Oxford Orienteering City Race 2026
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Oxford University Orienteering Club invites you to the seventh Oxford City Race! This is an orienteering race around Oxford, including up to SEVEN Oxford colleges!
It's an exciting urban race with a twist around the streets, alleys, cloisters and parks of this famous city. There are no set routes to the courses and you have to find your own way between a series of checkpoints, as fast as you can, using a special detailed orienteering map, and a timing chip to register each one.
***Pre-entries only. Entries are now open! They can be found on RaceSignUp here: https://racesignup.co.uk/oxford-city-race.***
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TRAVEL
The assembly will be in the University Parks, Oxford. Toilets are available in the park. We will provide a place to drop bags but please be aware the parks are public and we take no responsibility for any lost or damaged items. There is minimal parking in central Oxford thus we encourage everyone to use the Park and Ride or the train.
- If arriving by train: Book a ticket to Oxford (not Oxford Parkway), exit the station towards George Street, walk along Broad Street and then turn left up Parks Road.
- If driving from the North: Travel to Peartree Park and Ride and alight at the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, then walk East.
- If driving from the East: Travel to Thornhill Park and Ride and alight at Queens Lane, West. Walk East along the High Street, turn left up Longwall Street and follow St Cross Road North
- If driving from the South: Travel to Redbridge Park and Ride and alight at the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, then walk East.
- If driving from the West: Do not use Seacourt Park and Ride. Instead follow the ring road to Peartree or Redbridge Park and Rides. There are long term road works by the train station which will leave you a long walk otherwise!
============================
START TIMES
Starts are scheduled from 10:30-13:00 on one minute intervals. Courses close at 15:00 by which point all competitors must have reported to download.
============================
COURSES
Seven courses are available, catering for the whole range of lengths and difficulties. Course 1 is the longest while courses 6 and 7 are mainly for juniors. Courses 1-5 feature multiple major road crossings which will not be marshalled. These courses have been planned to cross major roads diagonally and roads are typically quieter on Sundays but you will still need to take extra care. Under 16s MUST enter only on courses 6 or 7, which will not cross major roads. While Oxford is a very flat city, some courses feature multi-levels and stairs.
More details about the courses are available on RaceSignUp (https://racesignup.co.uk/oxford-city-race) and the OUOC City Race webpage (https://users.ox.ac.uk/~ouoc/cityrace.shtml).
============================
HOW TO ENTER
You must pre-enter, as there will be no entry at the event. Entries are now open on RaceSignUp: https://racesignup.co.uk/oxford-city-race.
============================
FIRST TIME? WHAT DO I DO ON THE DAY?
Firstly, a warm welcome!
Head to Race HQ at University Parks, to collect your timing chip and get some tips and help from the friendly volunteers, before you start your course. You'll receive your map at the Start, so, once you're ready, head over to the Start.
We use staggered starts, so you choose when you want to start - the start window is from 10:30 to 13:00 and you can choose a start time when you enter. Everyone is timed around the courses, as it's not a head-to-head race. Results will be on our website later that day.
At the Start:
You'll get your map at the Start. At the Start, you'll need to clear your timing chip by "dibbing" it into one of the "clear" boxes (they'll be well labelled) and the start officials will be on hand to ensure everyone does this. You'll see a grid laid out on the ground, with several rows - each labelled with a course number (1-7). Just queue up behind the relevant one for your course number. Everyone starts at one minute intervals and the start officials will guide you as to what to do - just tell them it's your first event. Once you start, dib your timing chip into the Start box, then pick up your map and off you go!
Above all, enjoy yourself and have fun! Many people do get addicted to it, as everyone always makes mistakes (that's part of the fun!) - it's very rare to actually have a perfect run. We'd love to hear what you thought about the event too, so do post your comments and photos on the event page.
============================
MORE DETAILS
For more details, please visit the OUOC City Race webpage: https://users.ox.ac.uk/~ouoc/cityrace.shtml.
