dibber or die !!

[Jennings]

This exists with SI. At the prestart in orienteering there is a check box. This serves three purposes
- If you have not cleared your dibber the check box will not respond
- It ensures that no one starts before their alloted time , useful for interval starts in orienteering / mountain navigation races
- But it also gives an accurate list of everyone who went through the start. After the last start the box can be taken to the computer and downloaded.

When the box gets back from the first check point, you download it, the software then gives you your list of missing runners.
You can do the same with each checkpoint box. You are, as with paper based system, waiting for the marshalls to return. You can get round this radio based units - though I am not sure how succesful they are over several miles with big hills in the way.