What is an SI-card?

SPORTident Timing

The SPORTident electronic timing system is used at many sporting and corporate events throughout the UK to provide innovative timing and scoring solutions. Almost every orienteering event uses electronic timing to confirm that each competitor has visited all the checkpoints. The SPORTident system is also used in the UK by most adventure races, mountain marathons and mountain bike orienteering events.

How Does SPORTident Work?

A small electronic station about half the size of a brick is placed at every checkpoint. Each competitor carries an SI-Card attached loosely to the wrist using a tamperproof wriststrap. Time and location visited are registered on the SI-Card by dipping the tip of the card into a cylindrical hole in the checkpoint station. You should see a visible flash and hear an audible beep, which confirms that the location and time of punching have been recorded on your SI-Card.

When you start the event you need to dip your SI-Card in the start box. At each checkpoint you do the same. At the finish you also dip your SI-Card.

After you have finished, proceed (under no time pressure) to the download station where we will dip the SI-Card, cut it off your wrist (after the final stage of a multi-stage/day event) and provide you with a printout showing the following information:

List of checkpoints in order visited and time of punching
Start, finish and elapse time

Purchase an SI-Card

Most events that use the SPORTident system hire SI-Cards from SPORTident UK. This hire charge is in turn passed on to the competitor. To avoid this charge you can purchase an SI-Card for as little as £18 and use it at Ace Races and many other future events. The memory chip in the card carries a 5 year warranty. To make a purchase, please visit www.sportident.co.uk.