Saturday, 22st February (Afternoon)
PreO Sprint Presentation
It has now been eleven years since the first Foot Orienteering event in Satão and Aguiar da Beira.
The Ori-Estarreja club has been promoting the Orienteering sport here ever since, also TrailO competitions, mainly organized in the dunes near Gafanhas and Mira.
Now, it’s time to bring together all the expertise gathered over these years in TrailO and take it to the terrains of ABOM 2025 and to a new level.
Photo – WTOC 2023 – Dan Dvoracek
Several months ago, a visit to Quinta das Lameiras provided the opportunity to select a small piece of terrain ideal for a PreO competition. The mapping skills of Tiago Aires turned this idea into reality.
With a tight schedule and an expected high number of participants, we decided to plan and prepare a PreO Sprint for ABOM 2025, the IOF’s most recent approved format focused on fast decision-making and precise map reading.
A group of Trail Orienteers from Ori-Estarreja, ranging from beginners to Portuguese team members have been working on the terrain to make this stage as challenging as possible. They’ve been placing flags, selecting the best viewpoints, and ensuring the course is demanding yet readable for competition day.
We hope the effort we’ve put into this event will make it appealing to everyone.
After all, it’s all a matter of Alphas and Zeros. Will the flag be in the right place—or not?
Map Specifications
- Map – Quinta das Lameiras PreO
- Mapping
- Tiago Aires (December 2024)
- Map Specification
- ISSprOM 2019-2
- Uncrossable Cliff (201) drawn without tags
- Passable Rock Face (202) drawn without tags
- Contour interval
- 2,5 meters
- Scale
- 1:4000
Terrain and Visibility
- The forest is predominantly covered with pine trees (Pinus pinaster). In some areas, you can find deciduous trees, such as chestnut (Castanea sativa) and oak (Quercus).
- The terrain features moderate to steep climbs, and large areas of bare rock are present. Many rock formations, including boulders and cliffs, are found throughout.
- Some undergrowth and dense vegetation can frequently be encountered.
- Landforms have been thoroughly detailed.
- Visibility along the course is generally good.
- While some pine trees may occasionally obstruct distant views, stepping sideways just a meter or two is usually enough to regain long-range visibility.
[NEW] Before the Competition
We strongly advise all athletes to arrive at the PreO start area at least 15 minutes before their start time.
This means you should leave the ABOM 2025 Arena no later than 30 minutes before your start time.
Do not forget your SI Card and compass.
You may bring a small backpack, which must be left with the organisers at the START.
The backpack will be returned to you after the course, at the FINISH.
To the athletes, no electronic devices, such as mobile phones or cameras, are allowed in the competition area, even if switched off.
GPS watches without mapping features may only be used for timekeeping purposes.
Use your backpack to store any prohibited devices to avoid disqualification.
Competition Format
The competition format is PreO Sprint, and the course will consist solely of A challenges.
NOTE: An A challenge is solved by answering Alpha (if the flag is correctly placed on the terrain, at the center of the control circle on the map) or Zero (if the flag is misplaced).
The course is set on an asphalt road and a hard-surface track, with a slight descent from start to finish.
Walking back or turning in a wheelchair is easy, as the road and track are fully wheelchair-accessible. However, assistance can be provided if needed.
The competition map sheet is A4+ sized, in landscape format, featuring two maps side by side to prevent control circle overlap. The control point numbering on each map does not follow a specific order but is arranged to optimise readability.
Viewing points for control points are sequentially numbered along the course and located on both sides of the road from the start. The finish is positioned alongside the track, near the last control viewing point.
Control punching will be carried out using SportIdent cards. At each control viewing point, two SI stations will be available on the opposite side of the road or track to ensure proper control punching. For each control point, two SI Stations identified with label A or Z will be available.
[NEW] The SI stations are configured with AIR+ functionality disabled. It is not possible to punch simply by passing the SIAC over an SI station. Those using a SIAC must punch in the traditional way (contact punch).
[NEW] If the SI fails, there is a mini control card on the map with slots for three control points, each with A or Z answers. For each control point, between the A and Z SI stations, an orienteering punch is available.
In exceptional cases where it is not possible to place the stations directly opposite the viewing point, they will be positioned on the same side of the road or track. In these situations, marking tape will be used to help identify the correct stations.
[NEW] The course time is measured using manual punching at the START and FINISH stations. The course clock is for reference only.
[NEW] The FINISH station is located inside the competition area, near the track (on your left-hand side), after the viewing point for control 21. Please note that the viewing points and stations for controls 22 and 23 are a few metres ahead.
[NEW] After punching at the FINISH station, return immediately to the road and exit the competition area by following the road downhill.
ABOM 2025 PreO Sprint follows IOF PreO Sprint specifications (see Remark below for an exception) and guidelines for elite TrailO competitions.
[NEW] After the Competition
After heading down the road and exiting the competition area for about 100 metres, you must download your SI card and collect your backpack.
It is forbidden to return to the ABOM Arena by passing through the competition area. Instead, you should continue downhill for about 500 metres (to the cemetery car park), where a van will take you back to the Arena.
Two vans will start operating at 16:00. Please wait if necessary, as the vans will run continuously back and forth.
- Course Setting – Nuno Pires
- Field Planning Helpers – Ricardo Silva & André Pedrosa
- Technical Consultant- Daniel Silva
- Map Fine Tuning – Rafael Miguel
- POF Event Advisor – Luis Miguel Nóbrega
- Starts
- Distance from the ABOM 2025 Arena – around 1km (15 minute easy walk)
- First Start – 15h00
- Start Interval – 1 minute
- The organization will strive to optimise the athletes’ start times for the Long Distance race, ensuring they have enough time to complete the course, recover, have a meal, and arrive for the PreO Sprint start in time.
Course – Technical Information
- Course Lenght
- 300 meters (See Remark)
- Course Controls
- 23 control points (See Remark)
- Maximum Allowed Time
- Open Class – 33 minutes (See Remark)
- P-Class (walkers) – 37 minutes
- P-Class (wheelchairs) – 42 minutes
Remark:
The course setter requested additional time and an increased control allowance to enable all planned controls to be included in the competition.
Although the IOF PreO Sprint specifications limit a 300-meter course to a maximum of 20 control points within a 30-minute time limit, the Event Advisor approved a rule deviation and validated the course with 20 controls plus 3 additional ones in the terrain.
Due to the high quality of the terrain, map, and planned challenges, it was difficult to remove three controls from the course. Therefore, the course will be set up as described above.
At the time of this publication, no P-Class entries have been registered. If any are received before the competition day, the P-Class time limit for walkers and wheelchair athletes will be applied as stated.