Davidson’s Mains Park and Royal High SchoolSun 17 Aug
Ultrasprint
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
Officials' Reports
Planners' Comments:
Planning the ultrasprint was new territory for me. I have learnt a lot about CONDES, our course planning program! Though still think it might take me a while to get to David's level of competency in putting up the maze - it took David and Calum less than an hour to get it set-up (!). Davidson's Mains is a good little area with lots of variety - parkland, hills, rock features and ideal for this event. A couple of control description errors and control placings aside, hopefully everyone enjoyed themselves.
Sarah Crawford Planner
Organisers' Comments:
The Ultrasprint is simple in principle. Three short easy courses, hop in and out of the Maze to add interest; perfect for a summer afternoon.
Add in the deceptively sloping Maze, some quite tricky controls in the woodland, the uphill run-in to the finish and, worst, the fierce competition to top the Maze Leaderboard; and most people were pretty well exercised by the end.
It was great to see so many young families enjoying the challenge, and plenty of older people giving them a run for their money too. Sport for All indeed.
Grateful thanks as ever to the ESOC team who put in many hours of mental effort beforehand and physical effort on the day to provide all this fun
Janet Clark Organiser
Overview
The annual ESOC Ultrasprint, fast and furious racing with every course visiting a maze at least once. An exciting event with something for everyone.
Pre-event Information
Location Info
/-3.279,55.9638,11/500x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGF1bGZyb3N0IiwiYSI6ImNscGg3eGRlMjA0cm8yaW52aGhtY2lxZjQifQ.Lc483ZPI9QPGNrBpcqqywQ)
Near: Edinburgh Lat,Lng: 55.9638,-3.279 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
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.
Public Transport Options
By Bus: Check Lothian Buses website to plan your journey. Lothian Buses Service 47 stops nearby. 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, woodland and school grounds and some rock and contour detail.
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. Each entry will be entitled to 3 maps each with a short sprint course on one side and one or more visits to the maze on the other. There will be a free maze only course too.
Safety Notes
General notes - please also read the Course specific notes below
- Other Users: Davidson's Mains Park is very well used by the general public, including dog walkers, runners and children's games. Please respect their right to be there at the same time as you are orienteering.
- 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 4:30pm after which controls will start to be brought in . All competitors should be back at Download by 4:30pm.
- 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. The area can be exposed especially when windy and the grassy slopes slippery of wet, so please wear the most appropriate clothing and footwear for the course you are entering.
- There will be undergrowth, and although the courses have been planned to avoid the worst if it, full leg cover is recommended.
Course Information
There will be 3 separate short course each be around 1 - 1.5km in length and all visit the maze at some point. These courses will not have control codes in the second column of the control descriptions. It is up to you to make sure, by accurate map reading, that you are at the right control. The winner's time is the combined time for Courses 1, 2 and 3. A penalty of 2 minutes will be added to your time for each control wrongly punched.
You will be allocated to a course for your 1st run at 'check' then join the other queues when you come back for your 2nd and 3rd runs.
DOWNLOAD: You must download immediately after you complete each course. You are then free to clear your SI dibber and start your next course.
You will be given a new map each time and can keep them all.
There will be a free Maze only course this year.
Entry Details
Advance entry via RaceSignUp is required. Entries will be open on Tuesday 5th August but to guarantee a set of Ultrasprint maps, on waterproof paper, please enter by 8pm on Tuesday 12th August.
Online entries will remain open until 6pm on Saturday 16th August, but anyone who enters after the stock of waterproof maps has been used up will have to use a non-waterproof version.
There will be limited entry on the day at the event at registration, only between 1-2pm, but this will be subject to maps being available and late entrants may need to use non-waterproof maps. Payment by cash or contactless.
ENTRY FEES: (TBC)
Seniors (age 26 and over)
- BOF members: £8
- SOA members: £9
- Non-Members: £10
Juniors, Students, Young Adults (age 21-25)
- BOF members: £5
- SOA members: £6
- Non-Members: £7
Entry Fees cover all three sprint courses (a 3-map bundle).
NB For this event, because of the layout of the maze we can only accept entries from individuals or pairs of one Adult & one Junior or 2 Juniors. (for an additional fee of 50p per junior) Adult pairs or larger groups will not fit in the the maze so may have to split up into individual entries.
There will be a free Maze only course for juniors or non-members.
Free SI card hire, if required, but £30.00 charge will be made if lost. Note that SIAC will NOT be used for any controls (it won’t work because of the close proximity of the maze controls
Registration and Start times
REGISTRATION: Will be in a tent within the park, look out for the banners, and will be open from 1pm to 2:30pm
START and DOWNLOAD: These will be very close to Registration.
START TIMES: 1st race: 13.30 – 14.30 2nd race: up to 15.00 3rd race: up to 15.30
Please arrive in plenty of time to complete all your courses by the course closure time of 16.30.
There are no allocated start times. First start is from 13.30 as above and the start procedure is described under 'Course Information'.
DOWNLOAD: You must download immediately after you complete each course. You are then free to clear your SI dibber and start your next course.
Facilities
- Toilets - There are no toilets on site but opportunities to visit a retail store on the way and there is a Tesco a short walk away
Dog restrictions
Sorry but due to the nature of the Maze (and all the tape) dogs are not allowed in the maze but can be taken on the rest of the course(s).
Contacts / Officials
For advanced enquiries: email hidden; JavaScript is required
For entry enquiries email hidden; JavaScript is required
Nearest A&E Hospital
See under Important Event Information in the side panel.
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