Edinburgh Southern Orienteering Club

Hailes Quarry ParkSun 14 Aug

ESOC Ultrasprint

Last updated: Wed 21 February, 2024

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.

Read more about this…

Results

Results and splits

Overview

The Ultrasprint is a fun event and is much more 'social' than our other events. Hopefully the weather will be kind and it will be an ideal opportunity to bring a picnic and socialise after running.

EVENT FORMAT: Controls in a Maze combined with some park orienteering. The challenge is to navigate around the controls in the Maze quickly and cleanly. The fastest runner may not be the most accurate. It is entertaining for the spectators and makes a very welcoming, sociable, fun event which everyone can enjoy.

Pre-event Information

Location Info

Near: City of Edinburgh
Lat,Lng: 55.91896,-3.26790
OS Grid Ref: NT208703
Postcode: EH14 2RB

Open an interactive map in:
GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap

Directions / Parking

The event will be signposted from Kingsknowe railway station which is near south east corner of Park across the canal.

By Bus: It should be easy to get to the event by public transport (the Lothian Bus garage is close by). Check Lothian Buses website to plan your journey. Service 44 is closest but 34 and 36 will also get you close to the event.

By Train: Kingsknowe station from which the route to the event will be signed.

By Bike: A variety of quiet cycle route maps throughout the city are available on the Edinburgh City Council Quiet Routes web pages. It should be possible to find a place to lock your bike close by while you run.

By Car: No specific parking for this event. Park in the surrounding streets near Kingsknowe rail station and follow signs to event from the station. Please be considerate to local residents who may not be used to people parking near their homes to go to events in the Park.

Course Information

There will be 4 separate courses. Courses 1, 2 and 3 will 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. In the past maps have been re-used and you only got to keep one copy; this year you will be given a new map each time, plus a maze map, and can keep them all.

The 4th course is a maze only course and this will have control codes in the usual way.

COURSE MAPS: Each competitor will have their own copy of each map. No map sharing as in the past.

Read more about Course lengths and Difficulty here

Entry Details

Advance entry via Race-signup is required. Entries open 9am on 1st August and will remain open until 10am on the morning of the event (Sunday 14th August) assuming maps are still available. To be guaranteed maps you must enter by 6pm on Tuesday 9th August. After that RaceSignUp will only accept entries as long as maps are available.

There may be a limited amount of entry at the event but this will be subject to maps being available. You must do this at the latest by 2pm and PLEASE BRING CASH. It is much riskier in terms of cost to ESOC to order large numbers of extra maps when there are 4 for each competitor so we strongly suggest you pre-enter by the early date given.

ENTRY FEES: Seniors - £7. Juniors - £4.
NOTE entry fees cover all four courses and each competitor will retain their own maps (3 are double-sided) to take home - no map sharing now as was the case in the pre-covid past.
There is a MAZE ONLY OPTION, which will be free, aimed at young children.

A Senior is someone born 2001 or earlier and a Junior is someone born 2002 or later. Currently matriculated students will normally be eligible to enter as Juniors and pay junior fees.

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. This would not work because of the maze.

Registration and Start times

REGISTRATION: Approach the Park from Kingsknowe rail station area and registration will be visible. Registration will be open from 1-2pm. If you are hoping to enter on the day you should come in time to register and complete your entry by 2pm.

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

There are no allocated start times. First start is from 13.30 as above and the start procedure is described below 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.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Helena Nolan (ESOC)

Organiser: Martin Caldwell (ESOC)

Advance Contact: EMAIL

Nearest A&E Hospital

NHS Urgent care search