South of Scotland Orienteering League Event 1, Loch Ordie

The first in the 2014-15 SoSOL series

Sun 21st Sep 2014

Last updated: 12th Oct
Type of event: Regional
Type of terrain: Moorland
Read more about the mapped area

Results

Results and split times
Winsplits
BOF Ranking Points

Info

A first return since the Scottish 6-Days in 2009 to the challenging open moorland terrain of Loch Ordie.

Thankyou to everyone who supported our event today, and enjoyed Loch Ordie at its best on a wonderful day of late summer sunshine!

Organisers' Comments

With a great team of volunteers, helpful farmers and wonderful calm, sunny weather, everything ran very smoothly.

With a considerable distance and height climb to the Start, we had expected a low turnout from families with young children, so it was great to see some take-up on the shorter courses. Around 30% of those taking part had waited till the day to enter, which put our available map stock under a bit of pressure, but with some re-adjustments everyone was able to get a run.

With a wonderful array of cakes available thanks to the hard work of our team of young caterers, most people seemed to be in no hurry to rush off after the event, staying on to enjoy the sunshine and some social catching-up.

Thanks to everyone who attended, and in particular to the happy band of helpers who did so much to make this a great event.

Moira Laws and Elaine Gillies

Location

Nearest town: Dunkeld

• Grid Ref: NO004511
• Postcode: PH9 0NY
• Latitude: 56.63726
• Longitude: -3.62535
• Google Map (aerial)
• Bing Map (OS)
• OpenStreetMap

Pre event information

This prime area has only been used once before for orienteering - at the Scottish 6 Days in 2009 (see Routegadget for courses and results).  It is an area of open moorland lying in the hills on the east side of the Tay valley about 5 miles north of Dunkeld.  There are parallel ridges, crags, boulders and marshes.  Underfoot the terrain ranges from short sheep-grazed grass to deep heather.  There are few paths or line features.  Loch Ordie itself is a local beauty spot and lies just to the south-east of the mapped area.  Those on the longer courses will get a fine view down to it.

Map details:

• The map scale is 1:10,000, contours at 5m. Maps and control descriptions will be printed on waterproof paper.
• There is a major overhead electricity line crossing the area. This is not marked on the map.
• The map has not been updated since the area was surveyed in 2008. In the intervening 6 years areas of bracken have changed slightly. Generally speaking, the extent of bracken in the southern half of the map has reduced due to spraying, whereas the areas of bracken to the north have expanded. The bracken is shown as green vertical hatching and some courses do involve a little bracken towards the end. It would be advisable not to use it as an aid to navigation.
• There is an 'uncrossable' wall and fence across the area. This is marked on the map with purple overprint. Please only cross this at the marked crossing points (obvious on the map). Other fences encountered can be crossed anywhere.
• There are a few gates in the area. Some will be open, others shut. If you come to a shut gate either climb/vault over it or open it, go through, and shut it after you. Basically, leave gates as you find them.

Directions / Parking

We would like to direct cars travelling from the south and north to use the Ballinluig junction (A9/A827). It is only 2.5 miles further north than the Guay junction and we feel it will make entry into the parking field easier and cause less inconvenience for locals if all cars are travelling from the same direction.

• From the north: Come off the A9 at the Ballinluig slip road (A827) then take an immediate left where you will pass the BP garage/Motor grill. Further along that road turn right where you see a sign post for Tullimet 1¾, Dalcapon 2. Follow this road for 2.5 miles until you reach the parking field.
• From the south: Leave the A9 at the Ballinluig interchange (A827) and at the roundabout take the third exit, signed to Ballinluig Services. Continue over the flyover then take the next right signed to Tullimet. Go up past the BP garage and grill. Now follow the direction as above. 

Parking and assembly are in a field opposite Baledmund Farm. Grid Ref NO004511.

Parking will be in a field and unfortunately is not suitable for large vans or campervans. If you need to bring a large van please contact Elaine or Moira to discuss. The parking fee is £1.50, so please have the exact change to hand to prevent delays when parking. We encourage you to share transport where possible.

Facilities

Registration and download will be in a tent in the parking field.

Scotloo will provide a toilet which will be located at the gate into the parking field.

First aider, Moira Laws or Angela Dixon, will be available at the registration tent.

Amber and Robyn will be back with their cake stall as they continue to raise money for their World Challenge trip to Ecuador. The delicious and very popular Victoria sponges and raspberry traybakes will be on offer along with chocolaty things and more...

Registration & Start Times

• Registration 1000-1200
• Starts 1030-1230
• Courses close 1500

Course Information

A full range of South of Scotland Orienteering League colour-coded courses will be on offer.

Starts:

• To make the most of the area and to reduce the amount of climb on the courses, there will be a 1.2km walk to the Start with 165m of climb (allow 20-30 minutes). From the Finish back to the car-park is a downhill walk of 0.6km.
• There are no allocated start times so go to the start when you are ready. Bear in mind that there may be short queues on popular courses.

• 1 minute start intervals- control descriptions in the -3 box, blank maps in the -2 box and map layout plan in the -1 box. There will be a punching start. 

• Maps for the white and yellow courses should be picked up from registration; otherwise it is a 40 minute round trip to go back and get the map!

Finish and download:

• The Finish is a 600 metre/10 minute walk from the download/assembly field. This will be marked with tape.
• Download is located in the tent in the parking field.

Safety notes:

• A comprehensive risk assessment has been carried out. As this is an open, remote and exposed area we recommend that you carry a whistle while out running and please bring a cagoule. Please remember to download on your return to the parking field to save any unnecessary searches!
• To go to the start and return to download you must use the same gate that the cars are using to gain access to the parking field. Please take extra care; we advise accompanying children past this point.
• The planner and one of the organisers have seen adders basking in the sunshine on a path and a wall.  They are unlikely to be harmful unless provoked! Please warn children not to interfere with them.
• Livestock have been in the parking field in the days prior to the event. Please clean hands before eating.
• First aid will be available in the registration tent.
• Please check yourself for ticks after your run.

Emergency procedure:

• The start will be manned only until 12.30, but the Finish is unmanned and 600 metres from the assembly field. To report an accident please make your way to the Start or back to the assembly field.

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-entries have now closed - see the list of pre-entered competitors.

However, there will be some entry on the day available (we have decided not to increase the entry fee from pre-entries):

• Seniors £10, Non-BOF members £12
• Seniors running White, Yellow or Orange £6
• Juniors £6

Contacts / Officials

• Organisers - Moira Laws () and Elaine Gillies ()
• Planner - Grahame Nicoll
• Controller - David Sloan

Dogs allowed?

Dogs are welcome as long as they are kept strictly under control and any dog mess in the parking field is cleaned up.

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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