Broxburn Urban Race, SOUL

Urban event in the 2020 Scottish Orienteering Urban League (SOUL)

Sun 02nd Feb 2020

Info updated: 02nd Feb
Type of event: Regional
Type of terrain: Urban

Results

Results are here

Winsplits are here

SOUL points are here

Routegadget is here

ORGANISER’S COMMENTS from Jayne MacGregor: It was very wet in Broxburn this morning so a special mention to the helpers who had early shift, but thanks to every ESOC member who helped. It seems the poor weather this morning didn’t put off those who hadn’t entered and we had a bumper crop of EODs.

The early arrivals at the Event Centre had to contend with an unexpected parade by the local ATC (RAF Air Cadets) unit and the resulting rolling traffic light closure by the police escort.

One item of Lost Property - Craghoppers dark grey fleece size M.  Text 07979901151 to claim

CONTROLLER’S COMMENTS from Blair Young, TINTO:  Always a pleasure to be involved with a well planned and organised event which is exactly what ESOC provided for an enthusiastic but disappointingly low number of competitors.
I have to admit that Broxburn was a revelation to me as, having only passed through on a very few occasions, I didn’t expect it to provide such variety and route options.
These were optimised by Katy’s excellent planning which I am glad to say was well received by everyone.
The main talking point seemed to be the route choice around Broxburn Academy made all the more difficult, at least initially, by the fact that we were unable to draw a line between the two controls due to the campus being out of bounds. The measured distance of the leg only varied by about 10m between the two routes, so as long as you made your decision quickly there was little difference.

Jayne took over the Organising at short notice but she did a great job leading the very experienced and efficient ESOC team, many of whom remained cheery despite the often inclement weather, particularly early on. Well done to everyone who helped.

 

General Information

START TIMES will NOT be pre-allocated.

FINAL DETAILS are now available.  Please read the Final Details as they contain all the latest important information which may not all be included below.  Final Details are in pdf format here. 

EOD - Map numbers available for EOD on each course as at mid-afternoon, Saturday 1st are shown below under Course Information.

This event will be based at the Strathbrock Partnership Centre 189a, West Main Street, Broxburn, EH52 5LH.

FACILITIES AT STRATHBROCK PARTNERSHIP CENTRE: Please take off any muddy shoes before entering the centre. 

- Toilets: available close to room with Registration/Download. 

- Changing/Bag Drop: There is limited space available at the event room at the centre so we ask that ONLY THOSE COMING BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR BIKE use the Event Centre to change and/or leave their bags. The car park is adjacent to the Event Centre so walking distances are short.

- First Aid: This will be provided by qualified ESOC club member who will be based at Registration/Download.  See below for details of nearest hospital/A&E.

- Other Users: There will be other groups, including church groups, using the centre at the same time as we are there. Please respect their right to be there and potentially using the same facilities. 

TERRAIN: Varied urban terrain with path network and some community woodland. Urban housing, some parkland, canal paths and open ground.  Paths, tracks and grassy areas will be muddy.  Please respect the mapping, and do not pass through if mapped as impassable/closed.

SAFETY & RISK: A risk assessment has been prepared and courses planned appropriately for likely entrants within age classes however all competitors take part at their own risk and remain responsible for their own safety at all times.  Event is in a residential area and competitors should be considerate to residents and general public throughout the competition. Slow down to negotiate sharp corners or alleyway entrances/exits to avoid collisions.

ROADS AND CROSSINGS:  The JUNIOR COURSES have 3 road crossings, these are unlikely to be busy but require care. The first is a zebra crossing which must be used, the other two crossing points will be manned.  The SENIOR COURSES have several road crossings which will require care. There are two zebra crossings which will be useful.  The main road will be marked as OOB and must not be crossed at any point on the courses.

NOTE: The main road will need to be crossed on the route to the start and from the finish. There are lights and a crossing point and these routes will be taped.

REPORT TO DOWNLOAD:  For safety reasons you must report to download immediately after the race, whether or not you complete your course.

WEATHER: Please check the forecast and dress appropriately for the weather conditions.  Cagoules may be compulsory if weather is poor. If the forecast indicates it would be too dangerous to race (eg icy conditions) the event may be cancelled. Please check the ESOC website (www.esoc.org.uk) on Saturday evening (1st Feb).

HOSPITAL: Nearest hospital with A & E is St John’s Hospital (Livingston), Howden Road West, Livingston, EH54 6PP
Telephone: 01506 523000

LITTER: Please take all your litter home with you. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We are grateful to the Strathbrock Partnership Centre for allowing us to use a room and toilets in their building and the grounds. 

