We couldn't resist sharing the above photo by Jimmy the Snaps with runABC South readers. Taken at the 2024 Kings Head Canter 5K, the image shows W50 Ruth Simon-House (#200), U17 Lola House (#99), and U14 Ella Wiggs-Steele (#240) finishing hand-in-hand in 32:02, representing a little-known running group, The Such Funners!

The 27th Kings Head Canter 5K will start as tradition dictates, outside the Six Bells pub in Chiddingly at 11:00am on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August 2025. Around 300 runners will then 'canter' to the finish outside the Kings Head pub in East Hoathly, where they will be invited to exchange their race number for a pint of 1648 Brewing Company craft ale. Non-alcoholic alternatives are available and a BBQ will be held on the green.

This unusual race requires some logistical planning due to its point-to-point course. Parking is available in the East Sussex village of East Hoathly, from where it is a two-mile warm up jog via the spectacular Wealdway chalk ridge path to Chiddingly Village Hall, where parking is available for those who prefer to warm down to collect their cars.

The course is undulating (20 meters of ascent overall) with a gently downhill start, a tough climb on Allies Lane at halfway and a madcap dash downhill into East Hoathly and the finish. Long-serving Race Director Stuart Mills has retained the original course, accurately measured at 4,980 metres, partly to preserve the integrity of the course records – 14:58 by Kevin Moore (Brighton & Hove AC) in 2019 and 17:10 by Caroline Hoyte (Arena 80) in 2002.

Last year's winners were Max Walker (Abingdon AC/Army, 15:49) and U17 junior Freda Pearce (Eastbourne Rovers AC, 18:36), as 44 runners beat 20 minutes and 268 finished. Stuart Mills calculates that 5,347 runners have crossed the finish line in East Hoathly since the inaugural race in 1998 – won by Geoff Hill (15:20) and Lynn Williams (17:53).

Online entries are available until Wednesday, 20 August at £14 (affiliated) or £16 unattached. A few numbers may be available on the day at £18, subject to a race limit of 298 entries.

For further information and to enter, visit the Kings Head Canter 5K website here. 

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

Photo courtesy of Jimmy The Snaps for Kings Head Canter 5K