LBJ Dillo-Goat 2025
Date: Sat, Jan. 25, 2025
Location: LBJ Grasslands, Tadra Trailhead, Decatur (Map)
What on earth is a “Dillo-goat?” It’s our Texas-flavored version of a fun orienteering race typically called a Billygoat. In a Billygoat race:
- There’s a mass start.
- Following is allowed — encouraged, even!
- You’re allowed to skip any ONE control you wish on any course.
- First one across the finish line on each course wins.
This is what we call a barebones event: No awards, no start times. Just fun with a map. We will use EPUNCH, however.
Warning: The location of this event at LBJ National Grasslands is gnarlier and more “natural” than any of the city parks and camps used for NTOA events. Full O gear (i.e., leg protection, long sleeves) is recommended. There are few fences, and it’s easy to wander off the map. We will have a Yellow course, but it will be a challenging one. There will be no beginners clinic, and any first-timers MUST go with an experienced orienteer. The meet director reserves the right to reject any registration entries or to disallow the participation of any entrants not known to have the necessary skills and experience.
General Info
Event Officials
Meet Director & Course Setter: Ray Janes & Gene Wernette | Meet Director & Course Setter notes to come (PDF)
Courses:
Yellow: Short beginner/intermediate -- longer and more challenging than a typical Yellow course.
Brown: Short advanced
Red: Long advanced
See a detailed description of each class.
Classes: No awards = No classes! Just do it.
Scoring: E-punch is required for all courses. If you own one, enter your e-punch number when you register. Otherwise, you can rent one from us for $3.
Schedule
Please be sure to check this website, the NTOA Facebook Page or Group for last-minute schedule changes. We hold events rain or shine.
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 9:00–9:30 am | Registration open |
| 9:45 am | Pre-race briefing |
| 10:00 am | Mass start! |
| 1:00 pm | Everyone MUST be back |
Event Fees & Registration
Everyone:
We’ll keep this simple: $5/person, $3 for epunch rental if needed. No day-of-race registration is permitted — it’s too far out of the way to show up on a whim anyway. Registration closes Thursday afternoon before the event. Questions about registration? Contact the NTOA Registrar. For questions on other event matters, contact the Meet Director (listed above). Note: There is no Team Registration for a Billygoat event, since anyone and everyone can work together if they choose.
Pre-Registration will open about 2 weeks before the event.
INDIVIDUALS & COMPETITIVE TEAMS
Enter 1 individual (competitive or not) or competitive team at a time.
LARGE GROUPS
Enter 1-20 individuals from the same group (e.g., school, club, Scout group, JROTC unit).
Street address: Fs 904, Alvord, TX 76225
This is a trickier venue to find than most — consider that your first navigational challenge of the day!
From Dallas/Denton: Exit I-35N at US 380 (University Drive). West on US 380 to Decatur. Exit US 380 just after the railroad overpass in Decatur. Head north on Farm to Market (FM) Road 730. Follow directions at bottom to get to the LBJ North Map from FM 730.
From Ft. Worth: North on US 287 to Decatur. East on US 380. Left exit in 1 mile on FM 730. Head north on FM 730. Follow directions below to get to the LBJ North Map from FM 730.
Once on FM730, heading north:
- Turn left on FM 2360. NOTE: FM 2360 connects to FM 730 at two places. There are brown road signs on FM 730 at both turn offs to Black Creek Lake. If you take the first left onto FM 2360, you will soon be heading north. This route is more direct, but has more gravel road (3.75 miles). If you take the second left onto FM 2360, you will be heading west. This route is less direct, but has less gravel road (2.0 miles). The second left is the recommended route and will have NTOA signs at each turn. (Thanks, Ralph!)
- Go west on FM 2372 / Claborn Rd.
- North on FM 2461 / Portwood Rd. (towards Black Creek Lake)
- Go straight past the next Black Creek Lake sign (don’t turn left). NOTE: in previous years, we met at Black Creek Lake, but not any more.
- Continue heading north on FM 2461.
- Go west (left) on FS 904 towards Tadra Pt. trailhead (i.e. West at the ranch house, crossing the cattle guard)
- Continue following this road until you reach the meet headquarters. Turn right turn at Tadra Pt. sign and follow it to Tadra Point. We will be using a dead-end road to the west just before entering Tadra Point.