After a superb 25th anniversary celebration last year, the Kings Head Canter 5K returns on Bank Holiday Monday 26 August 2024. Online entries are available until Wednesday 21 August at £14 affiliated or £16 unattached. If you are not a committed 'Canterer' and prefer to be spontaneous, there may be numbers on the day at £18, subject to a race limit of 298 entries.

This unusual race – held on August Bank Holiday Monday since 1998 – links Chiddingly and East Hoathly in East Sussex in its point-to-point, undulating course through narrow country lanes (hence the restricted entry).

Apart from a beautiful course that crosses the Wealdway chalk ridge path, the race rewards include a free pint of 1648 Brewing Company ale (or a soft drink of choice) courtesy of the Kings Head public house where the race finishes.

The original course, from just outside the Six Bells pub in Chiddingly to the Kings Head in East Hoathly, has been accurately measured at 4,980m. Long-serving Race Director Stuart Mills has stuck with it to preserve the integrity of the impressive course records – 14:58 by Kevin Moore (Brighton & Hove AC) in 2019 and 17:10 by Caroline Hoyte (Arena 80) set in 2002.

The fact that only one man has ever run under 15:00 and no woman has yet ducked under 17:00 is a true testament to the damage done by the hilly mid-section on Allies Lane, where a promising downhill start can often ebb away before the final mad dash downhill to the finish.

runABC reporter Alan Newman was invited to the 25th race last year, won by East Hoathly resident Max Walker (Army AA, 15:26) – who used to watch this race as a child – and Sophie Coleman (Arena 80 AC, 18:06). Our roving reporter ran 21:58 in one of his first races as an M70 master but he didn't trouble the scorer with 79.5% in the age-graded competition won by M50 James Skinner (Haywards Heath Harriers, 16:29 – 90.2%) and W65 Chris Naylor (Arena 80 AC, 23:08 – 88.8%).

Jog Shop Brighton vouchers and Kings Head Canter unique trophies are awarded to the first three male, female, and over 40 age-graded finishers. East Hoathly and Halland Carnival Society organises the Kings Head Canter. Any money raised from the race helps to fund the spectacular Carnival in November each year.

For more information and to enter online visit the Kings Head Canter 5K website here.

Results and race reports are at the runABC South race listing here.

Crowd photo from 2023 courtesy Jimmy The Snaps for Kings Head Canter 5K