Colinton Dell

Sat 11th Feb 2012

Info updated: 04th Apr
Type of event: Local (D)
Type of terrain:

Results

General Information

Planner's Comments

Planning courses in Colinton Dell gave me some challenges. The first was that the map I was given has large areas of housing denoted by heavy black shading, which made it very difficult to see the course lines. I hope everyone was able to pick out their controls in spite of that. The valley has a good path network, which is very easy to follow, and steep, overgrown slopes, which are very tough to climb. There is hardly any easy rough ground for a small diversion from the paths.

I was determined to give everyone an expedition, more than just a walk in the park, and I'm pleased that even the White course went over the river. The Orange course was able to all the way through the tunnel into Spylaw Park, which maybe surprised any orienteers new to the area. Competitors on the Advanced course had the option of using the streets and I'm interested to find that everyone I have spoken to took took the street option from 4 to 5. They could also have used the tunnel and climbed up from Spylaw, or followed the low path to the churchyard then up the road, which is the shortest route.

The huge turnout was very impressive and I was glad to notice how many people completed the White course then went on to do the Yellow. I hope nobody wasted too much time hunting for the missing control in Spylaw Park. Despite our best efforts it was stolen, not once but twice! Martin Caldwell

Location

Nearest town: City of Edinburgh

Grid Ref: NT214702
Postcode:
Latitude: 55.91758
Longitude: -3.2577466
Google Map (aerial) - Bing Map (OS)

Directions

Head for Dovecot Grove in the City of Edinburgh. The event will be signed from the Lanark Road at the end of Dovecot Grove. Parking will be on Dovecot Grove and the adjacent quiet streets. Postcode for anyone who needs it for sat. nav. purposes is EH14 2LU.

Registration & Start Times

Between 2pm and 3pm
It gets dark pretty early in February, and even more so if the weather is poor, so please arrive early if you know you may be out a long time as courses will close at 4pm at which point controls will be brought in.

Course Information

There will be White, Yellow and Orange courses and something for more experienced orienteers. This is an ideal area for newcomers.

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

Juniors (all) - £1.50
Seniors who are members of British Orienteering - £3
Seniors who are not member of British Orienteering - £4
Small Groups (all) - £4
SI Hire is free (£30 charge if lost)

Contacts / Officials

Contact is Janet Clark -

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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