News

Apr 25, 2021

Local Event Polkemmet Saturday 12th June 2021


Local event at Polkemmet. Read on for further details - entries now closed ...

Welcome to our third local event of the year, at Polkemmet Country Park near Whitburn in West Lothian. It's a mixture of woodland and open parkland, and we have four courses on offer. As this event is being run under COVID restrictions, please read the information here, and the information in the final details that will be sent to you, very carefully. 

Please note that you must have pre-registered.  There will be NO ENTRY ON THE DAY - entries are now closed.

There will be no loose control descriptions due to Covid risk mitigation. So please take along your own copy!

Final Information

Final Details, Start List and Control Descriptions now available.

Directions

Leave the M8 at junction 4A (Whitburn), following signs for Polkemmet Country Park, heading south over the first roundabout. At the second roundabout, take the B7066 heading west (third exit). The entrance to the park is in approx 0.5km (1/3 mile) on the right. Parking is at the south car park, which is on the left after you enter the park.

(See Final Details for map!)

Terrain

Parkland and open woodland, with a good path network for juniors / beginners courses.

Courses

Planned to Sports Governing Body standards by Colin Ledlie. Organiser is Paul Caban.

  • Yellow (1.9km) – for beginners (on paths, with 1 or 2 decision points per leg).
  • Orange (2.7km) – suitable for beginners and improvers (more decision points).
  • Light Green (3.9km) – suitable for adult intermediate and experienced orienteers.


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. There will be no splits printouts, and no results available at the event. We aim to have the results available online on the evening of the event, and to put the courses up on RouteGadget.

Starts will be between 12 noon - 2pm. There will be 2 starts, around 200m apart, with the light green and yellow courses starting in one location and the orange course at the other. The finish is adjacent to the car park.

Courses close at 3pm 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, otherwise they might trigger a search party and call to the emergency services.

Entry and Entry Fees

Entries must be made in advance (no entry on the day), using this entry form. Entries will close at 23:59 on Sunday 5th June to allow maps to be printed. Maps will be printed on waterproof paper.

  • Seniors: £5 (SOA/BOF-affiliated club members) / £7 (non-members)
  • Juniors: £2.50 (SOA/BOF-affiliated club members) / £3.50 (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.

Further information

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. Blue course participants should use the pelican crossing to cross the road through the middle of the area (near the castle) – ‘time out’ controls will also be used in this location. Also take care around the parking areas.

(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 (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) You are required to abide by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code (see http://www.outdooraccess-scotland.com/sites/default/files//docs/know_the_code_leaflet.pdf and if necessary give way or stop running temporarily for safety reasons.  It is important that everyone acts responsibly. After all, it is only training.

(4) The area includes cliffs/crags, steep/slippery slopes, old walls/fences, trip hazards, litter (including broken glass, old metal, wire, etc), so wear appropriate clothes to protect you and shoes with grip. Also slow down and take extra care.

(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.

(6) Excessive litter and dog dirt in the area increases the risk of germs, so employ good hygiene immediately after running (wash hands, use alcohol gel, etc).

(7) Watch out for stranger dangers; if you meet a stranger or suspicious person or get approached/asked questions, take a wide berth, don’t stop, say sorry I’m in a hurry or similar and report it to registration/download.


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