A message for newcomers and infrequent orienteers
We would be delighted to see you at this and other TVOC events. This event, like all our events, offers a range of courses to suit everyone from newcomers to experienced orienteers. If you are not sure which course to enter, please contact the organiser (contact details at the bottom of this page).
Please note that, if you’re not a member of British Orienteering, you won’t be covered by the organisation’s public liability insurance for this event. You’re very welcome to take part, but please be aware that you do so at your own risk. For example, if you were to accidentally injure a member of the public or damage property during the event, you would not be covered by British Orienteering’s insurance.
OUOC (Oxford University Orienteering Club) are holding their renowned Oxford City Race on Saturday 31st October. It’s a great opportunity to race around the streets and colleges of this famous city. The courses feature up to seven colleges this year, some of which have never been used for orienteering before!
The event is also part of the 2026 UKOL and UKUL leagues.
More details of the event can be seen on OUOC’s website at https://users.ox.ac.uk/~ouoc/cityrace.shtml.
TVOC is pleased to support OUOC with this event.
Helping
There are lots of roles to fill at this event, with the majority of these being marshalling at a college gate. There are also some roles to fill at the Start and Finish. All helpers will be offered a free run as a thank you for your time.
We have already had lots of much-appreciated offers of help but are still looking for several more people. If you would be happy to help for a couple of hours, we would really appreciate it. You can sign up to help either by filling in this form (https://forms.gle/9L45HEuainz3mFob9) or, if you are already a member of a TVOC team, getting in touch with your team leader.
Directions / Parking
The event will be based in the Oxford University Parks and the courses will then take you on a tour of south Oxford featuring various parks, departmental areas and, of course, colleges.
There will not be any dedicated parking provided for this event. There are a few paid public car parks around the city, please get in touch with us if you would like more information about these.
However, Oxford is a busy place, especially on a weekend morning! Generally, we strongly recommend that you use the Oxford Park&Ride service instead (https://www.oxford.gov.uk/parkandridesites). As of August 2026, they offer a “£3 combined ticket which covers return bus travel into Oxford and back for up to five people of any age and up to 16 hours’ parking at Oxford’s Park and Ride sites”.
Terrain Description
The area is a standard urban orienteering area. It includes the streets of Oxford as well as several colleges, departmental areas and parks, offering a good variety of fine navigation and route choice.
All courses will finish in University Parks and Courses 1 and 2 will also visit another park on the course. It is therefore recommended that you wear shoes suitable for grass as well as hard-standing.
There are numerous ‘Out of Bounds’ areas on the map, all marked with the standard symbols of either olive green or purple hashing. Many of these OOB areas are college quads and similar areas. Our continued use of the colleges for orienteering is contingent on our being respectful of the colleges, so please take particular care to not go into any OOB areas.
Courses
The courses available will be the standard Courses 1-7 offered at urban events. More details will be available shortly.
Start Times
The Start is located within University Parks and is approximately ~500m from Assembly. The Finish is adjacent to Assembly.
There will be a 4 minute call-up at the Start. When entering, please select a start window. Specific start times will then be allocated, within the start window you have selected. These specific start times will be shared closer to the time.
Timings:
Help, enquiries and SIAC hire: 10:00-13:00
Starts: 10.30-13:00
Courses close: 15:00Please note that Courses 6 and 7 have slightly restricted start times of 11:00-12:30.
How To Enter
Entries will be via Racesignup. Entries are not yet open but will be open very soon. A link will be shared here once entries are open.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed in the Assembly and University Parks. They are, however, unfortunately not allowed on the longer courses (Courses 1-5).
Further Information
First Aid will be provided by White Star Medical Services and will be available at the Assembly / Finish.
All competitors will be required to wear race bibs. These are crucial for allowing event officials and volunteers to identify you as a competitor. Anyone not wearing a race bib will not be allowed into the colleges. We request that you fill out the emergency and medical information on the reverse of the bibs. Bibs can be collected at Assembly on the day. There will be a list of names and corresponding bib numbers at Assembly too.
Officials
Organiser: Carys Sharp (OUOC/TVOC)
email organiser
Planner: William Blackwell (OUOC)
Controller: Ben Green (TVOC)
