Loch Ordie, SOL

Scottish Orienteering League (SOL) 3

Sun 15th May 2022

Info updated: 17th May
Type of event: National
Type of terrain: Moorland

Results

Winsplits are here

Results are here

Routegadget here

Message from the Organiser, Controller's Report and Planner's Comments added  - click on Read more

General Information

POST EVENT
THANK YOU FROM THE ORGANISERS: Thank you very much to everyone who came to the SOL at Loch Ordie today  Hopefully, as well as enjoying an interesting run on good courses in a challenging area, you also enjoyed the great views along the strath.  And the weather was good too!

Thanks are due to Atholl Estates for permission to use the area,  Mr Menzies of Baledmund for use of the car park field, Mr Brewster of Rothmell for help in the area help with fences and gates, David Ritchie, A4 Design & Print who printed the maps, and STAG for lending us kit.  

As requested by Mr Menzies his fee for use of his land for parking and assembly is being donated to The Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution. The fee was agreed as £1 per competitor so a donation of £303 will be made.

Last, but by no means least, a big thank you to the great ESOC team of volunteers who ran the event, and to Controller Terry O’Brien from STAG.

Planner's Comments - Ewart Scott: Planning challenging courses, especially for the variety of ages and abilities who compete, is in itself, a significant challenge. Whilst having had a glance at Routegadget, the route choices and mistakes, it’s evident from winning times in some courses, course lengths should have received a little more consideration. Many thanks for the positive comments, to Terry O’Brien, and to Anne Thom plus the ESOC team.

Controller's Report - Terry O'Brien BEM, STAG: Working with ESOC's SOL 3 Team was a real pleasure. Anne covered the organising with support from a members of her Family and ESOC Members but special credit and kudos must be given to Ewart who, now having relocated to Inverness, undertook the immense challenges of planning a SOL so very well done to Ewart for his dedication and industry. Many competitors expressed their thanks for their course which I passed on to Ewart.  Thanks also to TAY for use of the Loch Ordie map.

I do wonder who will read this report and most likely the participants who didn't read the final details won't. Several cars ignored the request to travel via Ballinluig and one car attended with dogs which was clearly stated as not being permitted. I am aware of others who did not enter respecting this condition.

This particularly puts The Organiser in a truly difficult position but I cannot offer any solution as to how such can be avoided for future events. It needs to be understood that if you enter any or all orienteering races that your entry is only acceptable on the understanding that final details are read and fully observed.

Courses were based on S6D 2009 and TAY SoSOL results but with hindsight I forgot that due to a different time of year and no bracken problem that speed per km would be slightly faster so most courses could have been a tad longer but then again the weather was incredibly kind today.

Loch Ordie is a fine area for TD5 courses but to truly maximise these we would have had to walk competitors much further to a higher Start and probably have to have an isolated Finish but this just wasn't a viable or sensible option. I cannot help thinking that at SOLs we have too many courses for too few competitors -

Black (15) - Brown (19) - Short Brown (37) - Blue (42) - Short Blue (30) - Green (43) - Short Green (46) - Light Green (21) - Orange (13) - Yellow (4) - White (0).  Black was introduced many years ago as it was requested by SEDS but the uptake has never been numerically large.

Just as the S6D Course combinations were rationalised for Lochaber 2021, I feel that the time may be right to review the SOL Rules and Guidelines and reduce the 11 courses to a more realistic / manageable number which may also encourage others to take on the role of the Planner and our sport badly needs more volunteers in this area.

For many, many years I have admired those amongst our O Community who truly excel at our sport and represent Scotland and or Great Britain. To meet their needs I suggest that these individuals should be using SOLs as a true training opportunity and can't see any reason why such individuals cannot compete against fellow internationalists at a level currently above their assigned Age Class e.g. Short Blue is listed for M65L so why can't M65 Internationalists run Blue? My understanding is that the SI Timing system can cope with this additional class.

In terms of the other courses -TD1 White  (0 entries - 0 attended) and TD2 Yellow (7 entries - 4 attended) were very, very limited in where they could go.

TD3 Orange and TD4 were even more difficult to achieve and had to err on the shorter side to fulfill the technical aspects as the leading times show.

