***Postponed*** Wessex League – Match 4

URGENT MESSAGE:
Dear All,

Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the Wessex League match tomorrow at Horspath.
The reason for the cancellation is that one of the competing teams is no longer able to attend. As we were already low on numbers of officials, we now no longer have enough qualified to run the competition safely and fairly. We do not have the number of officials required under our competition licence. Without the required officials, the meeting would not be covered by insurance and the results would not be eligible for publication on the Power of 10 website.
We would also like to clarify that this decision has not been made because of the amber weather warning. Having reviewed the forecast, we believed the conditions at our track would still allow the event to proceed, and we had already put a number of measures in place to help manage the heat, including providing drinking water, ensuring shade was available in the stand, and arranging buckets of water and sponges for athletes to cool down after their races.
We know this cancellation will be disappointing for athletes, coaches, team managers and families, and we sincerely apologise for the inconvenience. This decision has not been taken lightly. We are attempting to find a replacement date in September.
Over recent seasons, we and other clubs have highlighted the growing need for more qualified officials and have explained that, without increasing our volunteer base, there could come a time when fixtures would have to be cancelled. Regrettably, that time has now arrived.
Athletics depends on volunteers. Officials are essential to every competition, ensuring events are safe, fair and run in accordance with the rules. Without sufficient numbers, competitions cannot take place.
If you are a parent, club member or supporter who has ever considered becoming an official, we would encourage you to take that step. Training is readily available, support is provided throughout the process, and even a small increase in the number of qualified officials would make a significant difference to the future of competitions like this one.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Anett Nagy
Meeting Manager