STAG's Nox et Die No.736.Drumpellier CPSun 31 October, 2021

Regional level event

Results will be here

Report

Full results can be accessed here

Organiser's Report - Terry O'Brien (M63) BEM

Being offered the chance to continue the fine tradition built up by TINTO and their TINTO TWIN was a no-brainer for STAG.

I am now struggling to remember how I arrived at the 'Cervi's Nox et Dies' title which is Latin for 'STAG's Night and Day'. Some folk might never even have heard of Latin - showing my age and education :)

Organising any event becomes more straight forward with experience and age but you really can't have one without the other however without the ongoing support from STAG Members I wouldn't still be doing such after almost 40 years and it remains challenging and others do need to come forward to take on the management of Orienteering from us older orienteers.

With Kyle offering to plan, and Blair agreeing to control, that side of the project was always going to be in safe hands.

Living locally I checked the advised crossing points early last week and carried out some gardening/taping. I can assure you that although the ground was damp there was no water to worry about.

When I ran around on Friday it was a different story with the depth coming up to just below my knee. The decision to take this option out at night was the correct one.

Nox Race

Back in 2015, STAG hosted The Scottish Night Champs at Drumpellier CP based at The Lochview Golf Course Pavilion. This wasn't an option available to us.

The alternative to base the event from the car park of St.Ambrose High School was sound but for reasons unknown, the lights within the car park which were operating on the previous 2 weekends didn't light up for us but the weather was incredibly cooperative and I am sure we all breathed a sigh of relief.

My thanks to John R. for agreeing to run the Start and also John McK, Jim and Scott for assisting at the Start/Finish and Fredrik who cleared the 6 controls from the Golf Course.

Dies Race

With the need to supply orienteering options for a range of ages/abilities, the move NW to operate from the Visitors Centre location was necessary. Due to ongoing Covid-19 related restrictions, the hire of the indoor lecture room was not permitted.

As you will agree the weather was challenging and added to the fact that units had to be changed from BST > GMT and awoken - SIACs don't work unless the Control is live - my day started with a good soaking as young Kyle was travelling through from Edinburgh but had to arrange a lift so couldn't arrive early enough.

My thanks to John McK for agreeing to run the Start and to the STAG Squad who assisted Kyle in bringing in the controls - Chris, Colin, Fredrik, Jo, Lynn, Marta, Rudi, Tom and Velina.

STAG still seems to be the only Scottish Club willing to publish event accounts. The surplus is only there as 1. No room was available to hire 2. The base entry fee was set at £10 so no SOA Levy to pay and 3. No formal 1st Aid Cover was available to book.

Finally we send our best wishes with Tom, Katie and Angus Rademaker who are returning to their native New Zealand. We wish you well, God bless.

Planner's Report - Kyle Heron (M34) STAG
The Tinto Twin is an event I often attended as a junior and have fond memories of, and so when I was asked to plan it this year, I was more than happy to accept the opportunity. That said, it's a while since I have planned an event in Scotland, and so I have to thank both Terry and Blair for their invaluable input during the process and keeping me on the right track.

My initial thoughts were that the difficulty would be in fitting both night and day courses for the same competitors into a relatively small map would be the toughest task.

Drumpellier CP however proved that it does not take a large area to be able to achieve this, and I was pleasantly surprised when the courses came together and appeared to be varied and challenging enough for the competitors.

It turned out that the unpredictability of surface water was the main challenge on the weekend itself, with the area being extremely dry when checking sites, only for some ponds to flood, while others did not fill at all, and likewise with ditches. I think it was the right decision to remove the flooded leg from the night event, and thanks to all the competitors who took the late, and unmapped change in their stride.

My highlight was watching over control 1 of the night event from a safe distance, and seeing the constant stream of starters heading into the forest and taking a range of different routes out. It was akin to Jukola with the train of headlights being continuous for the best part of 30 minutes.

Thanks to those who gave feedback on the weekend, and to those already named that helped with the control collecting.

An extra thanks to Angus, Katie and Tom who kindly gave me a lift to and from the event on Sunday, and I wish them all the best on their new adventures back in New Zealand.

I am happy for the whole organising team that feedback on the event was positive, and would like to echo others in their support for the Tinto Twin as an event. I am glad its future in the orienteering calendar appears secure.

Controller's Report - Blair Young (M64) TINTO

Well done to everyone in STAG for putting on yet another great orienteering event.

When the aging and reducing membership of TINTO came to the conclusion that our popular Tinto Twin trademark event was becoming too much of an annual task we offered this format to neighbouring Clubs. It certainly would have been a pity to lose this unique format and to leave the many age group trophies to gather dust rather than being given out annually.

Thankfully two of our strongest supporters over the years STAG and ESOC agreed to incorporate our event into theirs. Therefore this was hopefully the first of many events where the array of Tinto trophies will be awarded to worthy winners.

Over the weekend we could not have been luckier with the weather. After a week of torrential rain it was obviously going to be wet underfoot but at least, for the most part, it was dry overhead.

Kyle’s courses were very well designed and received by many and I thank you for taking the time to tell him that you enjoyed your runs - even when you were soaked through!

Apologies for the confusion around control 52. We spent a fair bit of time on this one but the map is vague in this area which, combined with the undergrowth, should have led us to perhaps avoid using this site.

Congratulations to everyone who completed their courses and especially our Nox et Dies winners.

Hopefully we will see all of you at future events.


Provisional Accounts for 1st Nox et Dies Weekend

Location Info

Near: Coatbridge
Lat,Lng: 55.87379,-4.07279
OS Grid Ref: NS704664
Postcode: ML5 2HT

Open an interactive map in:
GoogleMap - Streetmap (OS 50k)
OpenStreetMap - BingMap (OS 50k)

Pre Event Info

WE do what WE do as it is GOOD for US and GOOD for YOU!

Travel options from Glasgow City Centre - check timetables

By Train
Blairhill Station is now a fair walk from the Visitors Centre approx 20 minutes. Best to walk north from Station and turn west at roundabout then along Townhead Road.

By Bus

Check out the Moovit website.

By Car
M8 or M73 > A725 > Townhead Road > Visitors Centre at western end.

Note - There is no String Course at this event. 2 play areas do exist either side of The Visitors Centre - The Crannog Play Area (East) is by far the largest.

Directions / Parking

At car parks adjacent to Drumpellier CP's Visitor Centre.

Read more about the mapped area

Map / Terrain

Updated October 2021. Scale 1:10,000 5m contours.

Registration and Start times

Starts from 10:30am > 11:59am.

Course Information

See STAG News for latest update.

Entry Details

Very limited late entry may be available. Contact Terry no later than 10pm Thursday 28th October 2021.

Miscellaneous

Full body cover due to presence of ticks in the area.