Viewforth Sprintelope

Wed 21st Jul 2021

Info updated: 23rd Jul
Type of event: Local
Type of terrain: Urban

Results

Results are here.

How about entering ESOC's next Sprintelope at Penicuik Ladywood on 11th August?  Full details here.

Viewforth Planner Jim Murdoch writes: First all I'd like to say thanks to everybody for coming and it was great to see lots of smiling faces in the sun at the start of the event. A special thanks to Janet and Robert for providing the technical assistance in getting the event running smoothly.
On a blisteringly hot Edinburgh evening the Sprintelopers gathered in a quiet corner of West End Edinburgh for a tour of the local streets. First of all taking in the big hill up Viewforth before a merciful dash downhill towards the Lochrin Basin and the flatter roads and paths along the canal. I hope everyone gave homage to the birthplace of Sir Sean Connery as they passed the plaque between control 12 and 13.
Mercifully no reports of people on the long course forgetting to turn the map over or those on the short course missing their cut-off.
The chat at the end of the event seemed to centre on the route choice between 22 and 23, with all choices deemed bad and too long on such a hot night! Especially when you're so near the end and ready for some strawberries and a nice cool drink. So I'd just like to apologise for planning such a vindictive route choice on such a hot night, but that is after all what a good orienteering planner should do.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the next planner has in store for us at Penicuik, Ladywood Sprintelope on 11th August. Hopefully something equally vindictive.

General Information

Sprintelopes are very informal events featuring Urban style races around the streets of towns in Edinburgh and the surrounding area on Wednesday evenings throughout the Spring and Summer. 

Because they are informal, there are SI units only at the start and finish – the rest of the controls are usually pieces of tape tied to lamp posts and other street furniture or maybe even white flour on the ground.  There are no control kites or numbers.  

The events are for members of orienteering clubs who generally know what they are doing.  Everything is taken on trust in terms of going to the correct controls. 

Because of the road crossings ALL under 16s must be accompanied at all times by an adult when running.

COVID 19: You should not attend the event if you are showing any symptoms of Covid 19 even though you have pre-entered.  Social distancing will be necessary at all times, even out on your course, and the start will be managed appropriately to comply with all relevant Government and Scottish Orienteering Guidelines. 

A separate Covid risk assessment will be prepared.

Location

Nearest town: City of Edinburgh

• Grid Ref:
• Postcode: EH10 4LJ
• Latitude: 55.93894
• Longitude: -3.21365
• Google Map (aerial) - Bing Map (OS)

Directions

Head for the corner of Viewforth Terrace and Gilmore Place in Edinburgh.  From there you will be able to see the start which is in a private driveway in Viewforth Terrace.

Parking is not great in this area but after 5.30pm you can park along Gilmore Place.  Lothian buses 10 and 27 go directly past, and lots more nearby to Bruntsfield or Fountainbridge. There should be some space for people to leave bikes in the garden next to the start - at your own risk. 

Registration & Start Times

No Registration or Enquiries on the night. Start times are between 6pm and 7.30pm and you can choose a time slot on the entry form (see below).  We want to keep things moving so there will be a reasonable amount of flexibility on the night in terms of getting started. 

SI timing at start and finish only.  You'll be asked to punch clear and start units then either the 'short' or 'long' SI Units at the start.

Please bring a map bag or poly pocket in the event of bad weather.  You'll have time to put the paper map into your map bag before punching the start unit.

At the finish punch the Finish SI Unit and head straight to Download to get your time.

If you don't have your own SI dibber you can borrow one free of charge from ESOC but you must mention this on the online entry form and arrangments will be made for you collect your hired SI dibber near the start.

Course Information

There will be a long course (around 5k) and a short course (around 3k) although these will be straight line distances so expect to run at least one third to a half further than that.

Because of the road crossings ALL under 16s must be accompanied at all times by an adult when running.

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 online only.  Entries now closed to enable start lists, maps etc to be be printed in time for the event. 

Current Start List   This start list should update after you make your entry.

COSTS:

Senior orienteering club members: £3

Students who are orienteering club members: £2

Junior orienteering club members: £1

SI hire: free but £30 charge if you lose it

You will be advised by email how to pay for your entries. No cash will be accepted on the night.

Contacts / Officials

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.

Privacy: when entering our events your name may appear in the results section of this website or in newspaper reports.
Read our privacy policy to see how we look after your personal data.

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