The new PreO Sprint format is the equivalent of a “middle distance” orienteering event. PreO Sprint is a fast format with a focus on accurate decisions. Course length and decision times are much shorter than a classic PreO, but the number of correct decisions is still the primary classifier. Making fast decisions on whether a flag is in the correct position or not is also rewarded as the tiebreaker. The format removes time and personnel-intensive timed control stations and is thus comparably easy to organise. Handicap factors compensate for additional time needed to complete the course for competitors with P class eligibility.
After an ~18 months trial period, in which PreO sprint competitions have been held alongside the classic PreO and TempO formats at WRE weekends and national competitions, feedback from organisers and competitors has been incorporated into the 2025 TrailO Rules and Technical Specifications. The format is relatively easy to organise and popular with competitors. We are encouraging organisers to offer PreO Sprint events as World Ranking Events from June 2025. Applications for 2025 events will be considered outside of the usual application cycle. Because Eventor does not currently offer PreO Sprint as an option when applying for a WRE, organisers are requested to select PreO from the format list, but include PreO Sprint in the event title and the comments field.
A revised formula to calculate World Ranking points to apply for both PreO and PreO Sprint has been developed, which will consider the tiebreaker time from timed controls in PreO and handicap-adjusted total course time in PreO Sprint relative to the average time from all competitors. A world ranking list will be calculated separately for each TrailO format (PreO, PreO Sprint and TempO) over a 24 months period. The new world ranking calculation will come into effect on 1st July 2025.
A possible integration of PreO Sprint into the competition programme of major championships is not currently planned and will be considered at a later stage. PreO Sprint offers opportunities for the development of simple electronic devices to record binary answers from competitors that can be followed live by spectators.
For more details, see appendix 6 in the 2025 TrailO Rules and section 7.4 in the latest version of the Technical Guidelines which can be found here: https://orienteering.sport/trailo/internal/event-organising/organise-trailo-events/