation should be avoided (if possible).
Alternative routes force
competitors to use the map to assess the terrain and to draw
conclusions from it. Route choices make competitors think
independently and will split up the field, thus minimising
”following”. A good course shall disperse the
competitors throughout the competition area and not bring them
together. The transmitters should be intentionally placed and
numbered so that competitors of different categories have
different ”optimum first” transmitters. The direction of the
starting corridor carries also a certain weight in these
considerations.
Courses should not contain route
or transmitter order choices resulting in any advantage or
disadvantage which cannot be foreseen from the receiver or the map
by a competitor under competitive conditions.
Course sections which encourage
competitors to cross the start or finish area or forbidden or
dangerous areas must be avoided.
3.2
Start
The start area should be so
situated and organised that:
· there
is a warm up area and shelter sufficient for all competitors
· waiting
competitors cannot see taking bearings or route choices made by
those who have already started.
The starting point should not be
located in the best part of the competition area – an area
of 1.5 km in diameter around the start cannot be used for
transmitters.
The starting corridors shall be
easy-to-run and clearly marked, especially at their ends and the
following terrain should be open for running.
All transportation from the start
to the finish (garments of competitors, accompanying people) shall
be well organized in order to prevent information transfer in
reverse direction.
3.3
Transmitters
Transmitter sites are the most
important element of an ARDF course and will largely determine its
quality.
It is particularly important that
the map portrays the ground accurately in the vicinity of the
transmitters. There shall be no objects disturbing the
electro-magnetic field and therefore obstructing correct measuring
in the vicinity of the transmitters.
It is necessary to choose
transmitter sites with greatest care. Especially the ‘acute
angle’ effect must be avoided meaning that incoming competitors
will be led into the transmitter site by outgoing runners.
The mechanical performance of the
transmitter, antenna and registering device with a flag shall be
rugged. The transmitter and its accessories shall continue
operation for about eight hours under ANY circumstances. The
antenna of the transmitter shall be properly installed and the
transmitter final stage shall be well tuned into the antenna. The
counterpoises shall be installed in a way that they do not offer
any problems to competitors running over them.
Flags should be positioned
such that competitors may see them when they have reached an
area about ten meters around the transmitter. For fairness, the
visibility of the flag should be the same whether or not there is
a competitor near it.
If transmitters used in
competitions on two bands are being sited too close to each other
they may mislead competitors having navigated correctly to the
area of the wanted transmitter. In these cases, the flags of
particular bands shall be of different colours (eg red/white flags
for 3.5 MHz and orange/white flags for 144 MHz) and shall be
clearly marked with regard to the transmitter number and the
frequency band. If transmitters on different bands have to be
sited closer than 200 m, they shall be installed at the same
place with the two flags about 5 m apart showing competitors
that transmitters for both bands are being installed.
3.4
Finish
The arrangement of the finish
beacon, finish corridor and the whole finish area shall be
distinct, clear and not confusing.
The finish corridor shall be
easy-to-run, as straight as possible and at least 3 m wide. Two
protective zones along both sides of the finishing corridor are
recommended for better visibility and to prevent spectators from
getting into the competitors’ way.
4.
Siting referee
The siting referee should be
fully acquainted with the terrain before he or she starts to plan
the course. The siting referee should also be aware that on the
day of the competition the conditions regarding map and terrain
could be different from those which exist at the time the courses
are planned.
The person responsible for course
planning shall have an understanding and appreciation of the
qualities of a good course gained from personal experience. He or
she shall also be familiar with the theory of course planning and
appreciate the special requirements of different categories.
The siting referee shall be able
to assess, on site, the various factors which can affect the
competition, such as the conditions of the terrain, the conditions
of radio wave propagation, the quality of the map, the presence of
participants and spectators, etc.
The siting referee is responsible
for the courses and the running of the competition between the
start and the finish line. It is strongly recommended that the
siting referee’s work shall be checked by another qualified
referee to avoid errors which might have serious
consequences.
Appendix
3: Approved starting tickets and marking devices
1. The
only automatically approved control registering systems is the
traditional pin punch and starting ticket system.
2. The
starting ticket shall satisfy the following specifications:
· it
shall be made of resistant material and not exceed 7cm * 16 cm in
size,
· each
punch box shall have a minimum side length of 18 mm,
· one
box shall be clearly marked as reserve box,
· the
size of figures in punch boxes shall be at least 12 * 8 mm.
