Tayside Orienteers invite you to participate in the 2012 edition of our annual Christmas Score event. This year's venue is Pitmedden Forest, between Abernethy and Strathmiglo.
Sunday 9th December, 19:50. Christmas Score 2012 results are now available.
Controls 196 (Santa), 197 (the hidden star) and 198 (the Christmas tree) were additional bonus controls not on the map. An extra 10 points was awarded to runners with Christmas hats and other suitably festive dress.
Thankyou to everyone who supported the event by competing, helping - and in several cases doing both. For a while this week, we thought the weather would get the better of us, but we worked hard to bring you what we hope was enjoyable and challenging orienteering, keeping what has become quite a club tradition. The early morning freeze that made the tracks icier and more difficult to run on than at any other time did not put you off, and we're very grateful that you all made it back to the finish - and down to Abernethy - in one piece!
So we're extremely grateful to you all for accepting the change in arrangements and the long walk to and from the start/finish with good humour, and our apologies to those for whom this change meant a decision not to participate.
This event was very much a TAY team effort, so as planner, I would like to thank several people without whom the event could not have happened:
Next year, you can expect a venue less exposed to the elements - and we'll be asking for a warmer day too!
Prizewinners - Angela Dixon has some unclaimed prizes, so she'll be in touch with you to arrange collection.
David Sloan
Parking and registration will now be in Abernethy village. The registration and download car will be parked off Main Street at GR NO186163; see location below.
There will be some space to park here; alternatively park sensibly on the streets in the village centre. Please show consideration for local residents.
Pre-entered families with younger children have been advised of alternative parking arrangements.
Pre-entries can go straight to the start without having to visit registration first - if you have hired an SI card, you'll be given it at the start.
Start list of pre-entered competitors.
We appreciate that the change in arrangements is not ideal, but they have been put in place to allow the event to go ahead rather than cancelling. Please let us know if you have pre-entered, but have decided not to take part.
We have around 20 maps available for people who wish to enter on the day - if you can email us in advance to let us know you plan to attend, we'll set aside a map for you. Registration will be open from 10.00 and close at 10.30 approximately.
Entry fees: Seniors £6; Juniors £3.
Go to registration to pay and collect your map; SportIdent cards will be available to hire here.
The change in arrangements mean there is now a 2.3km walk with 210m climb, along a mix of surfaced roads, paths and the edge of fields, south to the Start and Finish, which are located together. The route will be marked at key points. The upside is that there are beautiful views over the Firth of Tay.
Google map showing route to the start.
We recommend you allow 45 minutes for this walk - the return will take slightly less time.
There will be facilities for leaving extra clothing there (which we strongly recommend you take!). You'll get your map at the start, and hired SI cards will also be given out at the start.
There will be a punching start, but to help us with organisation and control collection, we request that you try to be at the start for a mass start at 11.15, with an absolute last start time of 11.30.
When you finish, go back down the hill, and download will be in the Registration/Download car at the location identified above.
With the remote location of the start and finish, and the recent ice and snow, please make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather (a reminder that there will be a space to leave extra clothing at the start and finish), and keep an eye on the weather forecast. It is likely that unless there is a big thaw, there will be some areas of ice and snow in the forest, particularly on forest roads and areas of mud that have frozen over. Take care when you are running!
All competitors are reminded that they take part at their own risk.
Pitmedden Forest is a lovely mix of mature plantation and runnable open land with some intricate contour detail and a complex path and track network, located at the east end of the Ochil Hills, high on the border of Perthshire and Fife. There are terrific views over the upper Firth of Tay to Perth and the hills beyond.
Pitmedden is a mix of forest and two separate areas of open land. In accordance with landowners' wishes, access to and from these areas of open land will be somewhat restricted. Crossing points will be marked on the map and, where not obvious, also on the ground with tapes.
Fences that you must not cross except at marked crossing points will be marked with purple overprint. Other fences are crossable at any point, but please take extreme care as most will have at least one strand of barbed wire - in this cases, crossing points are marked for your convenience.
The format will be the same as for previous years - a mass start Score event (find as many controls as you can within a time limit), with two categories:
There will be the usual twist to the competition, with interesting ways in which you can increase your points score...more details will be revealed at the start line!
There will be prizes - for 1st Adult M; 1st Adult W; 1st Junior M; 1st Junior W; 1st Vet M (60+); 1st Vet W (60+).
For those who have pre-booked Christmas lunch at Jamesfield Organic Farm, which is located about 2km east of Abernethy on the A913, just after the railway bridge with traffic lights. Lunch will now be at 2pm.
If you haven't pre-booked and would like to join us, other non-Christmas options/children's menus will be available on the day. Contact Moira Laws on (01738) 828922 or moira.laws@hotmail.co.uk for further details.
David Sloan (sloan758 @ gmail.com), Moira Laws (moira.laws @ hotmail.co.uk) and Angela Dixon; with grateful thanks to Dave Prentice for additional support.