Can I also take this opportunity to apologise for the wording which I asked ESOC to add to the final details regarding ' full-body cover'. This was fuelled by my recent experience at Dundurn where I had to deal with the aftermath of ticks which I incorrectly put down primarily to my clothing i.e. breeches not trousers.
Wearing 'full-body cover' may reduce the possibility but it certainly doesn't prevent these little insects attaching themselves to people.

I should have advised competitors to check their person and not insist on such clothing requirements. Thanks JT :).

Thank-you for your support and I hope you had an enjoyable orienteering experience today.

Kind regards
Terry
 

PRE-EVENT INFORMATION

FINAL DETAILS: now available.  To have full details about the event you should read the Final Details in conjunction with the information on this website.   

START TIMES: will be added to Fabian4. 

COMPASSPOINT SHOP: This will be situated in the Assembly/Parking field for competitors to buy orienteering related clothing and equipment.

SCOTJOS CAKE STALL: This is likely to be there on the day and will be situated in the Assembly Field.  Look out for it and treat yourself to a cake to bolster your energy levels!

TERRAIN: Mostly exposed high upland/moorland with some spectacular rock features.   A physically challenging area with intricate contour detail, crags, rock features and marshes. There are terrific views on a fine day, especially north west along the Tay Valley and north towards Pitlochry with Schiehallion and other distant Munros as a backdrop.  

CLOTHING & WEATHER: The terrain is very exposed, even in late spring, so whistles are compulsory.  In the event of very bad weather being forecast on the day cagoules may be compulsory so please come prepared for this. Full torso and leg covering are compulsory for tick protection (Inspect yourself for ticks after the event). It is likely to be wet and muddy, even on the tracks, unless we have a particularly dry spell just before the event.

MAP: Originally produced by Stirling Surveys and DOLM for S6D 2009. Converted to ISOM 2017 specification by DOLM. Recent additions by Ewart and Terry, April 2022. Map scale 1:10,000 ; contour interval 5m for everyone.

For clarity the bracken screen has been removed from the map. At this time of year bracken does not impede either visibility or runnability.

COURSE MAPS: These will be printed on waterproof paper and control descriptions will be printed on the front of course maps.  

LOOSE CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS: Available in start lanes.

TIMING: SI Timing will be used and 'SI Air' will be enabled.  The Start and Finish Units shall require contact punching - you must physically dib these Si boxes for your time to be recorded.
Although volunteers shall endeavour to awaken the controls to enable contact-less punching, the physicality of the terrain (and possibly poor weather on the day) may mean that this is impractical.
It remains the responsibility of each competitor to make sure that their punch has been recorded. A physical 'dib' shall be required if the control is still asleep.

SIAC dibbers will be available to hire (for a small fee) via the advance entry system (see below). There is no hire on the day. 

RESULTS: We aim to have live results on the day. This will be confirmed the week before the event and a link added prominently on the home page of the website. Results will however be posted on this website as soon as possible after the event.

TOILETS: Portable toilets will be available in the car parking field.

FIRST AID: Official First Aid cover from 'Active First Aid Scotland' will be provided in the Assembly field but it is always useful if competitors bring their own basic first aid kit and self-administer where possible.

HEALTH / HYGIENE: As the land in use has recently had livestock on it please clean your hands before eating/drinking after your run.

KEY DROP: We can accept keys in an envelope with your name on it.  Please leave at Enquiries. 

DOGS: Sorry but no dogs are allowed, even in the parking field.  The farmer is very clear about this due to issues with bacteria in dog poo.   

MEDICAL CONDITIONS (not Covid): You have the option of downloading and completing this Medical Form. It could be life saving if the organisers are aware of any existing medical conditions in the event of an incident at the event. You are welcome to leave the completed form, in a sealed envelope with your name on it, with the Organiser.  If you can't track down the Organiser please leave at the computing tent to be passed to the Organiser.  The envelope will only be opened if required and destroyed after the event - unless you collect it.  

COVID: The legal restrictions we’ve been living with for some time will be relaxed by the time of this event. Nevertheless much of the Government guidance remains and is likely to do so for some time.  We have therefore retained some of the precautions we have been taking for some time and become used to.

