Tayside Orienteers

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Craig a’ Barns (Dunkeld) local event

Sun 14th Feb 2016

Last updated: 14th Feb
Type of event: Local
Type of terrain: Forest, Woodland
Read more about the mapped area

Results

Results and split times

Info

Beautiful day today in Dunkeld - thanks for coming,what a turn-out! Results now up and pictures soon on our Facebook page. Huge thanks to ESOC for use of the wonderful Craig a' Barns map, to Eric and the Cally Sawmill for the superb parking/registration area, Atholl Estates and last but not least our hard-working volunteers without whom the event would not have been possible. LOST PROPERTY kindly handed in by a passer-by: Silva compass, black dial, red string. Also green woolly hat.

If you're an experienced orienteer you'll revel in the technical challenge of this area thanks to the multitude of contours and crags but we're also planning some great courses for beginners, including families with young children. Start time and more details coming soon but save the date for now! (It will of course be Valentine's Day ... don't you just love orienteering!)

Location

Nearest town: Dunkeld

Pre event information

Please email the organiser mel@    cavecrag.com (remove spaces) to reserve a map, stating which course you wish to run. You can turn up on the day but we can't guarantee a map will be available for the course you want unless you contact us in advance. (No payment in advance is required but please let us know if you change your mind and are no longer planning to come).

Directions / Parking

From the south - leave A9 at Dunkeld exit, over bridge, through Dunkeld and turn right onto A923 Blairgowrie road (orienteering event sign at junction).

From the north - leave A9 where signed for Blairgowrie/Dunkeld (old A9). Turn left just before Dunkeld onto A923 Blairgowrie road (orienteering sign at junction).

From both directions, drive c200m up Blairgowrie road and turn left into entrance to Cally Industrial Estate. Take track left at top of entrance and round to parking/registration area - signs will direct you.

Parking - there should be enough hardish standing but please be aware of soft ground nearby.

Facilities

Public toilets are available at the north end of Dunkeld in the North car park, just a couple of minutes' drive from the event. They will be open from 1000 on the Sunday and you will pass them as you drive out of Dunkeld on the approach to the event. Cost 30p.

Dunkeld has a fantastic selection of cafes and shops and the Birnam Arts Centre with its cafe, shop and exhibitions will also be open. There are excellent walks/runs from the cathedral along the river. Check out Stanley Hill from the North car park, originally a natural hill but enhanced in 1730 by the 2nd Duke of Atholl to give a fortified effect, and with an ice house later carved into the north side. It once included cannons!

Registration & Start Times

Registration opens 1030 and is currently anticipated to be in the large wooden shed at the back of the car park. Please take care on the steep steps up to the door.

Starts will be between 1100 and 1200 (with possibility of extension to 1230 if pre-event indications are for a large turnout). Courses will close at 1430.

Start/finish are adjacent to registration and parking. 

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: The parking and registration area is part of a working sawmill with attendant hazards and it will not be possible to mark all of these. Children must be closely supervised at all times. An old structure with unstable brickwork has been noted and there are derelict sheds/containers which must not be entered. Please observe any instructions regarding areas that have been marked as out of bounds. The Scotloo at the rear of the registration building is not in use. No club banners owing to overhead power lines in the registration/parking area.

Craig a’ Barns has dangerous crags which will not be taped. Great care should be taken. Parents should ensure children are aware of the risk from these and water (including the possibility of frozen ponds etc that they may be tempted onto) and other features.  Courses may cross or follow tracks where there may be vehicle movement and there may be cyclists, horses, dogs etc in the area. If in any doubt children should be accompanied or shadowed.

Competitors are advised to ensure they wear/carry adequate clothing and bear in mind that the weather could be wintry/deteriorate. Competitors should carry a whistle to attract attention in case of accident or severe disorientation and encourage children to use these if they need assistance. Conditions under foot could be slippery owing to wintry conditions.

Course Information

Orienteering courses take into account both Technical Difficulty (TD1-5, with 1 being the easiest to 5 being the hardest) as well as distance/length and terrain. Please note that the course lengths indicated in pre-event information may seem short if you are a runner but you should bear in mind that the harder courses may incorporate very rough terrain/slow running and steep slopes.

Provisional course lengths:-

Yellow 2.3km

Orange 2.9km

Green 3.5km

Blue 6.0km

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

Adults £5 members, £6 non-members.

Juniors £2 members, £3 non-members.

Family group £5 members, £6 non-members.

Beginners, family groups etc very welcome. A small group can go round on one map, paying the family group price. Club members will be on hand to help beginners. Please arrive in good time if you are a beginner needing an introduction to orienteering.

If you have any existing medical conditions of which you feel we should be aware please download and complete our medical form, bring it with you in a sealed envelope and hand to registration. It will only be used in the event of an emergency (ie opened only if required), and will otherwise be destroyed after the event.

Contacts / Officials

Organiser Mel Nicoll (TAY) mel     @cavecrag.com (remove spaces)

Planner Grahame Nicoll (TAY)

Dogs allowed?

Dogs permitted but please be aware of livestock nearby and keep on a lead in car park/registration area and clear up any mess.

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.

Keep It Clean campaign - Forestry Commission Scotland

Our forests are at risk from tree pests and diseases. These can dramatically affect the health of our trees, upsetting the delicate ecosystem balance and devastating large areas of woodland.
Pests and diseases hitch a ride in mud and debris on shoes, paws and tyres, ending up in new forests. Here, they can spread rapidly in environments with no natural resilience.
Read more about this on the FCS website.

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