1. A timing system including: a glyph associated with an object to be timed; at least one camera for capturing images of the glyph or associated object; a computer that: generates a virtual line; associates the virtual line with at least one of the images; and determines when the glyph or associated object intersects, crosses or has crossed the virtual line; and a database that records the identity of the glyph and the time that the glyph or associated object intersected or crossed the virtual line