3. The
use of any other control registering system requires prior
approval of the ARDF WG.
Appendix
4: IARU ARDF International Class Referees
1. An
IARU ARDF International Class Referee is an experienced ARDF
official supervising at ARDF events the strict observation of the
Rules.
2. There
are two classes of the IARU ARDF International Class Referees:
· Active
Referees and
· Honorary
Referees
Unless otherwise noted, only
Active Referees are considered in the ARDF Rules.
3. Candidates
for nomination as an IARU ARDF International Class Referees shall
fulfill the following conditions:
· to
be a holder of a valid amateur radio transmitting licence
· to
be a member of an IARU member society
· to
be presented by the ARDF manager of his society
· to
be familiar with ARDF Rules, guidelines and all ARDF WG documents
concerned.
· to
be able to communicate in English
· to
be physically able to serve in the competition terrain
4. Candidates
for nomination as an IARU ARDF International Class Referee shall
be submitted by his or her national member society to the relevant
regional ARDF WG confirming that the candidate fulfills the
conditions listed in paragraph 3. The Chairman of the ARDF
WG shall send the request for nomination (with his comment) to the
relevant regional Executive Committee for final approval. After
approval of the Executive Committee, a written certificate is
issued to the newly appointed referee.
5. The
number of IARU ARDF International Class Active Referees shall not
exceed FIVE per one member society.
6. Any
referee who has not served once as Jury member at
national or international ARDF events organized by the IARU or one
of its societies for five consecutive years, shall be moved
automatically to a Honorary Referee. At the start of every year
the ARDF WG shall update the list of IARU ARDF International Class
Referees, moving – if the case appears – unactive
referees from the list of Active Referees to the Honorary Roster.
Honorary Referees may be turned back to the Active list by request
of his or her society.
7. Societies
having IARU ARDF International Class Referees shall send as
per December 31st a list to the chairman of the ARDF WG
showing the activities of their referees in the year ended.
Appendix
5 : Starting list preparation
At the evening of day one
(arrival day) of a championship the nominations of all competitors
shall be in the hands of the organiser.
To prepare the starting list all
nominations are to be split up into their corresponding categories
and these into one of the following two groups:
categories with up to 40
competitors - in which competitors shall start as singles ;
categories with more than 40
competitors - in which two competitors shall start together ;
Note: When presenting
the list of competitors to the organising society (see part A –
Organisation, para.8.3.) team leaders are requested to indicate
also the starting sequence of the competitors in the categories.
To guarantee fairness and to
avoid any chances of manipulation it is obvious that the
preparation of the starting list becomes of outstanding importance
for any championship. The following balloting procedure has been
designed to fulfill these requirements and organisers shall make
themselves acquainted with the balloting method well in advance of
the event. Although appearing rather complex - especially the
following procedure in written form - organisers will soon gain
experience how to handle the system. Furthermore it is to be
expected that suitable computer software shall be offered shortly
by the ARDF WG.
At larger competitions with many
societies having nominated the maximal number of competitors in
all or nearly all categories the manual procedure to set up the
start-list cannot be carried out keeping all conditions that are
essential.The manual procedure has then to be replaced by a
computer program that fulfills all given conditions.
Balloting procedure to prepare
the starting list for categories with up to 40 competitors:
Note: Categories might be
merged during the balloting process if this does not increase the
number of the starting groups.
Single competitors and those
belonging to teams of two or three have to be spread equally over
the three thirds of the starting period. This is easy for teams of
three: every competitor shall be placed into a different
starting third. Competitors of teams of two and single runners,
however, are to be spread by the following balloting procedure:
Balloting shall start by drawing
lots for the two person teams (alphabetical order of the societies
involved). For this procedure a balloting box has to be filled
with three lots each marked with the number of the corresponding
starting third. Two of these lots shall be drawn for the first two
person team and the two runners shall start in the corresponding
starting thirds. The lot which is still in the box shall be drawn
for the next two person team. As there are no more lots in the box
the three lots shall be replaced into the box and another lot
shall be drawn for the second runner of the second two person
team. The remaining two lots shall be drawn for the third team.
The box shall then be refilled again and balloting continues until
all two person teams have been distributed equally over the three
starting thirds. The same procedure shall be applied to distribute
the single runners.
