Mary Erskine and Ravelston WoodsSat 15 Mar
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 & Woodland
Results
Officials' Reports
Planner's Comments
It was nice to have such good weather, a bright sunny day with few clouds in the sky. Looks like spring's finally getting going. Fantastic turnout for this event with lots of young, new orienteers. We hope everyone enjoyed the courses. As we had both the school grounds and the woods behind the school to work with we tried to incorporate a mixture of urban and woodland areas for most of the courses. The choke point of the singular gate between the school and woods was not as good as channelling the competitors as we'd hoped, some orienteers found holes in the fence we hadn't realised were there, apart from that we were happy with all our legs that gave lots of decisions on routes. This was our first time planning an orienteering event, we learnt a lot about the planning process, so glad it went well, huge thank you to Crawford Lindsay for guiding us through the process along with all the volunteers from ESMS who helped run the event smoothly.
Hamish and Jonathan.
Overview
Local event organised in partnership with the Mary Erskine and Stewarts Melville schools Orienteering club (ESMS)
Pre-event Information
Location Info
/-3.25388,55.95158,11/500x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoicGF1bGZyb3N0IiwiYSI6ImNscGg3eGRlMjA0cm8yaW52aGhtY2lxZjQifQ.Lc483ZPI9QPGNrBpcqqywQ)
Near: Edinburgh Lat,Lng: 55.95158,-3.25388 OS Grid Ref: NT218737 Postcode: EH4 3LG What3Words: ///move.dart.olive
Open an interactive map in: GoogleMap - OpenStreetMap - AppleMaps - BingMap
Directions / Parking
The event will be based just outside the Mary Erskine School Sports Centre (Post Code: EH4 3NT) which can be approached from Ravelston Dykes, where although there is a small car park, you are requested to use the small car park dedicated for the Mary Erskine School Sports Centre on the opposite side of the school grounds, just off Craigleith Rise (///pages.nods.glaze). If there are no spaces left, please park in surrounding streets. Please be considerate of local residents if you are parking in public streets. If you are changing your clothes in your car please try to be discreet!!
Please try to walk, use public transport or bike to the event if you possibly can.
Car share: Edinburgh based orienteers are welcome to join the newly expanded Edinburgh Orienteers - Car sharing WhatsApp group. Please contact email hidden; JavaScript is required for the joining link.
Public Transport Options
By bus - check the Lothian Buses website. Route 38 passes near the event.
By bike – Please see this map on the Edinburgh Council Quiet Routes website. for dedicated cycleways
There will be a bag drop tent located near Registration
Map / Terrain
Terrain: Grounds of the Mary Erskine school plus the intricate Ravelston Woods with interesting contours.
Course Maps: Based on the 2005 version by Peel Services Ltd and extended and updated to the latest ISSOM standard.in 2024. The maps will be printed at A4 on waterproof paper, the control descriptions will be printed on the map (no loose control descriptions) and the map scale will be 1:3500.
Safety Notes
- Other Users: Ravelston Woods is very well used by the general public, including dog walkers, runners and bikers. Please respect their right to be there at the same time as you are orienteering.
- Please respect the Out of Bounds area in the school grounds (don't want to upset the groundsman)
- Dogs are not allowed as the event takes place on school grounds
- 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.
Course Information
As usual at ESOC events there will be courses to suit all abilities -planned by two of the older members of the ESMS School orienteering club.
- White and Yellow for Juniors - the courses stay within the school grounds
- Orange for more experienced juniors and Long Orange for improvers and runners
- Green course for more experienced orienteers - note that this Green course, being partly in the school grounds, might seem easier than Greens in more difficult terrain.
The Long Orange and Green courses have a map-flip partway round, with 2 parts of the course on a double-sided sheet
| Course | Length | ||
| Green | 4.6km | ||
| Long Orange | 4,1km | ||
| Orange | 2.7km | ||
| Yellow | 2.1km | ||
| White | 1.2km |
Entry Details
Pre-entry using RaceSignUp will be required for this event. Entries will open at 10am on Monday 3rd March and will close at 6pm on Friday 14th March
However to be guaranteed a course map on waterproof paper for your chosen course you MUST pre-enter by 10pm on Monday 10th March.
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. NB The RaceSignUp entry process for these categories has also changed for 2024
Category |
BOF members |
SOA only members |
Non members |
2 Seniors |
£5.50 |
£6.50 |
£7.50 |
2 Juniors |
£3.00 |
£4.00 |
£5.00 |
1 Senior + 1 Junior |
£5.00 |
£6.00 |
£7.00 |
1 Senior + 2 Juniors |
£5.50 |
£6.50 |
£7.50 |
2 Seniors + 1 Junior |
£6.00 |
£7.00 |
£8.00 |
2 Seniors + 2 Juniors |
£6.50 |
£7.50 |
£8.50 |
2 Seniors + 3 Juniors |
£7.00 |
£8.00 |
£9.00 |
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 12:45am -2.15pm in a tent or gazebo close to the Sports Hall, for
- 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 and White and Yellow maps:
- Advice and help for beginners
The Start will be close to Registration. Start Times: From 1.00pm to 2.30pm with course closure at 4pm. You should be back at Download by 4pm as controls will start to be brought in by 4pm so if you think you'll take a long time to complete your course please enter early so you can choose an early start time.
Facilities
- There are no toilets available but there are numerous options for calling in at a supermarket or shopping centre on your way to the event.
Dog restrictions
Dogs are NOT ALLOWED as the event takes place on school grounds
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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