ELO’s club championships for 2023 were run in combination with ESOC’s SoSOL and ESOA Championships at Corstorphine Hill in Edinburgh on Sunday 19th November.
Champions announced soon in five categories …
- adult female – W16 and above – born in 2008 or earlier
- adult male – M16 and above – born in 2008 or earlier
- junior running LG – W14 and M14 – born in 2009 or 2010
- junior running Orange – W12 and M12 – born in 2011 or 2012
- junior running Yellow – W10 and M10 – born in 2013 or later*
Vogrie Country Park
Saturday 25 November 2023
Vogrie Country Park is a woodland estate managed by Midlothian Council. The Tyne Water runs through the park in a steep sided valley which can provide a physical challenge. Vogrie usually hosts a Saturday parkrun and has a popular playground but its varied terrain and 12 mile path network make this a popular venue for orienteering, particularly for those new to the sport. For the more experienced there are plenty of ways to navigate between controls both on paths and off them!
Results
- Simple results are here.
- Routegadget allows you to plot your route, either by hand or by downloading a gpx file from a watch or phone and to look where you and others went.
- Winsplits Online gives another way of comparing your times for each leg.
- British Orienteering collect results from all events and publish ranking scores for larger events.
Planners and Organisers needed for 2024 events
In 2024 ELO will again offer an ambitious programme of events and activities.
Please let us know if you can help as Planner or Organiser. A few 2024 events already have planners pencilled in but many volunteers are still needed.
Don’t worry if you haven’t planned before because you will work with an experienced mentor offering advice and guidance.
Butterdean Wood
Saturday 28th October 2023
Butterdean is near Gladsmuir village between Tranent and Haddington. It is a flat wood densely planted with conifers and patches of birch or ash. There is a good track and path network. The wood is home to a range of wildlife and some animal sculptures. It is managed by the Woodland Trust and East Lothian Council.
Please note that we are using a new event base: Parking, Enquiries and Start/Finish are all on the east side of the wood – see detailed directions below.
Results
- Simple results are here.
- Routegadget allows you to plot your route, either by hand or by downloading a gpx file from a watch or phone and to look where you and others went.
- Winsplits Online gives another way of comparing your times for each leg.
- British Orienteering collect results from all events and publish ranking scores for larger events.
Yellowcraig
Saturday 30th September 2023
Usual thanks to all the very many who came to run and to the many helpers who made the event possible.
Score events require an extra set of decision making skills and many runners enjoyed this change. Well done to those brave souls who added the challenge of “Odds before Evens”.
More than 30 tried the RetrO course. Sample comment – “I’ll never complain about SI timing again”. Special mention to Fran Humphrey who entered into the spirit by actually bringing a stamped addressed envelope for the results – just like pre-internet days.
Saartje’s reduced refreshment stand raised £35 for Mary’s Meals.
Organiser’s Report
It was great to be able to welcome so many people to Yellowcraig! Hopefully the wait at registration for a few folks was more than made up for by the excellent courses and convivial atmosphere afterwards. Patchy mobile reception meant that live results online weren’t possible but hopefully you saw the results screen (and thankfully we didn’t have to wait a week for the stamped address envelopes to arrive through the post – even for the retro course).
We look forward to seeing you next month in Butterdean where we will have a little more space for registration and can spread out! September saw experienced Orienteers having their route choice decision making challenged and next month you can have a go at a map memory course where your only chance to see each leg is on the map extract at the controls.
Planner’s Report
Yellowcraig is varied but a very small area so it’s hard to fit in a long course without tedious loops. I had thought that adding the wrinkle of “Odds before Evens” on a Score would slow down the finishing times – but many finished comfortably inside the limit even with this extra option. Perhaps for next time an even more arcane restriction is needed …
Results
- Simple results are here.
- Routegadget allows you to plot your route, either by hand or by downloading a gpx file from a watch or phone and to look where you and others went.
- Winsplits Online gives another way of comparing your times for each leg.
- British Orienteering collect results from all events and publish ranking scores for larger events.
- RetrO results are here.
North Berwick Law
Saturday 9th September 2023
Sadly, Ian Rowland, today’s planner couldn’t be present in person. His courses each provided a tough challenge on a very hot afternoon and his Green course squeezed every drop of variety out of a small area.
