News
Urban Event Almondvale Park (Livingston) Saturday 6th November 2021
Urban event in and around Almonvale Park in Livingston, part of SOUL (Scottish Orienteering Urban League) 2021...
*** Entries are closed ***
We are pleased to welcome you to the Interlopers SOUL race in central Livingston. This area is a true gem for urban orienteering, comprising a complex semi-pedestrianised housing estate with many intricate alleyways and cut-throughs. Part of the area was used for the JK sprint in 2012 - see RouteGadget for more details.
As this event is being run under COVID restrictions, please read the information here, and the information in the final details carefully.
Please note that you must pre-register. There will be NO ENTRY ON THE DAY
Entries open on Fabian4 now.
DIRECTIONS, PARKING & TOILETS
The event is in Livingston in the area to the north of the Livingston Designer Outlet. Parking and toilet facilities are available at the Designer Outlet and surrounding premises. The starts are at the north end of Howden Park approx. 20min walk from the Designer Outlet parking.
Parking Update: The Livingston Match has been cancelled for Saturday so a good parking option is to use the free parking north of the Livingston Football Stadium off Almondvale Stadium Road. This is also the parking used for the Livingston Parkrun.
By car: travelling west from Edinburgh on the M9 come off at J3 to Livingston. Drive down the A899 south. The junction to the outlet is the last one before you get to Lizzie Bryce's roundabout.
By train: there are regular services to Livingston North and Livingston South stations, from each of which the start is approx 2km - good for a warm up!
See our Interactive Map for local details and transport options.
COURSES
Planned to Sports Governing Body standards by Iain Embrey and Zoe Harding, and controlled by Bill Stevenson (ESOC). Maps will be printed on waterproof paper.
This area is a true gem for urban orienteering, comprising a complex semi-pedestrianised housing estate with many intricate alleyways and cut-throughs. Part of the area was used for the JK sprint in 2012, and the routegadget for that event can be found here: https://www.jk.routegadget.co.uk/rg2/#33. As a rare treat to challenge your full range of navigational skill, all courses finish through an area of complex landscaped contour and grass/bush detail. We would recommend trail shoes with some grip if there has been any recent rain.
Course lengths are given below for our current draft courses, these may change slightly; these are red-line distances and you should expect to travel significantly further in the event. There is essentially negligible climb, with a slight downhill gradient on average over most courses.
NB: courses 1 and 2 have more than 30 controls so SI-5 and SI-8 type dibbers will not hold enough control numbers.
| Course | Length | Men's Classes | Women's Classes |
| 1 Black |
7.9km | Open Men (M18-35) |
|
| 2 Brown |
6.6km | Veteran Men (M40+) |
Open Women (W18-35) |
| 3 Blue |
5.5km | Super Veteran Men (M55+) |
Veteran Women (W40+) |
| 4 Green |
4.0km | Ultra Veteran Men (M65+) |
Super Veteran Women (W55+) |
| 5 Short Green |
3.2km | Hyper Veteran Men (M75+) |
Ultra & Hyper Veteran Women (W65+, W75+) |
| 6 Light Green |
3.6km | Junior Men (M16-) |
Junior Women (W16-) |
| 7 Yellow |
2.7km | Young Junior Men (M12-) |
Young Junior Women (W12-) |
Course 7 traverses varied types of parkland and some housing, on a mixture of grass and surfaced paths.
Course 6 is able to provide a true urban experience for its competitors, by staying within the 20mph cul-de-sac housing areas and by making use of underpasses for occasional 30mph through-roads.
REGISTRATION, START AND FINISH
All entrants must have pre-registered before. You will be sent final details and a list of start times prior to the event. Please only turn up when you are due to start, and once finished, please download quickly(and socially distanced!) and then leave the area. Splits will be available at the event (printer permitting). We aim to have the results available online on the evening of the event, and to put the courses up on RouteGadget.
Start times will be between 11:00am. and 12.30pm.
The start is beyond the north end of Howden Park. It is taped from the Finish and Download Tent (see interactive map) about 15mins walk.
Courses close at 2.30pm at which time controls will begin to be collected in. If you think you may take a while on your chosen course, please ask for an early start time.
Everyone must report to the finish and proceed to Download, whether they finish their courses or not.
ENTRY AND ENTRY FEES
Entries open on Fabian4.
Seniors: £10 (SOA/BOF-affiliated club members) / £12 (non-members)
Juniors / Students: £5 (SOA/BOF-affiliated club members) / £7 (non-members)
ELECTRONIC TIMING
SportIdent (SI) electronic timing will be used, with SI Air enabled. If you have your own SI dibber, please bring it. Otherwise SI dibbers can be hired free of charge, but with £30 charge if lost. This must have been requested when booking your place for the event.
Please note that for courses 1 and 2 you will need SI dibbers that take > 30 controls (so not flat cards, SI-5 (1 - 499,999) or SI-8 (2,000,001 - 2,999,999) cards.
CONTROL DESCRIPTIONS
Printed Control Descriptions will be available at the event.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Event organiser: Robin Galloway
For further information on orienteering and the club, see the rest of our website.
If you still have a question, e-mail: info@interlopers.org.uk
PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE
You are only covered by our public liability insurance if you have joined an orienteering club or are competing in one of your first 3 events. If you would like to join Interlopers orienteering club (we cover Edinburgh and Lothians) please contact us via our web site / membership tab or at the event. The event entry fees are lower if you are a club member.
PRIVACY
When entering our orienteering events and activities, your name may appear in the results section of the club website. We do not share your data with any other organisations, other than the sport’s governing bodies for administrative purposes. We do not use it for any marketing purposes. By entering the event you are accepting this condition.
SAFETY NOTICE
Participants take part at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety during the event. By entering the event you are accepting this condition.
Parents/guardians should explain all safety aspects to all children and vulnerable persons in their care and if you are in any doubt about their ability to stay safe only allow them to participate with a carer.
A risk assessment has been carried out by the organiser. Please note:
(1) Vehicles use the roads and will not be expecting you, so you must watch out for vehicles, give way and follow the Highway Code.
(2) Beware that other people, dog walkers and cyclists use the area and may not expect you, so take extra care to avoid surprise or collision, especially near corners on narrow alleyways (give way, slow down, go wide, make a polite warning noise, etc). Take special care near dogs (go wide, or stand still/don’t wave arms, wait for owner).
(3) There are uneven surfaces, rocks, roots, brash, undergrowth, steps and ruins in the area. Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes with grip.
(4) Courses are planned to avoid the need to cross walls & fences.
(5) If you have an existing medical condition that may be a risk, please write down the necessary details, emergency contact details and advice on what to do in an emergency, then place it in a sealed envelope with your name on the front, plus “only to be opened in an emergency”, and hand it in to the Registration team.
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