Bush EstateSat 9 Dec
ESOC Local Event in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Local event
Explanation of event types
Local events are usually low key and in the 'localised' area, ideal for newcomers to try the sport and Training events are non competitive and used for training and coaching, aimed at members of the club, but they can attract people from neighbouring clubs, and are often ideal for newcomers to try the sport. Regional events attract participants from around the local Region, National events are high quality competitions that will attract people from far away, Major events are Major Events such as a British Championships. Virtual events are where there are no physical controls being used. Your presence at a control is registered using an App on your mobile phone, normally the free MapRun App.
Terrain type: Parkland & Woodland
Results
Provisional results, inc. bonus points
Officials' Reports
Organisers' Comments
The competitors gathered for 'The Mysterious Affair at Bush Estate', but who would be 'The Secret Adversary'? The 'Destination Unknown', but with the bingo 'Cards on the Table' and 'The Clocks' ticking, they set out to find 'The Hollow' and 'The Rose and the Yew Tree'. Despite the weather, we had the opportunity to welcome 'The Unexpected Guest's and introduce more families to the great sport of orienteering.
In the increasingly heavy rain, the computing system was almost 'Taken at the Flood', but Robert saved the day. Sadly for some, the finish loomed with a 'Three Act Tragedy', although everyone had a hugely enjoyable time despite the weather.
Thank you to a great team of volunteers, whose santa hats were soon covered with hoods, but whose jollity remained to save 'Hercule Poirot's Christmas'. I hope everyone has had a chance to dry out and warm up after an epic afternoon in the rain. Well done.
Emma Anderson
Organiser
Overview
The Bush Estate is a small but interesting area with different types of terrain so, in order to fit in a 60-minute score, the planner has come up with some “twists and turn in the plot” to make the courses more interesting.
Pre-event Information
Location Info
Near: Penicuik Lat,Lng: 55.86228,-3.20367 OS Grid Ref: NT248639 Postcode: EH26 0PQ What3Words: ///signed.herring.surcharge
Open an interactive map in: GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap
Directions / Parking
The Bush Estate (including the Edinburgh Technopole science and business park) can be reached by heading for the Edinburgh City Bypass at Straiton Junction for the A701 and at Lothianburn Junction for the A702, both of which will take you to close to Bush Estate.
Parking will be available on hard standing within the Bush Estate, signed from the entrance to the Estate at NT247 638 on the minor road linking the A701 at Gowkley Moss to the A702 near Easter Howgate. What 3 words throat.leaps.student
Public Transport Options
By Bus: Lothian bus number 15, hourly service using the A701, passes close to the Bush Estate as does Lothian bus number 37, a half hourly service to Penicuik using the A702, but not on Saturdays, so you need to change onto the 141 in Loanhead.
Map / Terrain
Parkland and woodland with many paths and tracks.
The map (updated in 2023) will be printed on waterproof paper, the control descriptions and points values will be printed on the map (no loose control descriptions) and the map scale will likely be 1:5000.
Safety Notes
Covid: Please don’t come to the event if you have Covid or symptoms of Covid or are unwell. Please respect other people’s space.
First Aid: We encourage you to bring your own first aid kit and administer as necessary. A basic first aid kit will be available at Registration/Download.
Course Information
Unlike our usual ESOC local events, there are only 2 courses available, a 60 minute Score and a 40 minute Score.
For score events, instead of following a preset route you can visit as many controls as you can, in any order, within the time limit. You are a given a map showing a large number of controls and each control will have a score associated with it. The idea is to score as many points as possible but returning within the allotted time. For every minute you are late, penalty points will be deducted from your score.
Agatha Christie BingO
There are two things that you can usually rely on over Christmas:
- Board games
- Somewhere on TV, there will be an Agatha Christie mystery to watch
Taking inspiration from the board game Agatha Christie Bingo, Bush Estate will be hiding a pre-Christmas buffet of murder, detectives and intrigue that might leave you feeling more than a little suspicious of the sage and chestnut stuffing.
Points: 10 points per control, one point per minute penalties for being late back ?
