Davidson’s Mains Park and Royal High SchoolSat 18 Jul
Local event
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
Results
Officials' Reports
Planners' Comments
Davidson's Mains is a small, self-contained area of park land and woodland that is ideal for an introduction to orienteering. What is not perfect are the nettles that proliferate in summer. I tried to plan the courses to avoid them as much as possible, and erred on the side of short courses to avoid repetitive criss-crossing of the park. To compensate I tried to add some challenging legs to the technically easier courses. The Yellow and White finished using vegetation boundaries, and the Orange had some long legs where cutting across the park saved a long path run around.
On the Monday before the event I came across diggers in the High School preparing the ground for new turf. This necessitated a late addition of out of bounds area and removed the route choice on the Light Green leg affected.
We had a problem with 1 or 2 controls moving, though not far. ( 202 Pit, and 209 fence end). Thank you to the competitors that reported them and also replaced them). Also thank you to the control collectors and Alison for assisting with the hanging and sanity checking my courses.
Organisers' Comments
Come to Davidsons Mains Park on a sunny Saturday afternoon and bring the kids. Let them have a not-too-challenging run on a course which somehow managed to avoid the worst of the rampant vegetation. Visit the Junior-friendly OZONE tent, maybe win a duck for trying pace-counting; play with their friends, even throw in a Turf Crowdy!
Have a run yourself, nothing harder than Light Green here so not too testing in the heat. Remind yourself of your pace-count for 100m downhill and uphill. Have a picnic in the sun or the shade and go home slightly sunburnt.
Best way to spend a sunny afternoon, really! Thanks to everyone who made it possible; ESOC members and competitors alike
Janet Clark
Overview
Fun Family friendly event in this beautiful local park with courses for all levels of experience
Pre-event Information
Location Info
/-3.2792,55.9641,11/500x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGF1bGZyb3N0IiwiYSI6ImNscGg3eGRlMjA0cm8yaW52aGhtY2lxZjQifQ.Lc483ZPI9QPGNrBpcqqywQ)
Near: Edinburgh Lat,Lng: 55.9641,-3.2792 Postcode: EH4 7FU
Open an interactive map in: GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap
Directions / Parking
The event (registration and download) will be in a tent in Davidson's Mains Park close to East Barnton Avenue.
Parking on nearby streets eg East Barnton Avenue. Please be considerate to local residents.
Please try to use public transport or cycle if you possibly can, you will be able to leave your bike near Registration.
NB: The roundabout at the junction of Quality St and Main St has recently "reopened" after being closed for many weeks, and there are currently 3-way traffic lights so there may be queues. If the road closure roadworks resume, a note will be posted here on Friday evening (17th).
Public Transport Options
By Bus: Check Lothian Buses website to plan your journey. Lothian Buses Service 47 stops nearby (road works permitting). Note that other out of town buses which also travel along Queensferry Road stop close to Davidson's Mains (Quality Street stop)
By Bike: A variety of quiet cycle route maps throughout the city are available on the Edinburgh City Council Quiet Routes web pages. Cycles may be secured close the event centre in the Sports Hall while you run.
Map / Terrain
City park with grassy areas and summer vegetation, woodland with some rock and contour detail and the Royal High School grounds. The nettles are particularly vicious this year. Yellow areas with green stripes are verdant. Courses have been planned to avoid them as much as possible
Based on a 2013 map by Peel Land Surveys, updated for this event. Map scale is 1:3500.
Course maps will be printed at A4 on waterproof paper with control descriptions on the map, no loose descriptions will be available.
Safety Notes
General Safety (please note any course specific information below)
- Other Users: The area is very well used by the general public, including dog walkers, runners and cyclists. Please be considerate to other users and give way when necessary.
- Please respect the Out of Bounds areas marked on the map with cross-hatching.
- Full leg cover required - nettles and brambles abound.
- Dogs: Competitor’s dogs are allowed and should be kept under very close control at all times.
- SAFETY NOTE RE DOGS: Please give any dog walkers you encounter whilst running on your course extra space ie don’t run too close, especially if their dog/dogs are off lead. This applies to all competitors, not just those running with a dog. We always need to respect other people's right to be there.
