Sprintelope - Craigmillar
Wednesday 22nd July
Entries close 23:59 on Monday 20th July
AROS are staging this sprint orienteering event at Craigmillar as part of the Sprintelope series of events.
The 13th Sprintelope of the 2026 season takes place in Craigmillar Castle Park, on Wednesday 22nd July. This will be hosted by AROS with starts between 6:30 - 7:30pm. Please sign up in advance on Race-Signup to guarantee a map, up to midnight on the Monday before the event (unlimited entries), or by midnight on Tuesday (limited).
There will be some maps for EOD (entry on the day) as well but it's always better to sign up before.
See the Sprintelope Facebook page for any last minute updates and for details of the series, which you can also find on the ESOA Sprintelope page. Latest results can be found on the Munro Leagues website
Registration, Start, Finish and Download will all be inside the park in the clearing at 55.928454, -3.144973. This is the clearing marked in red on the map below.
Google Maps pin (https://maps.app.goo.gl/tuGH2wVTbdHsztzt9)
What3words : ///proof.safety.oddly
Travel options:
Many lothian bus routes have stops nearby, Google Maps or the Lothian bus app provide helpful suggestions in a pinch.
Edinburgh’s new electric bike hire system with Voi can get you close, please note the possible parking areas on the Voi parking map.
If you do opt to drive there are limited parking options in the blue square on the map below. Please attempt to car share if able.
Courses, Start and Finish
There will be a short and a long course, planned by Matt Leitch. Given the proximity of the area to busy roads all under-16s must be shadowed by an adult however only the Long course is expected to cross a road.
Starts are between 6:30 - 7:30pm. Courses close at 8:30pm, so if you think you will be out a while, please consider starting early! Timing will be using SI Timing. Dibbers can be hired for free - please request when signing up - but there is a £30 charge if lost.
When you have finished, please remember to download at the finish so we know you are back and don't end up sending out a search party for you. Results will be posted to the website when ready - this may not be on Wednesday evening though! You can view the Munro League for Sprintelopes here.
Extra maps are £1. SI Dibbers may be hired if required (free, but £30 charge if lost).
Pairs, Groups and Families should make one entry paying the rate of the oldest participant, put the second runner / group name in the comment box, and order any extra maps (£1 each) on the entry form
Safety
As typical for a city park, there are of course risks from dogs, dog mess, bikes, litter / broken glass, uneven surfaces and trip hazards such as steps. On prerunning we have also noticed NOBs (Neds on Bikes) and the more perilous NOeBs (Neds on eBikes), please take care especially when running through the more technical woodland.
Be mindful and considerate of other people and dogs that may be encountered around courses.
In extreme weather conditions, the event will be cancelled and participants notified via email / Facebook
A first aid kit will be located at the Assembly point.
Competitors with existing high risk medical conditions will be asked in the event final details to notify the organisers of relevant information. This will be kept confidentially.
Privacy
When entering our orienteering events your name may appear in the results section of the Interlopers orienteering club website. We do not share your data with other organisations, other than the sport governing bodies for administrative purposes. We do not use it for any marketing purposes. By entering the event you are accepting this condition.
We may take photographs to be used for publicity purposes, but will not identify any individuals in these photos. If you do not wish to appear on any such photographs please let us know.
Public Liability Insurance
Please note: Participants who are not members of either British Orienteering or Scottish Orienteering are not covered by their respective public liability insurance. By entering this event, you acknowledge that you are taking part at your own risk. For example, if you were to accidentally injure a member of the public or damage property during the event, you would not be covered.
For any last minute queries or to reserve a map after entries close, please contact: matthewleitch1337@gmail.com
There will be some maps for EOD (entry on the day) as well but it's always better to sign up before.
See the Sprintelope Facebook page for any last minute updates and for details of the series, which you can also find on the ESOA Sprintelope page. Latest results can be found on the Munro Leagues website
Registration, Start, Finish and Download will all be inside the park in the clearing at 55.928454, -3.144973. This is the clearing marked in red on the map below.
Google Maps pin (https://maps.app.goo.gl/tuGH2wVTbdHsztzt9)
What3words : ///proof.safety.oddly
Travel options:
Many lothian bus routes have stops nearby, Google Maps or the Lothian bus app provide helpful suggestions in a pinch.
Edinburgh’s new electric bike hire system with Voi can get you close, please note the possible parking areas on the Voi parking map.
If you do opt to drive there are limited parking options in the blue square on the map below. Please attempt to car share if able.
