Another casualty of the foot and mouth outbreak is the English Schools Cross Country Championships that were due to be held at Hylands Park, Chelmsford tomorrow (Saturday).

This was the first time for over 40 years that Essex has played host to these championships and it was a great disappointment when the English Schools Athletic Association had no option but to call the event off late last week.

It is disappointing to the organisers, who have put 15 months into the organisation of the event.

This has to be out into perspective with the loss that the farming industry is now enduring, and this is understood by athletes, team managers and coaches.

A spokesperson for the English Schools said "Our thoughts are with the hundreds of thousands of our country's farmers, some of whose children were due to run in these Championships.

''Our temporary loss is as nothing compared to the total loss which this virulent disease could inflict on them."

Runners from every county in England were due to compete after progressing through their county trials with the first eight in each race gaining the opportunity to run for English Schools in a Schools International Cross Country event which has now also been called off.

It is hoped however that after the work that has been put in by the organisers that the English Schools may well ask Chelmsford Borough Council to host the Championships again in the next few years.

Other events that have been called off are the Year 7 and 8 Mid-Essex Cross Country Championships also at Hylands Park, cancelled by the Mid Essex Secondary Schools Sports Association, and the Essex Road Relays which are organised by Essex AAA's and Chelmsford Athletic Club.

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