Cambus Canters is an informal series of six 4.5km time trials held each year with the aims of encouraging individual training and progress and of identifying the most improved Deeside Runner of the year.
In 2025 the first Cambus will be held on Thursday the 3rd April, the second Cambus will be on Thursday 1st May and the remaining 4 Cambus Canters will be held on the last Thursdays of May, June, July and August. On each of these evenings the first runners set off shortly after 7pm. For ease of reference the dates and times are also listed on the Running Calendar on the Home Page.
The Cambus Canters handicap system allows all running abilities to compete together. Runners set off in a staggered manner – slowest runners off first and the fastest off last. If everyone ran to their expected (handicap) time they would all cross the finish line at the same time. In reality though some runners improve on their expected time and others might be a bit slower. The first across the finish line is whoever improves on their predicted time the most. Points are awarded according to finish position.
Improved times are used to reset the predicted times for the following month, thereby raising the bar and refining the handicapping further.
Since COVID, there has also been an option to run the course “virtually”. While the competitive element of chasing and being chased by other runners is missing, the virtual run option can be useful especially if you can’t make it to the “official” Cambus Canters evening but don’t want to lose out on a time, place and points for that month. Virtual runs are made on the same Cambus Canters course and virtual runners need to remember to start their GPS enabled watch or phone app on the start line as they set off and stop it as they cross the finish line.
The “virtual run windows” are notified in the information and results emails, or send a request by email to djst.oliver@btinternet.com. In order to be sure of inclusion in the results, virtual runs need to be submitted by the end of the Wednesday the day before the Cambus Canters Thursday evening event. Please send your virtual run times to djst.oliver@btinternet.com with a pointer to Strava or other GPS backup for verification of the route taken and elapsed time.
Cambus Canters has been running since 2000. Initially following a “normal” race format this was adjusted in 2003 to the handicap format, which has been followed every year since. How the handicap format works
The route is shown below, starting from the Forestry and Land Scotland “Cambus O’May” carpark
In 2022 storms brought many trees down onto the old yellow trail course, so a lovely new “Cambus Canters 2022 route” was set up instead and this has been used for the 2022 series onwards.
The new course isn’t all new. It starts and finishes in the same places that the old course started and finished. It also follows the same yellow marked trails in part (from A to B and C to E), but also includes two new sections of path (B to C and E to G) which were not part of the original course. In total it is a little longer at about 4.5km, includes a bit more climb, has more twists and turns and it also avoids the long fast “land rover track” descent which formed part of the original course.
In addition to the yellow markers mentioned above, permanent red markers are also present along the route from A to E. A few permanent blue markers are also present between junctions E and G (see map). No additional markers are set out on the night by Deeside Runners and no marshals are used around the course.
Time lapse photos are usually taken on the finish line as a back up to help if the finish order is in any doubt. This can be particularly useful when multiple runners finish close together. These photos are subsequently deleted and not stored or forwarded elsewhere.
Runners participate at their own risk.
The route follows footpaths and land rover tracks and crosses a small stream and 3 footbridges through the Cambus O’May woods. In places it can be rocky, it can be muddy, there are some steep slopes, exposed roots and some steps. It can be slippy underfoot particularly in adverse weather conditions and on the bridges. If in doubt slow down and take care! Runners should be familiar with the course, its route and its navigation. If participating for the first time runners are recommended to reconnoitre it in advance.
2025 Results
