SPORTident electronic punching will be used for the 6-Days with mixed SI punching. Competitors with a traditional SI card will dib in the ordinary way, but those orienteers that own or hire a SIAC will be able to use it contactlessly.

There will be a charge of £1 per day to hire an SI card. The charge for a lost SI card is £35.

A limited number of SIAC cards are available at a charge of £2.50 per day entered. The charge for a lost SIAC card will be £75.

There will be free (follow-the-) String and Off-String courses available each day.

For insurance purposes, all String course participants must be registered. If a child is already registered for an age class course or a colour coded course, they do not have to be separately registered to take part in the String Course.

Race numbers (bibs) and hired SI Cards must be collected prior to your first run.

You can either collect them on the Saturday at the Event Centre in Ballater or at the Information Tent on the day of your first run. Bring your own safety pins to attach the race numbers to your top.

Race bibs are compulsory: NO bib, NO run.

Start times for Days 1-5 will run from 10:00 until 14:00.

Start times for the Sprint Event will run from 10:30 until 13:30.

There will be no allocated start times for the colour-coded courses. Competitors on colour-coded courses will have an open start time.

The elite classes – M21E and W21E – will have seeded starts on the two World Ranking Event days (Thursday 31st July and Friday 1st August).

We sincerely apologise for the issues with our new self-select start times system.

This initiative was introduced with the best of intentions – to give you more flexibility and reduce a full-time week of volunteer time required each July to understand and process individual start time requests, for example for orienteers with shared childcare needs, and for parents walking children to their starts before heading to their own.

Unfortunately, the system provided by our entry platform was much later to arrive than we had hoped and experienced significant technical problems over the weekend when a small number of entrants were given the chance to use the system. While they were still implementing fixes on Monday morning, we took the decision not to risk further disruption to your race experience. We understand this may cause inconvenience and frustration.

We will therefore revert to pre-allocated start times this year. Unfortunately, any start times already chosen will be discarded.

Amendments which affect the course/class entered and are within the same price band may be made free of charge up to 30th June 2025; otherwise the difference between the two prices will be charged (but not refunded if it is less). Changes to personal details may also be made – most changes that don’t impact the price of the entry can be made online using the links in your booking confirmation email. If you are unable to action the change yourself please contact the Entry Secretary.

After 30th June 2025 neither new entries nor changes to age-class courses will not be possible. Changes to SI card number will remain free unless it includes hiring an SI dibber when the hire fee will be charged.

Competitors may cancel their entry before the 31st May 2025 and will be given a full refund, less a small administration charge. Cancellations may be made up until 30th June 2025 for a 50% refund less and administration charge. We regret that no refunds of entry fees will be possible after this date.

Merchandise may only be ordered, amended or cancelled up until 30th April 2025. Any cancellations will incur an administration charge. Merchandise will be available for collection at the event centre or at the event.

O-tops and buffs can be cancelled online for a full refund less an admin fee up to 30th April.

Although we are confident that the event will go ahead, we recognise that there is always a possibility that Deeside 2025 event will have to be cancelled. In that event competitors are entitled to a full refund of the entry fee less the administration charge.

The Scottish 6 Day Company can take no responsibility for the costs of accommodation or travel booked.

We expect that dogs will be permitted in the parking areas and arenas provided they are under control, on a lead and cleared up after. We are in the process of confirming this position with the landowners.

Please note that some attendees are scared of dogs (or your dog may be scared of some attendees or other dogs) – please be considerate of others and your dogs while at the event.

This year there is no remote parking. Each parking field will be within a short walking distance of the arena. There will be a designated motorhome and campervan parking “zone” within each parking field.

Motorhome and campervan owners should however be aware that in the event of adverse weather which affects the parking areas – we will monitor the continuing suitability of the designated parking area for these vehicles, in case alternatives have to be considered.

Competitors accept the hazards associated with participating in the event, and that they take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.

All participants are covered for public liability by British Orienteering.

Other than the organiser’s liability for causing death or personal injury by negligence, Event Officials will not accept liability for any injury, accident, loss or damage to the competitor or their property that may arise before, during or after the event as a consequence of participation in the event.

Participants should ensure that they have their own personal injury cover if required.

Scottish Orienteering follows the British Orienteering Policy.

In terms of this competition:-

• The results will distinguish between male and female sex categories.
• Individuals are free to self-identify their sex when entering the event without a requirement for further evidence.
• The male category in all age classes is open to all without restriction.
• Individuals will be eligible to compete in the female category in all age classes if and only if they are eligible to compete in the female category under the IOF Transgender Policy. Any trans individual who is not eligible to compete in the female category under the IOF Transgender Policy may nevertheless participate in that category, but must declare themselves to be non-competitive.
• Any competitor wishing to enter W21E and affected by this policy should seek clarification and, if necessary, permission to compete from the IOF office.