Tuesday Western Series

Welcome to the Tuesday Western Series - Park and Street orienteering in Melbourne's west.

About the Western Series	About Street Orienteering	Event Program	Current Series Results	Previous Series Results
General Information	Information for Newcomers	Coming Events	Latest Results	Archived Results

Latest News:

Williamstown by the sea

Saturday, 12 June 2010

Choosing the Strand foreshore as a starting location for night orienteering is always a gamble.

On Tuesday night we had a surprisingly reasonable night, given that our run of adverse Tuesday night weather had been particularly unimpressive.

We had a slight northerley wind, but where else could you get the fantastic night view of Melbourne, interspersed with the occasional cargo ship moving silently throught the night?

The course was set by the experienced Ted Van Gadermalsen, who used the random street layout to advantage, and incorporated the three 6 point control innovation which has been so well received.

After the event 52 participants adjourned to the Customs House Hotel for and enjoyable evening of fine food and prize presentations.

A calendar of Saturday and Sunday events was given out to help bridge the gap to the next summer series.

Many thanks to all who have helped with the series-course setters-control collectors-cup cleaners-settig up and cleaning up each night- -etc, and especially Bridget Walker and Finlay Stuart who do the results each week.

NEW 5 WEEK GEELONG NIGHT SERIES

P.S. Don't forget the new Geelong night series if you want to run on new maps. The events are listed on the Vic-orienteering web site.

john sheahan

Tuesday Western Series

About this series:

Welcome to the Tuesday Western Series - Park and Street orienteering in Melbourne's west.

Where: Western suburbs of Melbourne

When: 7:00pm Tuesdays.

Cost: $4 per event for adults, $2 for juniors/students

The Western Series offers a diverse and arguably unique range of venues.

From the elegance of Albert Park, Essendon and Williamstown right through to the vibrant newer suburbs in the outer west.

It embraces the charming inner suburbs such as the old towns of Newport and Footscray.

Many events border the waters edge, the Maribyrnong and Yarra River, and the Bay at Port Melbourne.

Street Orienteering offers an excellent opportunity for discovering all of these places.

Many of the river valleys can be surprisingly steep and might require even more thoughtful route choices. But generally, Melbournes West embraces comparatively flat terrain.

Most of the inner suburb maps include a surburban train line to be negotiated, whether it be boom gates, road bridge, pedestrian bridge or subway. It all adds to the satisfying challenge of the route choices.

All Street Orienteering events welcome people of all abilities and ages. There are a range of courses that accomodate both the elite sports person right through to people who are just looking for a good walk to help stay in shape.

Family's and friends can particpate in groups or individually.

The Western Series operates in twilight during the Daylight Saving months and also operates an extremely popular Autumn night Series.

You will always find firendly and helpful people to assist you have an enjoyable experience. Your feedback is always welcome.

Printed programs covering all of Melbournes Park and Street Orienteering events are available at the events. And of course much information is available on this website.

If you have any questions, please Email or telephone John or Jenny Sheahan on 9397 3493.

Information for people who would like to try Street Orienteering.

Welcome to the Tuesday Western Series - Park and Street orienteering in Melbourne's west.

Where: Western suburbs of Melbourne - fixture

When: 7:00pm Tuesdays

We would be pleased to provide you with assistance in getting started and enjoying your first event. Hopefully you will want to come back again (and again).

Please arrive 20-30 minutes early. This will provide more than enough time to show you how to register for the event and explain how to take part.

Cost: $4 per event for adults, $2 for juniors/students

These are the pay on the day fees. 'Seasons' tickets are also available at the event for the first four events of each series.

Runners Course Available:

There are four scatter courses for Runners / Joggers which involve getting a stated number of controls in any order.

Course A which is approx 9 to 11 km

Course B which is approx 7 to 8 km

Course C which is approx 5 to 6 km

Course D which is approx 3 to 4 km

Power Walkers Courses Available:

There are two courses available for Walkers

Power Walkers Scatter Course [C] which is a scatter event covering the same number of controls as Course C (approx 5 to 6 km)

Power Walkers Score Course which gives you until 8:05pm to visit as many controls as you can, in any order, and with controls having point values.

Controls 1 to 5 = 2 points, 6 to 10=3 points, 11 to 15=4 points, 16 to 20 =5 points

More information:

If you have any questions, please Email or telephone this series coordinator John or Jenny Sheahan on 9397 3493

More about Park & Street Orienteering in and near Melbourne

Park & Street Orienteeering provides an ideal opportunity for mental and physical exercise during the summer months. 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

There are four major Summer series: Southern (Monday), Western (Tuesday), Eastern (Wednesday), and Nothern (Thursday).

There are also Macedon Ranges, Wyndham Western (Thursday), and Mountain Bike Orienteering (MTBO) series.

All 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 pcket (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 the available parking.

If this is full then: please - PARK ON ONE SIDE OF STREETS ONLY

Courses

All events have three to five runner courses, ranging from 2.5 to 10km, plus a walking course.

Courses are started after the event briefing when maps are handed out.

Usually participants are started in course sequence when finishing times and or number of controls required will be confirmed.

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 to examine and which will be explained to you well before the start of the event.

There are two main competition formats:

-SCATTER

This is the 'standard' format for summer daylight 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 after dark 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. Penalties points are deducted for being late so you need to bring a watch and are encouraged to check it against the start/finish clock.

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 usually a final punch where we make sure you will get the correct time even if it becomes crowded so it is never necessary to jostle. The scores are compiled and published on this website and are also displayed at the following event.

In most series a Classification 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 otrher, 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 teh number of controls required on SCATTER courses and teh points value of controls for SCORE courses. There is an important briefing just prior to the start to advise of the latest details especially to unavoidable last minute chnages to control locations (always a handy thing to know sp listen up).

Participants retain there 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 particpate. 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.

CONTACT INFORMATION