Now follows the determination of
the starting sequence of this category. Lots carrying the numbers
of their starting thirds (as used before) have to be marked also
with the name of the society they stand for (except all blanks, of
course, which are to be employed in this process as well - see
further below). Three balloting boxes are required - one for each
start third. Into each of these boxes one lot for each runner of a
three person team is to be placed. Also the lots of the balloting
procedure of the teams of two and the single runners must be added
to the corresponding boxes. Eventual unequal numbers of lots in
any of the three boxes must be compensated by blanks. Further
blanks are to be added to every box until the total of lots in
each box corresponds to a third of the starting groups of the
category having the highest number of starting groups in the
championship. There must be a minimum of 27 lots spread over the
three boxes, however, because a society can send up to 27
competitors (3 runners in 9 categories).
For the final preparation of the
starting list please see further below.
Balloting procedure to prepare
the starting list for categories with more than 40 competitors:
Competitors of these categories
have to be split up into “top-runners” and
“other-runners”. To become being selected into the top-runners
list the organiser shall consider the results lists of the last
two ARDF Championships and doing so it will be irrelevant if the
same or another sportsman has been nominated for the category
concerned. Decisive is only the society to whom she or he belongs.
It will be taken for granted that a new sportsman of a certain
society will be as good as his previous colleague.
For ARDF World Championships
top-runners shall be selected on basis of the last two ARDF World
Championships. For Regional Championships the results of the last
two Regional Championships shall be considered.
Considering the results of the
two 3,5 MHz and the two 144MHz competitions of the last two
championships and starting with position no. 1 and working down
from top to bottom the organiser shall note separately for every
category all those societies which have had runners in top
positions. All competitors (of a certain category) nominated by
these societies shall then be listed as “top runners” until
reaching at least 50% of the total number of
competitors in this category. For this procedure it shall be
irrelevant if these societies have nominated teams of three or two
or single runners. The other competitors of this
category shall be listed as “other runners”.
If the results lists of the
last two championships do not yield 50% “top-runners“
competitors from the remaining societies should be considered. The
sequence of the societies shall be in alphabetical order.
The introduction of the new
categories requires during a transition period the following
adaption when selecting “top-runners“:
WOM =>W19, W21, W35, W50
JUN => M19
SEN => M21
OT => M40, M50
VET=> M60
As for categories with less
than 40 participants follows now the preparation of the two
independent balloting procedures for “top-runners” and
“other-runners”. First teams of two and single runners shall
be distributed equally over the three start thirds. Then to each
box of the three thirds an equal number of runners of the three
person teams has to be added (not to forget eventual blanks) and
finally the lots shall be drawn - as described below - to
determine the starting sequence of the “top-runners” of this
category. Nearly the same procedure shall be applied to
establish the starting sequence of the “other-runners”.
However, before drawing, the blanks have to be placed into those
start groups which are already filled with blanks of the top
runners of the same category. Then the lots of the "other
runners" are being drawn and distributed over the various
start groups.
Final preparation of the
starting list: lots
resulting from the previous balloting procedures for each category
and each starting third have been placed already into boxes - one
for each starting third and category. Drawing one lot after the
other and starting with box number 1 (and starting e.g. with the
seniors category) the organiser sets up the starting list for this
category. If the first third has been finished, starting thirds
two and three shall follow. If by changing from one box to the
next the last drawn society and the one drawn out of the new box
are the same, the lot drawn last shall be placed one start group
later and the empty space be filled by the following lot. A
similar procedure applies if two runners of the same society
should have been drawn for the same start group (within different
categories, of course). If placing of such a lot into the next
later start group should be impossible (because the following
group(s) is/are being filled already with this very society for
other categories) that lot shall be placed at the first possible
location in exchange for a lot that might be in this position. If
a replaced lot should also not fit the exchange process has to
continue and in case this should occur at the end of a starting
third, the exchange process has to return to the start of this
third only.
After all lots of the first
category have been drawn and their starting positions been marked
balloting must continue for the other categories under the same
conditions as mentioned before until the starting list is set up
completely.
If arranged in a suitable way the
drawing procedure as mentioned above offers excellent opportunity
for media and public attention. The best time for drawing would be
the morning of the day after arrival. Studying the results lists
of the last two earlier championships well befor this day the
organiser has ample time to prepare all that is required to finish
this spectacular procedure within a reasonable time. Supervised by
one or several Jury members the lots being drawn - carrying so far
only the names of the societies - could be fixed on a large board
(or any other suitable display) visible to all present. As the
inscription of all participants has been finished by now the
organiser should have at his disposal a name-list of all
competitors with indications of their team leaders in which sequence
their runners should start. So each lot on the board shall be
marked with the name of the corresponding competitor and the
organiser can enter all details into his computer system to print
the start list for immediate distribution.