Thanks to all who came to run and to help. See you in three weeks at Yellowcraig when we will be back in our regular ‘last Saturday of the month’ slot.
Organiser’s Report
After an enforced summer break it was good to have a strong turnout for today’s club event at Berwick Law. The routes took runners up and down the slopes, through woodland, and along lochans. Memories of the day include the sweltering heat, the ponies repeatedly knocking down the Start banner, the ponies failing to break into the lush community allotment – and ice lollies at the finish. Thanks to Ian Rowland for planning the courses, to all the helpers beforehand and on the day, and to the catering team who raised £67 for Mary’s Meals.
Planner’s Report
It’s always a bit tricky putting out controls on courses planned by someone else – “Am I putting this control on the same feature which the planner envisaged?”. Ian couldn’t be with us today but his courses won many compliments. If any controls weren’t perfectly placed the blame is with me. Pete Younger
Results
- Simple results are here.
- Routegadget allows you to plot your route, either by hand or by downloading a gpx file from a watch or phone and to look where you and others went.
- Winsplits Online gives another way of comparing your times for each leg.
- British Orienteering collect results from all events and publish ranking scores for larger events.
ELO AGM 2023
It’s that time of year again. The AGM is the chance for all our members to have their say in the direction and running of the club.
Please come to the AGM on Wednesday 13th September in the Compass School Hall, Haddington from 19:30.
Read more
North Berwick Sprintelope
Wednesday 28th June 2023
Sprintelopes are lightweight informal events featuring Urban style races around the streets of towns in East Lothian and other areas in and around Edinburgh on Wednesday evenings.
In 2023, ELO are contributing six races to the series – this is the sixth of them, around North Berwick!
Orienteers of all abilities are welcome to join us on the day when we will have a range of courses to suit everyone including under 16s who have a course with no road crossings.
Organiser’s Report
Thanks for coming along to the final ELO-organised Sprintelope of the season. I am very grateful to all the planners who have contributed to the series – Robin Strain, Jamie Wilson, Duncan Leishman, Simon Fairfull, David Robertson, and Tim Harding – without planners there would be no courses to run around. It was good to see junior courses at a few of the events and we hope to continue that next year.
Special thanks go to Robin and Sheila Strain for their support with all things SI and logistics – without them there would most certainly be no results.
We hope you enjoyed the series and we look forward to seeing you at some of the other clubs’ sprintelopes soon.
Results
- Simple results are here.
- Routegadget allows you to plot your route, either by hand or by downloading a gpx file from a watch or phone and to look where you and others went.
- British Orienteering collect results from all events and publish ranking scores for larger events.
- Munroleagues compile the Sprintelope series results.
Binning Wood
Saturday 24th June 2023
Binning Wood was replanted after 1945 with conifers and beech and has a complex network of rides, paths and ditches which can be disorientating to the unwary. Although much of the site had been overrun with rhododendron, work is ongoing to clear some of the site which has dramatically improved the runnability. In many areas visibility has improved and hidden ditches have reappeared, although the brashings will slow you down.
Orienteers of all abilities are welcome to join us on the day when we will have a range of courses to suit everyone.
Results
- Simple results are here.
- Routegadget allows you to plot your route, either by hand or by downloading a gpx file from a watch or phone and to look where you and others went.
- Winsplits Online gives another way of comparing your times for each leg.
- British Orienteering collect results from all events and publish ranking scores for larger events.
Port Seton and Cockenzie Sprintelope
Wednesday 14th June 2023
Sprintelopes are lightweight informal events featuring Urban style races around the streets of towns in East Lothian and other areas in and around Edinburgh on Wednesday evenings.
In 2023, ELO are contributing six races to the series – this is the fifth of them, around Port Seton and Cockenzie. Expect some deviously similar looking sections on a brand new map with plenty of scope for making parallel errors!
Orienteers of all abilities are welcome to join us on the day when we will have a range of courses to suit everyone.
Results
- Simple results are here.
- Routegadget allows you to plot your route, either by hand or by downloading a gpx file from a watch or phone and to look where you and others went.
- British Orienteering collect results from all events and publish ranking scores for larger events.
- Munro Leagues collate the series results