South Queensferry (Sprintelope)

Informal local 'Sprintelope' event

Wed 04th Jul 2018

Info updated: 05th Jul
Type of event: Local, Sprint
Type of terrain: Urban

Results

Results in simple format.

PLANNER'S COMMENTS from Ewart Scott: Other than a small event at King’s Buildings a few years ago, this was my first attempt at any urban planning.  The guidelines make for interesting reading, compared to those for cross country orienteering and with a fair number of urban courses attempted from which I’ve gleaned some ideas, I was keen to take on this planning challenge.
Like other forms of planning, having a good area certainly makes the job easier.  South Queensferry does have a great variety within the urban context, with very detailed sections where observation of the map and ground are vital, to those legs where route choice is simpler, the map easier to read, with hopefully a corresponding increase in pace.  Because of the above interpretation, I almost deliberately chose not to plan very long legs.  I also avoided the east area where the control descriptions were placed.  The open ground is now covered by a new sports pitch and the area south of Dalmeny Station and to the east of the Scotstoun estate is now linked up by a through road and more housing.  This area would have needed significant map updates and a sprintelope doesn’t justify the expense.

When collecting the tubes only number 2 was missing, and controls 8, 10 and 16 where I used chalk, all had the marks intact.
The ESOC idea was to have simple organisation and good courses.  Our thanks to Arup’s for their facilities and to everyone for their positive comments on my courses.

General Information

'SPRINTELOPES' are informal urban events in the Edinburgh and East Lothian area for members of local orienteeering clubs and visitors from other orienteering clubs.  Come along, pay, register and run.  Very, very informal. 

SOUTH QUEENSFERRY IS NO LONGER A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS EMBARGOED AREA:  Note that South Queensferry is NO LONGER an embargoed area in relation to Scotland's bid for the World Sprint Orienteering Championships in 2022.  

TERRAIN: Residential streets and small urban parkland areas.    

NEAREST A&Es: Minor Injuries Clinic, Western General Hospital, Crewe Rd South, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU.  Open 8am -9pm.  A&E, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA

SAFETY BEARING: A safety bearing of north then re-locate from the shore.

SAFETY, OTHER USERS and TRAFFIC: South Queensferry is a busy residential area with plenty of cars, buses, pedestrians and dog walkers, please be mindful of this while running. Most roads have footpaths but not all.  Please take care when running on roads without paths, when crossing all roads and also in the car park.  The long course crosses a major road, please take special care.

CLOTHING: Please wear appropriate footwear (no metal studs, the courses are likely to be mostly on paths.  If the weather is poor please be careful as the ground may be slippery.  Please remember to bring sun cream if the weather is good and also some water or other drink for after your run.

Location

Nearest town: South Queensferry

• Grid Ref: NT 131773
• Postcode: EH30 9SE
• Latitude: 55.980930
• Longitude: -3.393981
• Google Map (aerial) - Bing Map (OS)

Directions

Head for at Arup Edinburgh, Scotstoun House, South Queensferry, EH30 9SE and park in the car park.  

From the south take the M90 towards the Queensferry Crossing, at junction 1a take the exit, at the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A904, go straight over at the next roundabout, in 200m pass Tesco on your RHS and go straight ahead at the next roundabout onto the B800. The entry into Arup is 100m past the roundabout on the LHS.

From the north, cross the Queensferry crossing, take the first exit onto the A904 and then follow the instructions above.

By train: Dalmeny Station is approximately one mile from Scotstoun House. Turn left from the station, at the fork in the road, bear left and take the next left at T-junction onto Kirkliston Road. At the roundabout, turn left on to the B800 then left again into Scotstoun House

Registration & Start Times

Registration, Start and Finish will  all be within the grounds of ARUP, very close to the car parking.   Please don't arrive before 6pm. 

REGISTRATION: from 6.15pm to 7pm.  

START TIMES: from 6.30pm (or as soon as all controls are out) to 7.30pm  

COURSES CLOSE: 8.30pm.

Course Information

COURSES: Long: 4.2 with 27 controls and Short: 3.2 and 19 controls, no specific course for young juniors but children under 16 can go out with an adult but must be accompanied by the adult at all times. 

TIMING and CONTROL SITES: SI will be used for the start and finish only. White tubes will mark the control sites.  Please bring along your SI if you have one.  There will be some available to borrow if you don't have one.

DOWNLOAD: As a safety measure, all competitors must return and download even if they do not finish their course.

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

Entry at the event only.  Registration/Entry forms will be available for completion at the event. 

COST: £2 for Seniors, £1 for Juniors (see above for information about under 16s).

DATA PROTECTION UPDATES MAY 2018:  Entry to this event is by completion of the ESOC entry form on arrival at the event.  By completing the entry form to enter this event you agree that we may publish your Personal Information as part of the results of the Event and may pass such information to the governing body or any affiliated organisation for the purpose of insurance or for publishing results either for the event alone or combined with or compared to other events. Results may include (but not be limited to) name, any club affiliation, race times and age group.

Contacts / Officials

Email: 

Phone: Janet on 0131 225 7771

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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