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.

For the history of players who have played in this event CLICK HERE

2021 saw the addition of another two Tiers 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 Canterbury Country in 2027) and in 2027 the Tier 2 Festival will be played in Nelson and the Tier 3 event will be held in Christchurch (most likely Burnside Park).

In additional to the two Tier 1 Canterbury Festival teams the CJCA entered 3 additional teams made up for both Year 8 Boys in the 2nd Tier events in January of 2026 and four teams in the Tier 3 event.

THE  (TIER 1) CANTERBURY FESTIVAL WILL BE PLAYED BETWEEN THE 4th & 7th OF JANUARY 2027 – VENUE CANTERBURY COUNTRY (MANDEVILLE)

Boys playing the 2026 CJCA Spring Festival are asked to indicate if they wish to be considered for one or both of these events.

The 2027 Canterbury Year 7 & 8 Festivals (Nelson & Christchurch) are supplementary events to Canterbury Regional (Tier 1) event which will be hosted by Canterbury Country at Mandeville in 2027.

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 4th and 7th of January 2027.    Playing conditions will mirror those of the other Festival.

The events will commence on the afternoon of Monday the 4^th of January and conclude on Thursday the 7^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 Nelson (Tier 2) & Christchurch (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 Festival 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 22 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.