New in May 2026 and in partnership with Saxons Orienteering, comes the Canterbury City Race offering 5mile and 5k easy navigation races.  The courses take on the historic City Centre including Kings School Cathedral grounds, Westgate Gardens, and St Augustine’s Abbey with the race finish at Canterbury Christ Church University.  

Never heard or Orienteering or don’t think you can navigate without your phone? These courses are designed to be predominantly a running race rather than a navigational challenge and are suitable for everyone.  You will receive a map before the start so you can familiarise yourself with the course and receive guidance on basic navigation. Your race format is an individual time trail - from the start, your route will take you past checkpoints which are marked on the map and you will record your split time using a dibber, (finger mounted SportIdent data stick).  Fastest around the course wins! 

We’ll have great refreshments, sports retailers, music and commentary.

We will be providing a live feed onto our website for results - so cross the line and your result goes live!

There are prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd male and female, and 1st male and female VET40, 50 and 60.

Additional races

As part of the Canterbury City Race weekend, there is also a Prologue race on Friday 22 May at 6pm starting from to Canterbury Christ Church University and 2 Orienteering Sprint races on Sunday 24 May starting from the University of Kent Campus.  Entry to these additional races can be found on the event entry system when you click through to enter the Canterbury City Race.

The Prologue and Sprint races will not include a specific runners course, but you are recommended to enter the course corresponding to your age class.

Facilities at venue:
Full refreshments, baggage drop, toilets.

Entry fee:
Advanced entries via racesignup: 

£14 Early Bird Fees, £16 from 2nd February, £18 from 11th May

ADVANCED ENTRIES OPEN UNTIL 11PM THE FRIDAY BEFORE THE EVENT SUBJECT TO MAP AVAILABILITY. 

Full details on the City Race Event Website: https://saxonsorienteering.my.canva.site/canterbury-city-race-2026