It's an exciting urban race with a twist around the streets, alleys, cloisters and parks of this famous city. There are no set routes to the courses and you have to find your own way between a series of checkpoints, as fast as you can, using a special detailed orienteering map, and a timing chip to register each one.
***Pre-entries only. Entries are now open! They can be found on RaceSignUp here: https://racesignup.co.uk/oxford-city-race.***
============================
TRAVEL
The assembly will be in the University Parks, Oxford. Toilets are available in the park. We will provide a place to drop bags but please be aware the parks are public and we take no responsibility for any lost or damaged items. There is minimal parking in central Oxford thus we encourage everyone to use the Park and Ride or the train.
- If arriving by train: Book a ticket to Oxford (not Oxford Parkway), exit the station towards George Street, walk along Broad Street and then turn left up Parks Road.
- If driving from the North: Travel to Peartree Park and Ride and alight at the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, then walk East.
- If driving from the East: Travel to Thornhill Park and Ride and alight at Queens Lane, West. Walk East along the High Street, turn left up Longwall Street and follow St Cross Road North
- If driving from the South: Travel to Redbridge Park and Ride and alight at the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, then walk East.
- If driving from the West: Do not use Seacourt Park and Ride. Instead follow the ring road to Peartree or Redbridge Park and Rides. There are long term road works by the train station which will leave you a long walk otherwise!
============================
START TIMES
Starts are scheduled from 10:30-13:00 on one minute intervals. Courses close at 15:00 by which point all competitors must have reported to download.
============================
COURSES
Seven courses are available, catering for the whole range of lengths and difficulties. Course 1 is the longest while courses 6 and 7 are mainly for juniors. Courses 1-5 feature multiple major road crossings which will not be marshalled. These courses have been planned to cross major roads diagonally and roads are typically quieter on Sundays but you will still need to take extra care. Under 16s MUST enter only on courses 6 or 7, which will not cross major roads. While Oxford is a very flat city, some courses feature multi-levels and stairs.
More details about the courses are available on RaceSignUp (https://racesignup.co.uk/oxford-city-race) and the OUOC City Race webpage (https://users.ox.ac.uk/~ouoc/cityrace.shtml).
============================
HOW TO ENTER
You must pre-enter, as there will be no entry at the event. Entries are now open on RaceSignUp: https://racesignup.co.uk/oxford-city-race.
============================
FIRST TIME? WHAT DO I DO ON THE DAY?
Firstly, a warm welcome!
Head to Race HQ at University Parks, to collect your timing chip and get some tips and help from the friendly volunteers, before you start your course. You'll receive your map at the Start, so, once you're ready, head over to the Start.
We use staggered starts, so you choose when you want to start - the start window is from 10:30 to 13:00 and you can choose a start time when you enter. Everyone is timed around the courses, as it's not a head-to-head race. Results will be on our website later that day.
At the Start:
You'll get your map at the Start. At the Start, you'll need to clear your timing chip by "dibbing" it into one of the "clear" boxes (they'll be well labelled) and the start officials will be on hand to ensure everyone does this. You'll see a grid laid out on the ground, with several rows - each labelled with a course number (1-7). Just queue up behind the relevant one for your course number. Everyone starts at one minute intervals and the start officials will guide you as to what to do - just tell them it's your first event. Once you start, dib your timing chip into the Start box, then pick up your map and off you go!
Above all, enjoy yourself and have fun! Many people do get addicted to it, as everyone always makes mistakes (that's part of the fun!) - it's very rare to actually have a perfect run. We'd love to hear what you thought about the event too, so do post your comments and photos on the event page.
============================
MORE DETAILS
For more details, please visit the OUOC City Race webpage: https://users.ox.ac.uk/~ouoc/cityrace.shtml.
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Where is it happening?
Oxford University Parks, Rainbow Bridge, Oxford, OX3 0, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherOxford University Orienteering Club