Location

Nearest town: Broxburn

• Grid Ref: NT072719
• Postcode: EH52 5LH
• Latitude: 55.931624
• Longitude: -3.485922
• Google Map (aerial) - Bing Map (OS)

Directions

Parking is in the car park at the Strathbrock Partnership Centre (SPC). It is just off the A899, the main road which runs east/west through Broxburn and Uphall.   The SPC is on the South side of the A899. There are traffic lights to let traffic to turn on to West Main Street from the A899 and the event will be signed from these traffic lights.  Note that the Strathbrock Partnership Centre is specifically signed from these lights too – sign is on North side of road. 

From the West the traffic lights referred to above are just after the Police Station (on your right) and you need to turn right at the lights. 

From the East the traffic lights referred to above are the second set after the Fire Station (on your left) and you need to turn left.

Soon after turning into West Main Street, turn right into the SPC car park, keep straight ahead and park anywhere on the right. 

Registration & Start Times

STARTS: Starts will be from 11.00 to 12.30.  Start times will not be pre-allocated.  There is a single start for all courses approximately 500 metres from the SPC car park entrance. Loose control descriptions will be available at the start. 

FINISH: There is a single Finish for all courses. It is approximately 700m walk from the Finish to the Event Centre for Download.

DOWNLOAD: in the Event Centre

COURSE CLOSURE: Courses close at 14.00 at which point controls will begin to be brought in.

REGISTRATION: This will be in one of the rooms at the Strathbrock Partnership Centre and will be open from 10.30 to 12.00. Entry on the day (EOD) will be limited and subject to map availability.

In addition to entries, Registration will also be available for:

- Drop off or completion of a medical statement to be used only in an emergency.

- Drop off of car keys (for solo runners as an additional safety check). Please put keys in an envelope with your contact details.

- Collection (and payment) of hired SI.

TIMING: SI timing will be used. SI units will be set up for SIAC (contactless 'punching') and standard SI punch timing.  The START and FINISH are not contactless and must be punched normally.

Course Information

MAP, MAP SCALE, CONTROLS AND COURSES: The map was produced by Peel Land Surveys in 2017 to ISSOM specifications.  It will be printed at 1:5000 scale; contours at 2m intervals for all courses.  Maps will be printed at A3 and all course maps will have control descriptions. Blank maps will be on display at the Starts. Controls will be secured to trees, fences, railings etc. There will be no t bars. Provisional Course lengths are shown in the grid below.  

The number of maps available for EOD on each course at mid-afternoon on Saturday 1st Feb is shown below.

NOTE FOR JUNIORS: For Course 7 (M/W 12-), maps will be provided to competitors at REGISTRATION (10.30 to 12.00) to allow parents to judge whether shadowing is appropriate (please keep these private!). For the parent to remain competitive on their course they must run first, then shadow the junior afterwards. Start times will be adjusted at Registration in this eventuality. However, we rely on individuals to report if, shadowing changes to helping a junior during the course of the race. Shadowed juniors will be eligible for SOUL points. 

RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR SCOTTISH ORIENTEERING URBAN LEAGUE (SOUL): A draft copy of these Guidelines for 2020 have been provided by Pat Squire, SOUL Coordinator and are here.    This document contain details of which courses relate to which age classes.  You are welcome to enter any course you like but to be eligible for SOUL points you should enter the appropriate course for your age class. 

Explanation of colour courses

• White are very easy with all controls on paths. They are mainly used by 6-10 year olds and family groups.
• Yellow use simple linear features like paths, walls and streams. They are mainly used by under 12’s and family groups.
• Orange progress to basic use of the compass and route choice. They are ideal for novice adults or experienced youngsters.
• Light Green are ideal for improvers as the navigational difficulty begins to increase and uses simple contours and point features.
• Green are used mostly by experienced under 18’s and adults wanting a short but challenging course with a very hard navigational difficulty.
• Blue are a longer, more physically demanding course in comparison to the green. The distances are more varied between controls and the course attracts experienced orienteers.
• Brown & Black are very physically demanding and have a very hard navigational difficulty. They are for experienced orienteers only.
• Score means visiting as many controls as possible in any order in a specific time, like 45mins.

Entry Details

Pre entry was available via Fabian4 from 10th January to Sunday 26th January.  Entry on the day of the event (EOD) is limited and map numbers available for EOD will be advised above by the Organiser on Saturday 1st February.

Free standard SI card hire, if required, but there will be a £30.00 charge if it is lost.
Hire of SIAC cards is £2.50 and a charge of £60 will be made if it is lost. 

Contacts / Officials

Planner:  Katy Lessells  ESOC

Controller:  Blair Young TINTO

Organiser:  Jayne MacGregor with support from Anne Hoy  (both ESOC)

Entries (only):  Simon Firth 

Safety and Risk

A comprehensive risk assessment will have been carried out by the organiser, but participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event.

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