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Scottish Orienteering League Spring 3 Dunalastair

Sun 23rd Apr 2023

Last updated: 26th Apr
Type of event: National
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Planner's and Controller's Reports Now Added - Click ...Read More... below

Planner's and Controller's Reports

TAY SCOTTISH ORIENTEERING LEAGUE 3

Sunday 23rd  April  2023 – Dunalastair

I couldn't have had more helpful and pleasant officials to work with than Allan and Terry and as they had done a fair amount of the intial liaising with Finlay McIntryre and Dunalastair Estates and outline organising before I got involved it made my job a relatively easy one. So many thanks to them, Finlay, Tay helpers, Phil Vokes (OD) and Yotam Betrand (FVO) for help with control collecting and the weather for being so kind. It was great to see a large turnout on the day and to hear that most had enjoyed themselves despite some tough terrain. - Mike Pearson (Tay)

Planner’s Report – Allan Downie (TAY)

When I first volunteered to take on the planning of a SOL at Dunalastair in the summer of last year I did so with expectation that the event would take place in the “traditionally” used area in the west and centre so you can imagine my shock during the initial recce in late September of hearing the sound of forest machinery and falling trees!

After speaking to the estate it was clear that central area is no longer available for orienteering. It is being cleared and replanted with native species. We had chosen for the SOL to be in early spring because of the bracken being down but this of course coincides with the calving and lambing times. Much of Dunalastair is a working farm so this meant there would be restrictions on the western end near the home farm. The estate are also spending large sums of money on improving the livestock fencing and this meant that previously crossable fences were no longer so. At present most of this fencing is on west and north side of the area.

The final consideration before even thinking about courses was the need to park up to 150 cars within reasonable walking distances of the starts and finishes.

The farm manager Finlay McIntyre was most helpful and in November he drove me round the area and we agreed we could use the fields at the Eastern end for parking. This determined the competition area.

Undoubtedly Dunalastair East has had a poor but I hope now most agree unfair reputation. Much of this stemming from a six day event in August 1997 where the bracken was at head height and the bog myrtle was in full bloom. The event in 1997 gets two mentions in “A Few Spare Maps” and both mention head high bracken and the physical challenge.

Whilst going in the area still can be tough in places it is at its best in April when the dieback of vegetation allows the contour and rock features to be seen.  In planning the courses I had to take into account the going and the need to choose crossings appropriate for age classes. For instance the access into the southwest of the competition was over near vertical stiles with a certain amount of movement over a deer fence! Of the TD5 courses the hardest to plan for was the Short Green with its multitude of age classes from W60S to M85.

When checking the control sites the need to geo-reference the map and make a significant adjustment to the magnetic north line was soon realised. Steve Barrett from Stirling Surveys carried this out as well as make some amendments to the map. The magnetic lines had to be adjusted by 5 degrees! Other minor changes were made by Terry.

It was the easier TD courses, Orange, Yellow and White that proved the most difficult to fit in. We were lucky that the fields next to parking area were available but the courses had to have a number of controls that were visited twice to achieve the required distances. We also had to have a separate start for the Yellow and White.

I hope the courses provided the challenge you were looking for in entering the event and perhaps might even have changed your perception of Dunalastair East as an orienteering area.

Finally I would like to thank a number of people. Firstly The La Terriere family for allowing us to use Dunalastair and Finlay McIntyre, the farm manager for his advice and help. Secondly I would like to thank Terry for agreeing to be the controller (26 years after being the controller on the 97 Six Days event!). His wise advice and meticulous eye for detail made planning the event much easier.

However Terry did much more than control; he provided and helped put out controls, suggested workable solutions for the TD1 to TD3 courses, adjusted the maps for printing and throughout kept cheerful. We made a joint visit to the area early on before I began course planning and this was most useful as it allowed Terry as the controller to base his advice on the reality on the ground.

Lastly I would like to thank all the members of TAY who helped before the event and on the day. They were ably organised by Mike Pearson who had volunteered to take on the role of event organiser.

 

Controller's Report - Terry O'Brien BEM (STAG)

It is always a pleasure to be able to offer support and to help bring events of this magnitude to a successful conclusion. 

 

The plaudits for the success of Sunday's event lie firmly at Allan's door. My role was straightforward as Allan was meticulous in his planning and coped admirably even with the need to redo the Condes file once Magnetic North was set for 2023.

 

Over the last two months, we enjoyed 5 days together in the area but Allan had at least 10 other occasions on site identifying issues with the map and possible control sites. A huge commitment which needs to be widely acknowledged, appreciated, and applauded. 

 

Allan's support team of Fiona and Finlay - David was busy elsewhere - also deserve credit for their input over the weekend and I thank them most sincerely for their hospitality whenever I visited their home in Crieff enroute to Dunalastair. Travelling together helped reduce our fuel costs although I still clocked nearly 1000 miles for this venture!

 

Michael breezed through his role as Organiser, Alistair managed the SI side of the event with ease and knowing that Robin and Sheila were on hand gave us all confidence. Members of TAY covered the other necessary roles and my thanks, although I don't know the names of those who were able to hang around and help us clear the area of the 56 controls used, go to all who contributed on Sunday.

 

A successful event and it stayed dry :)

 

Acknowledgements – Thank-you to all listed below and to you for your support.

  • Tay Members and friends of Tay for their assistance.
  • Terry O’Brien BEM (STAG) Controller.             
  • Robin & Sheila Strain, computing support.
  • Steve Barrett, Stirling Surveys.
  • David Ritchie, A4 Design & Print
  • The La Terriere family, Dunalastair Estate        
  • Finlay McIntyre Farm Manager Dunalastair Estate
  • Active First Aid Scotland
  • Scotloos                           
  • Perth & Kinross Council    
  • STAG for use of their SI Units at the event

Officials

Organiser Mike Pearson (TAY)

Planner – Allan Downie (TAY)

Controller Terry O’Brien, BEM (STAG)   

Location

Nearest town: Tummel Bridge

Pre event information

Entry Details



 

Dogs allowed?

Dogs NOT allowed on courses. Dogs allowed in parking field if kept on a lead and any droppings picked 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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