1. Duty Of Care
a. Before going out on the course all competitors must report to the Registration Desk (so that we know who is out on the course).
b. On completing the course all competitors must again report to the Registration Desk (so that search parties are not sent out!)
2. Courses
Competitors will ride either the "All-Score Course" or the "Line-Score Course".
a. The All-Score Course is a 75 minute score course, (i.e. competitors visit as many controls as they can, in any order, in 75 minutes).
b. The Line-Score Course is also a 75 minute course but with the restriction that a line course must be completed before the score component begins, (i.e. competitors begin by visiting a list of controls in the set order, after which they use the remaining time to visit as many of the other controls as they can.)
On both courses, controls will be valued either 1, 2 or 3 points as indicated by the colour of the control on the map, Green - 1 point, Yellow - 2 points and Pink - 3 points.
3. Categories
a. Individual competitors (over the age of 14) will compete in one of the following categories:
• All-Score Men
• All-Score Women
• Line-Score Men
• Line-Score Women
• All-Score EBike
b. Groups of two or more (one of whom has to be over the age of 14) must compete in the Team category. Teams are to stay together (i.e. within sight of each other) at all times while competing. Teams will ride the All-Score Course
4. Preparation Time
a. Competitors riding the All-Score Course will receive their map upon registering their attendance at the Registration Desk.
b. Competitors riding the Line-Score Course will receive their map at the start line, 2 minutes before their start time.
5. On The Course
a. You and your bike must stay together at all times.
b. You are permitted to ride on:
• Mapped roads and tracks
• Areas designated on the map as "rideable open land".
• Areas designated on the map as "rideable open land with trees".
• Areas designated on the map as "rideable open forest".
c. You are not permitted to ride on:
• Areas designated on the map as "out of bounds".
• Areas designated on the map as "temporarily out of bounds".
• Areas designated on the map as "open forest".
• Areas designated on the map as "slow forest".
• Areas designated on the map as "rough open land".
Competitors found riding through areas that are not permitted may be disqualified. (And remember that competitor’s tracks can easily be viewed via MapRun!). For more information on where you can and can't ride during a BOSS event see ????.
6. Technology
a. It is the competitor’s responsibility to make sure that their technology is charged and working.
b. It is the competitor's responsibility to make sure that they upload their ride to MapRun (preferably before they leave the event and definitely before 1pm on the day of the event).
7. Individual Event Scoring
a. A competitor's score in the event is found by summing the values of the controls visited and then subtracting any relevant penalties or adding any bonuses. (See b., c. and d. below)
b. If a competitor comes back over 75 minutes a "late penalty" is incurred. The penalty is 1 point for every minute, or part thereof, over the 75 minutes down to a score of 1 point.
c. If a competitor visits all controls within 75 minutes then an "early bonus" is earned. The bonus is 1 point for every full minute under the 75 minutes.
d. On the Line-Score Course, if
• One of the line controls is missed or punched out of order then a penalty is incurred. The penalty is half of the value of the line controls.
• Two or more of the line controls are missed or punched out of order then the competitor is deemed to have "mispunched" and scores just 1 point.
e. Placings are determined by (in order):
• The largest number of points scored.
• The least number of penalties incurred.
• The least time taken.
8. Series Scoring
a. The BOSS series will consist of six events.
b. A competitor’s best four results from these events will be tallied to produce an overall series total. (Course setters will receive an average of their best three results for the event they set).
c. Individual scores for each event will be normalised by converting them to be a percentage of the winners score.
9. More Duty of Care
a. All competitors must wear a helmet at all times before, during and after the event whilst on their bike.
b. All competitors must obey normal road rules and ensure that their bike is in safe working order.
c. In entering an orienteering event, competitors recognise that the activity has certain inherent risks due to its conduct in the urban and natural environments. Included in these risks are injury due to rough terrain and obstacles and the effects of heat, cold and exhaustion. Competitors are also aware that there is no personal accident insurance on their participation in the sport and that they take part at their own risk. The Full Policy is available here
10. MTBO Rules
For further general rules relating to MTBO see Orienteering Australia - Competition Rules for MTBO - April 2023.