The Goat

The Goat : event details

The Goat is a sprint trail race at Castle Hill in Townsville scheduled for 20 February 2026. The event has a total prize pool of $1,600 with identical prize scales for men and women: 1st $250, 2nd $175, 3rd $150, 4th $125 and 5th $100. Adult entry is $50 with a late entry fee of $60 applying from 15 February. The event has limited spots and recommends competitors meet target times of under 17 minutes for men and under 20 minutes for women.

Sign in and the race briefing are held at Queens Garden (Paxton Street entrance). The race starts at the corner of Castle Hill Road and Gregory Street. Runners must make their own way back down the hill after the event. There is limited parking at the top of the hill and more parking in the lower car park.

Course, rules and transfers

The course is short and steep: 1.68 km in length with 232 m of elevation gain. The route follows a short section of road to the Cudtheringa Trail head, continues along the trail to the Goat Track intersection, up the stairs, then up to the top of Castle Hill Road and across the finish at the start of the carpark.

Registration rules and event policies include no on-day registration, visible bib required for electronic timing, and no shortcuts on the marked course. Event organisers may alter the course, reschedule or cancel the event. Refund requests must be made at least 14 days before the event and are subject to a $10 fee. Transfers to a future event or to another athlete must be requested at least 7 days before the event and incur a $5 administration fee; credits for cancellations that cannot be rescheduled are valid for 12 months. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.