Erskine Urban Race

[andypat]

Information for anyone travelling to Erskine by public transport.

Erskine is around 6k from Glasgow Airport. A taxi (ask for Erskine Sporrts centre)should cost around £10 - worth sharing if you can.

From Glasgow City Centre (ie if you are arriving by train to Queen St or Central Station) you can get a bus to Erskine (takes around an hour) - see links below:

http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceInformation.aspx?id=7917
http://www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk/renfrew/RenfrewHome.aspx

Bus is cheap but timetables not to be relied upon - give yourself plenty time and check which Street/bus stop you pick the bus up from. In Erskine alight at Bridgewater Shopping centre - Erskine Sports Centre is the Nmost building.

Quickest route from Glasgow Central to Erskine is train to Paisley Gilmour St then a taxi (prob 30min total) but the taxi will cost £10-£15.

Entries close 12MN on Sunday 27th March.

https://oentries.com/event/details/184-erskine-urban-race

Any queries pm me.

[andypat]

Just a reminder about the closing date for this event which is Sunday 27th at midnight. Limited EOD.

Also an update on the travel advice above. The planner has been thinking a bit more laterally than me and discovered that Kilpatrick station (Helensburgh/Balloch line) on the north (opposite Erskine) side of the River Clyde is only about 4k warm up jog from the event centre and has a half hourly service to and from Glasgow Queen St station on Saturdays.

[andypat]

Final details and start list now available on the Clyde website.

http://www.clydesideorienteers.org.uk/home/events/erskine-urban-race-saturday-2-april-2011/

[andypat]

Just to advise competitors coming to Erskine tomorrow that the grassy parts of the town (10-15% of your running) are pretty wet due to the rain. Take account of this in the choice of footwear.

Anyone thinking of coming to EOD but worried about the limited maps, I still have the capacity to reserve a few maps on each course if you pm or email me on andypat33(at)hotmail(dot)com before 9pm tonight.

[EddieH]

I've just had a look at the final details and note that the grid reference for the car park/sports centre appears to be a good km to the north of where everything else tells me it is.

[EddieH]

On further reading I correct that - it looks right. The flag in the Google maps link points straight at a spot which seems to fit the description for the venue well enough for me to assume it was it. I hadn't got to the appendix which makes it clear.

[andypat]

Cheers Eddie - A km to the north might put you in the Clyde I think? Are you coming in your submarine?

[SIman]

Provisional results are now at here.

[frog]

That was fun. I was pleased to be in in under an hour but disappointed to be still near the bottom.
Must try harder. Could have saved a couple of minutes if I hadn't got lost in the houses from 11-12. The long legs were interesting, although I should unfold my map more so I'm heading for the correct control.

[andypat]

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who travelled to Erskine today for the Urban Race. Most people seemed to really enjoy the courses Donald planned. The Clyde team on the day really appreciated everyone's positive comments about the map and the event in general.

Apologies for the very small but important map error that affected 1 competitor, and who was very understanding about it.

Routegadget should be up in the next hour or so.

http://www.clyde.routegadget.co.uk/clyde/reitti.cgi?act=map&id=9&kieli=

[Eeyore]

Apologies for the very small but important map error that affected 1 competitor, and who was very understanding about it.

Andy,

Out of curiosity, where was this? I didn't notice anything the way I ran.

[Eeyore]

That was an excellent event, quality area and absolutely brilliant mixture of short and long legs to really have you thinking. to Donald

It was also an absolute pleasure to have a short course that wasn't just the add on that they so often seem to be. Donald proved that is possible to provide a technical course to challenge older people. That's what is needed at all urban events. Others take note please and study the Routegadget.

Only slightly sad thing was that this event didn't get the numbers it deserved.

If there is another chance to go there in the future, take it, you won't be disappointed. People in the west of Scotland don't bite and the weather is better than you think.

Thanks Andy and the rest of Clyde.

[andy]

Andy,

Out of curiosity, where was this? I didn't notice anything the way I ran.

having talked to the person it affected afterwards, it was the way through between the cul-de-sac to the SE of control 18 to get to the main road, which they'd used as a route choice to the long leg 16 on course 1. it allowed me to beat them so I wasn't really complaining

also, fantastic event. love these races, excellent planning especially the long leg, what a complex one!

[dustytoo]

Despite what should have been a relaxed jouney to the event mostly by train taking an interminable five and a half hours - really good for stress levels! - I really enjoyed my course. Tricky route choices, good mixture of short and long legs, people appearing from all sorts of unexpected angles - Great! Thanks to all concerned for a truly enjoyable race.

[DaveR]

It was also an absolute pleasure to have a short course that wasn't just the add on that they so often seem to be. Donald proved that is possible to provide a technical course to challenge older people. That's what is needed at all urban events. Others take note please and study the Routegadget.

I'd also add that under 16s course (Course 4) was also excellent. It complied with the BOF guidelines about road crossings yet still provided a serious technical challenge.

I also really enjoyed my course (but then I would say that ).