The Canterbury Primary Schools Festivals – Tier 1 (a regional version of the South Island Primary Schools Festivals) is the highest division of Junior Interdistricts Cricket for players from the top half of the South Island and is a great opportunity for 20 players (two CJCA teams) to experience a quality cricket festival – the CJCA has had 3 teams for the last 3 years but Nelson have now rejoined the Festivals and we were the last team to extend to 3 so we will drop back to having two teams in Tier 1.  For the history of players who have played in this event CLICK HERE

2021 saw the addition of another Tier of play within this event – this means that Boys not selected for the CJCA Red or Black teams may be placed in teams to play against additional teams from other Canterbury Districts – the format for this event will be based on that played in the Canterbury Tier 1 Festival (to be hosted by South Canterbury in 2026) and in 2026 the Tier 2 Festival will be played in Christchurch and the Tier 3 event will be held in Canterbury Country (most likely Mandeville).

In additional to the Three Tier 1 Canterbury Festival teams the CJCA entered 3 additional teams made up for both Year 7 and Year 8 Boys in the 2nd Tier events in January of 2025.

THE  (TIER 1) CANTERBURY FESTIVAL WILL BE PLAYED BETWEEN THE 5th & 8th OF JANUARY 2026 – VENUE TIMARU AND SURROUNDING AREA

THE CHRISTCHURCH AND CANTERBURY COUTNRY FESTIVALS WILL BE PLAYED ON THE SAME DATES AND MIRROR THE FORMAT OF THE BLENHEIM EVENT

Boys playing the 2025 CJCA Spring Festival are asked to indicate if they wish to be considered for one or both of these events.

The 2026 Canterbury Year 7 & 8 Festival (Christchurch & Cantebrury Country) are supplementary events to new Canterbury Regional (Tier 1) event which will be hosted by South Canterbury in Timaru and surrounding venues in 2026.

These event is primarily for Boys in Year 7 or 8 at schools and Year 6’s will only be permitted should they be required to make up numbers in teams any year 6 entering knowing the risks involved with playing ahead of their year groups.

This Festival will be held between the 5^h and 8^th of January 2026.    Playing conditions will mirror those of the other Festival.

The event will commence on the afternoon of Monday the 5^th of January and conclude on Thursday the 8^th of January the first 2 days will feature 20/20 matches with longer 40 over games being played on Days 3 and 4.

Draw structure will be determined by the number of entries received. But will be based on a round robin on Days 1 and 2 with two 20/20 games per day followed by 40 over post-section play in blocks of 4 based on finishing positions after the first two days.

Matches in both Christchurch (Tier 2) & Canterbury Country (Tier 3) aim to be played on grass pitches.

The host association will provide

• At least 1 umpires per match (with teams to share square leg duties if required)
• Grounds and Match equipment – Stumps, Bails, Boundary Markers
• Administrative set-up and Tournament Management

Variation to current Canterbury Tier 1 rules.

Bowling Loads

Given there is one less days play bowling loads will reduce to a maximum of 24 overs per non-spin bowler.

Additional Information

Participation Guidelines

Coaches and Team Managers should ensure that all squad members have a fair opportunity to participate in Batting and Bowling – this WILL include the use of a POD or similar system to rotate boys through batting positions and efforts to be made to ensure all participants have an opportunity bowl during the event.

Participant Districts are responsible for setting their policy around this for each of their teams and the philosophy behind this should be communicated pre-festival to players and participants.