Courses, Start and Finish
There will be a short and a long course, planned by Matt Leitch. Given the proximity of the area to busy roads all under-16s must be shadowed by an adult however only the Long course is expected to cross a road.
Starts are between 6:30 - 7:30pm. Courses close at 8:30pm, so if you think you will be out a while, please consider starting early! Timing will be using SI Timing. Dibbers can be hired for free - please request when signing up - but there is a £30 charge if lost.
When you have finished, please remember to download at the finish so we know you are back and don't end up sending out a search party for you. Results will be posted to the website when ready - this may not be on Wednesday evening though! You can view the Munro League for Sprintelopes here.
Extra maps are £1. SI Dibbers may be hired if required (free, but £30 charge if lost).
Pairs, Groups and Families should make one entry paying the rate of the oldest participant, put the second runner / group name in the comment box, and order any extra maps (£1 each) on the entry form
Safety
As typical for a city park, there are of course risks from dogs, dog mess, bikes, litter / broken glass, uneven surfaces and trip hazards such as steps. On prerunning we have also noticed NOBs (Neds on Bikes) and the more perilous NOeBs (Neds on eBikes), please take care especially when running through the more technical woodland.
Be mindful and considerate of other people and dogs that may be encountered around courses.
In extreme weather conditions, the event will be cancelled and participants notified via email / Facebook
A first aid kit will be located at the Assembly point.
Competitors with existing high risk medical conditions will be asked in the event final details to notify the organisers of relevant information. This will be kept confidentially.
Privacy
When entering our orienteering events your name may appear in the results section of the Interlopers orienteering club website. We do not share your data with other organisations, other than the sport governing bodies for administrative purposes. We do not use it for any marketing purposes. By entering the event you are accepting this condition.
We may take photographs to be used for publicity purposes, but will not identify any individuals in these photos. If you do not wish to appear on any such photographs please let us know.
Public Liability Insurance
Please note: Participants who are not members of either British Orienteering or Scottish Orienteering are not covered by their respective public liability insurance. By entering this event, you acknowledge that you are taking part at your own risk. For example, if you were to accidentally injure a member of the public or damage property during the event, you would not be covered.
For any last minute queries or to reserve a map after entries close, please contact: matthewleitch1337@gmail.com
Courses
Long 3.9km
Entered: 2
Short 2.8km
Entered: 0
U16s must be shadowed on both courses.
Long: 5km straight-line
Short: 3km straight-line.
You'll run further than the straight line distance on both courses!
Control descriptions for both courses will be printed on the map. There will be no separate descriptions.
Controls will be marked with red and white tape. Map scale 1:5000.
There will be actual SI controls between numbers 14-16 on the Short and 19-21 on the long. These will not be SI air enabled and must be punched manually.
On both courses you will encounter a Maze (start control is 15 for Short and 20 for Long). The leg preceding it will be timed out to allow the maze organiser to stagger the starts. You will be handed a separate map for the Maze. At the end you will punch your next control on the main course (control 16 Short and control 21 Long) and leave your Maze map by this control for the helpers to collect. Your time in the Maze will contribute to your overall time. The Maze will be used to decide the 2026 Interlopers club champion.
Craigmillar in July is a very different place to in winter, the grass is long and the undergrowth is deep. You should take this into consideration with your route choices. Full leg cover with gaiters is strongly recommended due to the nettles. If you have hayfever or a grass allergy please take any preventative measures before running.
The Long course crosses a busier road on two occasions where participants are asked to take extra care. One crossing has lights and the other does not. On the second crossing we request you take extra care. Do not run out into the road without looking both ways. This is a sprintelope not the British Champs.
This course predominantly takes part in the wooded areas of Craigmillar Castle Park but does run on some paved paths. Please choose your footwear appropriately and clothing for the conditions (including rain gear / sun protection if necessary).
Entry Fees
Senior: £4.00/£6.00
Junior/Student: £2.00/£3.00
Juniors are under 21 on 31st December.Students will be charged the Junior fee if they tick the Are you a Student? box on the entry form.
Pairs / Groups / Families running together should make a single entry, add the second name / group / family name in the comment box, and use the additional maps option to order extra maps as desired.
Dibber Hire - SI dibbers are available to hire free of charge but there is a £30 charge if lost.
Junior/Student: £2.00/£3.00
Juniors are under 21 on 31st December.Students will be charged the Junior fee if they tick the Are you a Student? box on the entry form.
Pairs / Groups / Families running together should make a single entry, add the second name / group / family name in the comment box, and use the additional maps option to order extra maps as desired.
Dibber Hire - SI dibbers are available to hire free of charge but there is a £30 charge if lost.