- Course Closure Time: All courses have a closure time of 4pm after which controls will start to be brought in (before it gets dark. All competitors should be back at Download by 4pm.
- You must report to Download even if you do not complete your course, so we know you are back safely, and we don’t have to mount a search for you.
- Please check the weather forecast on the day and dress appropriately. parts of the area may be muddy so please wear the most appropriate footwear for the course you are entering.
Course Information
As usual at ESOC events there will be courses to suit all abilities
- White, Yellow for young juniors
- Orange and Long Orange for improvers and runners
- A courses for more experienced orienteers
Provisional course details are
| Course | Length | Climb | Controls | Notes |
| White | 1.3km | 15m | 15 | Completely within the park |
| Yellow | 1.4km | 30m | 11 | Completely within the park |
| Orange | 2.4km | 55m | 19 | Park and school grounds. Has a road leg (School drive and E Barnton Ave) though competitors won't need to cross the road but should use the footpath. |
| Light Green | 3.3km | 55m | 21 | Park and school grounds. Has a road leg (but no need to cross) and a Map Flip. |
Notes
- Please wear full leg cover on the longer courses as the nettles are particularly vicious this year.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of the area we are not able to offer a Long Orange without a lot of repetition.
- There will be a cricket match on in the school playing fields, please don't cross the pitch and look out for moving vehicles in the car park.
Entry Details
Pre-entry using RaceSignUp will be required for this event. Entries will open at 10am on Monday 6th July and will close at 6pm on Friday 17th July
However to be guaranteed a course map on waterproof paper for your chosen course you MUST pre-enter by 8pm on Monday 13th july.
On the RaceSignUp page (first time users will need to create an account) you can view an entry list for all competitors and their chosen start blocks (scroll down to the Start List section). Please note that you can arrive at the start any time within your block.
Entry Fees:
| Category | BOF Members | SOA Members | Non Members |
| Seniors (26 and over) | £4.50 | £5.50 | £6.50 |
| Juniors/Students/Young adults (21-25) | £2.50 | £3.50 | £4.50 |
As well as individuals the entry system also allows pairs, groups or families who wish to go round a course together (sharing one map and dibber) to enter using a sliding scale of fees. Full details of how to enter pairs and groups (or as a Student) are on the RaceSignUp entry page.
Example fees for Pairs or Family/Groups - maximum of 4 people per group. Groups with more than 4 should split up into smaller groups but can still start at the same time.
| Category | BOF members | SOA only members | Non members |
| Senior Pair | £5.50 | £6.50 | £7.50 |
| Junior Pair | £3.00 | £4.00 | £5.00 |
| Senior/Junior Pair | £5.00 | £6.00 | £7.00 |
| Group - 1 Senior + 2 Juniors | £5.50 | £6.50 | £7.50 |
| Group - 2 Seniors + 1 Junior | £6.00 | £7.00 | £8.00 |
SportIdent (SI) electronic timing will be used.
We have SI dibbers for hire free of charge via the pre-entry system but there is a £30 charge if lost.
If you would like to buy your own SI-Card then a variety are available directly from SportIdent UK. The choice may be confusing and it may help you to know that the SI-Cards which ESOC hires out are very similar to the most basic model shown on the linked page - the SI-Card 8.
Registration and Start times
Registration: Will be open from 12:15 -14:15 in a tent
- Entry on the Day (EOD) if maps are still available. Payment by cash or card/contactless. Please try to have the correct money if at all possible.
- Collection of hired dibbers, White and Yellow maps:
- Advice and help for beginners
Start Times: From 13:00 to 14:30 with course closure at 4pm.. The Start will be signed from Registration and will be less than 100m.
Facilities
- There are no toilets available at the event, the closest are in Lauriston Castle a 10 minute walk away and there are numerous options for calling in at a supermarket or shopping centre on your way to the event.
- A first aid kit will be available at Registration
Dog restrictions
Well-behaved dogs on a lead welcome.
Contacts / Officials
Advance enquires: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Entry enquiries: email hidden; JavaScript is required
Nearest A&E Hospital
Please see under Important Event Information in the side panel.
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