Safety Policy

  • Orienteering is an adventure sport – you are primarily responsible for your own safety when taking part in this event and take part at your own risk. Competitors are reminded that orienteering takes place on rough, uneven, slippery terrain, may involve steep ascents and descents, and routes can be in close proximity to cliffs.
  • The safety of other competitors is more important than your own run – if you realise that a fellow competitor is in difficulty then please assist them.
  • In view of the exposed nature of the terrain, it is recommended that all competitors carry a whistle. Whistles will be on sale in the Event Centre. The internationally recognised distress signal is 6 blasts of the whistle with a 1 minute break and then repeated. The reply is 3 blasts with the same pause.
  • Full leg  covering is recommended for all three days.
  • Parents are advised that there are several log stacks near the Day 1 Assembly Area. These are dangerous and children should not be allowed to play near or climb on these stacks.
  • Competitors are reminded that weather conditions at the time you start are no guarantee of the conditions later on. The prevailing weather at the start will often be different to the weather encountered on the course.
  • A decision on rain jackets (cagoules) will be taken on the morning of the event based on the prevailing weather conditions. In the event of bad weather a notice as to whether rain jackets must be carried will be on display in the assembly area. Competitors will be disqualified if they do not have their rain jacket at the finish.
  • The Country Code must be observed at all times. The Leave No Trace principles must be observed at all times.
  • All starters will be recorded by a start official. All finishers will be recorded by an electronic timing system – if you do not report to the download station you will be assumed to be lost or injured and the event’s rescue procedures will be invoked. You may be liable for the cost of an unnecessary search. Therefore you must go to the download, even if you decide to retire from the course.
  • Ajax Orienteering Club will maintain an incident log at the event.
  • Local Gardaí and Mountain Rescue will be informed that the event is taking place. Any search and rescue operation will be coordinated by Mountain Rescue.
  • There will be a paramedic at the assembly area on all three days.
  • Ajax reserves the right to refuse to allow any competitor to start and to ask any competitor to retire from the event immediately.