Welcome to our page for the Saturday Series (fondly known as "Cake O"). The increasingly popular Saturday afternoon events are particularly enjoyed by family groups.
Latest News
Saturday Series returns in 2012
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
The ever-popular, family-friendly winter Saturday afternoon series returns in April 2012. Events will be run in parklands and surrounding streets, most Saturday afternoons in the cooler months. Meanwhile, why not try a Summer Series event, and take advantage of daylight savings? Events are held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from November to March. Courses are available for runners and walkers, and groups (school, scout, sporting or family) are very welcome.
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Saturday Series
Welcome to the Saturday Afternoon Series.
Where: Mainly Northern and Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne
When: 2pm on most Saturdays from mid April to the end of October.
Cost: $4 per event for adults, $2 for juniors/students
There are three Runners courses (A B & C) and a Power Walkers course. All courses are SCORE format.
There are 20 events in the 2011 program and your best 12 will be used to calculate final placings.
Refreshments are available after all events. Please stay for a while and bring a plate of food to share. Do not rely on public toilets being available or accessible near start locations on Saturdays.
All Park and Street Orienteering events welcome people of all abilities and ages. There are a range of courses that accommodate both the elite sports person right through to people who are just looking for a good walk to help stay in shape.
Families and friends can participate in groups or individually.
You will always find friendly and helpful people to assist you have an enjoyable experience. Your feedback is always welcome.
Printed programs covering all of Melbourne's Park and Street Orienteering events are available at the events. And of course information is available on this website.
If you have any questions, please Email or telephone Barry Giles Ph 0407 834 824
Park & Street Orienteering provides an ideal opportunity for mental and physical exercise. If you can walk to the local milk bar you are fit enough to participate. You do not need a compass or any special map reading ability.
Series
The Saturday Afternoon Series runs from April to October.
There is a Western Tuesday Night Series that runs in Autumn and Monday and Wednesday Night Series (eastern, southern and northern suburbs) that run from Autumn through to Spring. A small torch or headlight is useful for these events and night visible clothing is encouraged.
During Daylight Saving, there are four major Summer series: Southern (Monday), Western (Tuesday), Eastern (Wednesday), and Northern (Thursday).
There are also Macedon Ranges, Wyndham Western (Thursday), and Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO) series.
These events start at 7:00 PM sharp (except for Mountain Bike Orienteering). You need to arrive at about 6:30 pm to register and prepare before the start. You will need running gear or lightweight clothing and shoes. Bring a drink when hot and a clear plastic pocket (A4) for your map on damp days. >
Parking
Look for the Red and White Orienteering sign boards near the event start which will direct you to available parking.
If this is full then: please - PARK ON ONE SIDE OF STREETS ONLY
Courses
All events have three to five runners' courses, ranging from 2.5 to 10km, plus a power walking course.
Courses are started immediately after the event briefing when maps are handed out.
By convention, you hold your map face down and only turn it over when the signal to 'start' is called.
If this is your first event then you will be given your map and instructions well before start of the event.
There are two main competition formats:
-SCATTER
This is the 'standard' format for summer running courses, unless otherwise indicated.
You must visit a number of control locations in any order. First to finish wins. The number of controls may vary from event to event and are specified on the map and confirmed at the start by the course setter. Walkers can participate in these 'runners' courses especially the shorter C & D courses.
-SCORE
This is the 'standard' format for all walking courses and for the runners courses during Autumn, Winter and Spring.
Controls have values ranging from 2 to 5 points. The objective is to collect as many points as you can before a set finish time. Penalty points are deducted for being late so you need to bring a watch.
Duration and Score
Finishing times vary depending on the course selected and the longest is for walkers at 8:05 pm. Courses close at 8:15 pm and the control plates are collected shortly after. It is important to always report back to the finish even if you do not complete a course.
Participants carry a score card which they 'punch' at each control plate visited. The card is handed in at the 'Finish' where there is a final punch, and your finish order is recorded. The scores are compiled and published on this website and are also displayed at the following event.
In most series a Category system is used to enable participants to judge how they are going against people of similar ability. You can see how this works by checking out 'overall scores' where you will find many different groups of people who can choose to compete against each other, themselves, or just enjoy a good walk.
Maps
Maps are usually black and white, A4 size at 1:10,000 scale and with 5m contours. Maps will also contain other information, such as the number of controls required on SCATTER courses, and the points value of controls for SCORE courses. There is an important briefing just prior to the start to advise of unavoidable last minute changes to control locations (always a handy thing to know so listen up).
Participants retain their map on completion (although the next event on the map in a later series will often have a different start/finish location and certainly revised control locations).
Wheelchair and Pram Accessibility
There is a printed program covering all the current series freely available at all events. This fixture includes a Guide to Wheelchair and Pram Accessibility.
Each event is rated from 'A' for Good (with sealed footpaths etc) through to 'D' for Unsuitable.
Clubs
You do not have to be a member of a club to participate. Regular participants are encouraged to join a club and/or the Victorian Orienteering Association.
There are many clubs to choose from and many people often join more then one club. Memberships fees of a club are usually nominal.
Series Coordinator:
Please contact Barry Giles by email or telephone 0407 834824
Scoring Enquiries:
Please contact Ray Howe by email
Please send any queries, comments and feedback about any of this seasons events by clicking the above link which will open a pre-addressed Email in your regular Email program.
You can also raise any matters with the organisers at a following event in this series.
Orienteering Victoria:
A comprehensive schedule of contact information is available on the Contact Us page