Please don’t come to the event if you have Covid or have any symptoms of Covid.  

Please also try at all times to:

1. Respect other people's personal space; 

2. Make use of the hand sanitiser available at the toilets, pre-start and download and encourage any juniors you are responsible for to do so too; 

3. Remain reasonably quiet and limit speaking to event officials as much as possible in the pre-start area, in the start boxes, at the start line and at download.

Please read and respect the British Orienteering Participant Code of Conduct.  

Location

Nearest town: Dunkeld

• Grid Ref: NO004494
• Postcode:
• Latitude: 56.62653
• Longitude: -3.62210
• Google Map (aerial) - Bing Map (OS)

Directions

IMPORTANT TRAVEL NOTE (added Friday): Many roads in the wider Pitlochry area will be impacted by the Etape Caledonia which is taking place on Sunday 15th May. There are various rolling road closures west and southwest of Pitlochry, including part of the A827 to/from Aberfeldy.  The A9 is not involved in these closures and we’ve also been reassured that access to the east from both north and south on A9 at the Ballinluig junction (towards Ballinluig and Tulliemet and onwards to our event) is unaffected. 

The event is based near Guay, just off the A9 between Dunkeld and Pitlochry, with assembly and parking in a nearby field.  Approximate Grid Reference for the parking field entrance is NO004494 and What3Words is:  ///scornful.round.lobbed  Note that a postcode has not been provided as there are none that are particularly accurate and may even be misleading as you must approach the event via Ballinluig. See next paragraph.

PARKING FIELD INFORMATION: The parking field is pretty well drained throughout but there are slopes and undulations. The entrance to the parking field is configured in such a way that both entry and exit must be from/to the north east. This means ALL motor vehicles MUST approach the event via Ballinluig north of the area and ALL motor vehicles must also exit the area via Ballinluig (regardless of eventual direction of travel). Specific directions will be in the Final Details. Please do NOT approach via Guay as this will not only prove difficult for you but it will significantly delay others.

All vehicles must arrive at the parking field by 12.30pm and there will be no exit before 1pm.

MOTORHOMES AND LARGER VEHICLES: Unfortunately the entrance to the parking field is not suitable for larger campervans, motorhomes or most mini buses. Additionally, the farmer has advised that larger vehicles will not be allowed in the parking field.  We hope to be able to accommodate small campervans i.e. those that comfortably fit into a supermarket car parking space.  We are sorry but on this occasion there are no alternative options for larger vehicles.

Registration & Start Times

REGISTRATION: No Entry on the Day (EOD) but there will be an Enquiries point next to download in the assembly field.  This is available from about 10.30am to about 12.30pm.  White and Yellow course maps must be collected from here before proceeding to the start.  Hired SI cards should also be collected from here.  

STARTS: From 11am to 1pm with a course closure time of 3.30pm. There is a single start and a single finish. From assembly field to the Start is a 20 minute walk. It is a10 minute walk from Finish. No clothing transfer.

Course Information

Full range of courses: White, Yellow, Orange, Light Green, Short Green, Green, Short Blue, Blue, Short Brown, Brown and Black.

Note that there will not be a String Course but there will be activity available for younger children in the assembly area close to parking.

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

Pre-entry only, was available via Fabian4 from Friday 22nd April 2022 until Midnight on Sunday 8th May 2022.  Entry on the day of the event (EOD) will not be available.

ASSEMBLY AND PARKING FIELD CHARGE: At the request of the farmer there will be a charge of £1 per person (note this includes juniors) for use of the parking/assembly field, which he has asked be donated to a specific agricultural charity (details to be added later).  This has been incorporated into the entry fee.  

Entry Fees

Free standard SI card hire, if required, but there will be a £30.00 charge if it is lost.
Hire of SIAC cards is £2.50 and a charge of £60 will be made if it is lost.

Contacts / Officials

Planner: Ewart Scott (ESOC)

Controller: Terry O'Brien BEM (STAG)

Organiser: Anne Thom (ESOC) (with Margaret Dalgleish (ESOC) providing physical and driving support).  For urgent enquiries in advance of the event use this email.

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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