Road / Cross Country Results Recorder¶
When organising smaller Road or Cross Country races without chip timing, you need a quick and easy way to get the times and places recorded, and then onto the web. The recorder function makes it really easy to take times and places, for any XC or Road race which using a traditional finish funnel.
Our software emulates the very careful processes used at British cross country races such as County championships, or the Surrey Cross Country League. It has been used very successfully at races with hundreds of finishers.
For reliable recording, we recommend having two timekeepers at the funnel entrance. It works well to have one using our screen or another timing app, and a second with pen and paper. At the funnel exit, likewise, two independent recorders note bib numbers - one on app and one on paper.
Shortly after the race, the captured series can be aligned side by side in a spreadsheet, manual corrections made if needed, then a series of bibs and times can be pasted into the results grid
Types of Recording:¶
There are four main modes:
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Solo Recording - This mode is ideal for small races, where you only have one volunteer to take down times and positions. It's a good training exercise before using the other two modes.
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Timekeeper mode - This emulates the traditional timekeeper at the funnel entrance, where you won't have time to type each bib number down before the athlete crosses the line. As with paper and clipboard, you can (and should) record the occasional bib number when there is a long enough gap between runners.
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Recorder mode - This is for the person at the end of the funnel, when athletes are walking out of the back. We assume you can record 100% of the bib numbers, although (since they finished up to 30 seconds earlier) the times are disregarded.
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Splits mode - This is for someone "out on the course". For example, at the halfway point, they might record the first few runners to help spectators know what's happening; and/or record the last runners and "back markers", to know who is in last place and whether anyone is missing.
Pre-Race Setup¶
Giving Recorders Access¶
Everyone recording will need either Recorder access, or a higher level of access like Director.
To invite recorders who don't already have access, use the Officials management screen.
Funnel Setup¶
Before your race starts, you need a finish funnel starting at the finish line that guides the athletes away from the race course, the length and width of which depends on the number of athletes you have running and how many will be finishing simultaneously.
Your timekeeper(s) will stand at the finish line, and take each athlete's time as they cross the finish line. They won't have their place taken until they pass the recorder at the end of the funnel, so it's very important you ensure they stay in their finish order.
Starting the Race¶
Navigate to the event within your competition you wish to record for.
Click RECORD and select the correct recorder type.
If you're a solo recorder or timekeeper, you'll need to hit the green BANG! button to start the clock when the race begins.
If you miss the start of the race, you can check someone else's watch and add an offset in to correct the clock, before you click BANG!.
For example, you can wait until the time reaches 10 minutes, then synchronize clocks.
Once you've started the race, click RECORD to get ready for the winner and all subsequent athletes to cross the finish line.
Recording Results¶
Solo Recording¶
As you see an athlete approaching the finish line, type in their bib number and then click the CLOCK button as they cross the finish line to record their time.
Repeat this step for each athlete who approaches and crosses the line.
If you have too many athletes approaching the line, and you don't have time to type in the bib number, click the UNKNOWN athlete button, and note down the bib numbers to add to the results later.
If you're about to have a large number of athletes cross the line at once, click the CROWD button, which will mark a ** in the results to indicate a group finishing together. This will mark where you need to add the missed athletes in later. If this happens too often, you probably shouldn't be working solo!
Timekeepers¶
This role is very similar to the solo recorder, but only needs you to click the CLOCK button to record each athletes' time. You can also click the CROWD button if multiple athletes all cross at once.
You will notice you have a keypad, like the a solo recorder has, to allow you to type the odd bib number in before the athlete crosses the line. While this is not required, it can be very useful when processing results as it will give a few points of reference to help align the results, in case you or the recorder missed an athlete.
Recorders¶
Recorders stand at the end of the finish funnel, type in each athletes bib number, and click the TICK to confirm the bib number.
Once all athletes have crossed the finish line, click DONE and then confirm your selection.
You then will be able to click the green TICK to upload your results.
Clicking the FINISH RACE button will conclude the recording.
Uploading Results¶
Solo Recording or a Timekeeper and Recorder:¶
Once all the athletes have finished and been recorded, click DONE, and then confirm your selection.
You then will be able to click the green TICK to upload your results.
Clicking the FINISH RACE button will conclude your recording.
Multiple Timekeepers and Recorders¶
Documentation coming soon
Publishing Results¶
After finishing the processes outlined above, the results will be published on OpenTrack.
You can edit the results to make any corrections by clicking EDIT RESULTS.
Once you're happy that your results are correct, you can mark them as official.