Although spectacular, it is
obvious that a manual balloting procedure will consume a certain
time span (two to three hours should be considered). So if the
organiser should prefer to employ an electronical balloting
procedure he shall obtain permission by the chairman of the ARDF
Working Group as early as possible but not later than three months
before the start of the championship indicating at the same
time the software that is to be applied.
Any computer program must
perform the same conditions as the manual balloting procedure.
Improvements considering the balloting procedure as such are
permitted.
The permission by the chaiman
shall be granted only if a) the organiser intends to use an
approved software for the balloting process, or b) the
organiser obtains approval for his own software.
To obtain approval of any
balloting software, this software together with description and
documentation of the algorithms used has to be sent to the
chairman of the ARDF WG at least six months before the
championship. The software shall be tested and having been
passed the software becomes “approved software for balloting in
ARDF Championships”. Such software shall be added to a software
pool and becomes public domain for use at International
Championships.
An electronical balloting
procedure shall be carried out on a computer determined by
the ARDF WG Chairman. The organising society shall present the
list of all participants. The result lists of the last two
championships shall be supplied by the chairman.
Appendix
6: Rules for Youth Regional ARDF Championships
These Rules are based on the
Rules for Championships in Amateur Radio Direction Finding. The
points as stated below replace equally numbered points of part A
and B of the Rules.
Y1.6 A
Youth Regional ARDF Championship is the event to award the title
of Youth Regional Champion in ARDF. A Youth Regional ARDF
Championship is organised by an amateur radio society authorised
by its corresponding IARU Organisation.
Y3.1 A
Youth Regional ARDF Championship is an annual event.
Y4.3
Application sheets are to be received by the Chairman of the ARDF
WG not later than January 31st two years prior to the year of the
Championship.
Y5.4 Each
society may enter two teams in each category and a number of team
officials. The organiser shall fix the maximum number of officials
per team, in accordance with the available facilities. This
maximum number shall be the same for each team and shall be at
least 5.
Y5.5 Not
valid at Youth Regional ARDF Championships.
Y6.4 Not
valid at Youth Regional ARDF Championships.
Y9.1 The
International Jury for Youth Regional ARDF Championships shall
consist of the following members:
· Chairman
of the Jury
· Secretary
of the Jury
· Siting
referee
· representative
of each participating society
Y9.2 The
Chairman of the Jury at a Youth Regional ARDF Championship shall
be an ARDF International Class Referee authorised by the relevant
regional ARDF WG.
Y9.3 The
referees in the competition area, at start and finish and
the siting referee shall be experienced referees provided by the
organising society.
Y9.4 The
names of the members of the International Jury shall be recorded
and announced at the first Jury meeting at the Championship at the
latest.
Y14.2.
Categories:
|
Women
(W)
|
Men
(M)
|
Age
|
|
W
15
|
M
15
|
15
and younger
|
|
Y14.3
Competitors belong to the M15 or W15 category up to the end of the
calendar year in which they reach the age of 15.
Y14.6 Each society may enter
two teams of up to three competitors per each category.
Y19.3
Transmitters including the finish beacon shall be located not less
than 400 meters apart. The transmitter nearest to the start shall
be located not less than 500 meters from the start.
Y19.4 Course lengths shall
be given as the length of a straight line from the start line via
the transmitters in optimum order to the finish line. They should
range from THREE to FIVE kilometers for the D15 category and
FOUR to SIX kilometers for the M15 category. The number of
transmitters which are to be searched for shall not exceed the
length of the course in kilometers.
Y25.6
Transmitters shall be searched for by each category as follows:
· M15
category shall search for three to all five transmitters.
· W15
category shall search for three to four transmitters.
The transmitters which are not to be searched for are determined
by the siting referee.
Y24.3 The following
information shall be shown on a special board at the start area:
· time
limit
· transmitter
frequencies
· starting
list
· first
start time (in local time)
· sample
of the flag and marking device
· clock
showing the official time of the competition
· transmitters
to be searched for by particular categories.
Y25.14
All transmitters shall be guarded. |