Bonuses: You can pick up Bingo cards from either the Marple or Tuppence Bingo Card piles which will be at the Start. Collect all of the controls on the card for a bonus of 50 points per card completed. As always with Bingo, you need to stay focussed on your card and not get distracted. You’ll only get the bonus points if you’ve visited all your Bingo controls with no extras sneaking into your stash. There’s 3 different combinations for each, so those looking for an extra challenge can come back to the start and pick up additional cards once they’ve called ‘House’.
The Marple Bingo Card – Thanks to her keen observational skills and her deep understanding of human nature, Miss Marple is a brilliant detective. She’s often underestimated by those around her, including the police. However, they soon learn that she can always be relied on to unravel mysteries that seem more tightly knotted than a basket of unruly wool. While her mind is still sharp, Miss Marple prefers to stick close to the path. The controls on the Marple Bingo Cards are all on or in sight of line features, so perfect for those not quite ready to dive straight into the thick of it.
The Tuppence Bingo Card – Along with her husband Tommy, Tuppence Beresford bravely throws herself into numerous hazardous missions, including going undercover as a maid for a dangerous criminal, using her knowledge of poisons to identify a multiple murderer, recovering buried treasure, smashing unbreakable alibis and solving a sixty-year-old cold case. These Bingo Cards could take you anywhere and everywhere, so is a good choice for those who like a bit of adventure.
Do you to bring anything special?: For any keen Bingo players, feel free to bring your pen. We’ll have some available for those who like to check off their numbers on their card or you can rely on your memory and just use your dibber to collect your points.
On the day, there was be extra helpers on hand plus more written instructions for the bamboozled.
Entry Details
Pre-Entry and pre payment via RaceSignUp are required for this event. Entries open 10am Monday 27th November and will close at 8pm on Friday 8th December. However to be guaranteed a course map for your chosen course you MUST pre-enter by 2pm on Tuesday 5th December.
Entry on the day (EOD): Entry on the day will be available at Registration as long as maps are available.
On the RaceSignUp page you can view
- an entry list for all competitors and their chosen start blocks (scroll down to Start List section). Please note that you can arrive at the start at any time within your block.
- in the Courses box a list of maps left (entry limit-no of entries) from 2pm on Tuesday 5th December which will be up-to-date as of Friday 8th December.
Entry Fees: Individual entry fees are:
Seniors - £4 for orienteering club members, £6 for non-members
Juniors - £2 for orienteering club members, £4 for non-members
As well as individuals the entry system also allows pairs, groups or families who wish to go round a course together to enter using a sliding scale of fees. Full details of the various group entry fees are on the RaceSignUp web pages (link above).
Note that a Senior is someone born 2001 or earlier and a Junior is someone born 2002 or later. Matriculated students will normally be eligible to enter as Juniors and pay junior fees - check out RaceSignUp as before.
SportIdent (SI) electronic timing will be used. If you have your own SI (dibber) please bring it with you.
We have SI dibbers for hire free of charge via the pre-entry system but there is a £30 charge if lost.
Registration and Start times
Look out for the ESOC banner and yellow tent; Registration will be open from approximately 11:45am pm to 13.15pm for Entry on the Day (EOD) but only if maps are still available (see also section on Entry Details below) . Payment for EOD will be taken in cash, or by bank transfer or card payment. Please have the correct money if at all possible.
Hired dibbers should be collected from Registration but all maps will be at the Start.
STARTS: From 12:00 to 1.30pm (earlier than usual for our local events because of the time of year) with course closure at 3pm. You should be back at Download by 3pm as controls will start to be brought in then so they can all be collected before it gets too dark.
Dog restrictions
Dogs are allowed but should be kept under very close control at all times.
Contacts / Officials
For early enquiries email
Nearest A&E Hospital
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Old Dalkeith Road, EH16 4SA Tel: 0131 536 1000 NHS Urgent care searchMiscellaneous
Other Users: Bush Estate is very well used by the general public, including dog walkers, runners and bikers. There are also cars on the estate roads as there are offices and other businesses within the estate. Please respect their right to be there at the same time as you are orienteering.