ESSEX’S top young cross-country runners will be kicking their heels again this weekend after the Essex Schools Cross-Country Championships was postponed for a second time.

Chelmsford Council said a “mutual decision” had been made with race organisers to call-off the race scheduled for Hylands Park on Saturday because the course is water-logged.

It now leaves the Essex Schools Cross-Country Association with a major headache.

Chelmsford Council have said there will be talks about finding a new date for the races to be held at Hylands, but with the weather showing no signs of improving and the deadline for entries for the English Schools Championships now under a month away, time is running out.

A new venue for the competition is being sought but has not been found yet, while finding a date has become a real issue.

With the final Essex League and Essex Indoor Championships next weekend and the English Cross-Country Championships on February 22, it leaves just one available weekend before the February 27 deadline for the Essex team to be entered for the national finals which will be held at Castle Donnington, Leicestershire, on March 15.

But that weekend (February 15 and 16) is the start of half-term which complicates matters with pupils and teachers already having made plans for the break.