The Youth Development League has decided to cancel the 2020 season. This is their full statement:

In the light of the continuing uncertainty around the Coronavirus situation the YDL management committee held a Skype meeting on 29 March to look at all the possibilities for the 2020 season and have decided regretfully that all matches scheduled for the 2020 season will be cancelled forthwith.

There were a number of factors influencing our decision, namely:

We had no fewer than thirteen athletes running for Hertfordshire and Essex in this year's championships. One has to remember that you have to be in the top eight in your county champs to gain selection for this event. Being at this event is an achievement in itself.

Everyone knew that this would be the last event to be staged for a few months with the Coronavirus virus rapidly spreading.

Junior Girls

This was the race that Abigail Reid was targeting, and after being rested from the Inter Counties a week earlier, she was hoping for a top eight and international selection. After the initial start Abigail was seen in the top twenty. She then started to move through and, with around 400 metres remaining, she had moved into 6th spot but with runners around her. Going into the finishing straight she held her form brilliantly to hold on to 7th and gain her selection. We knew before the race that the International, the following Saturday in Falkirk, had been cancelled. So although Abigail has not had the chance to run for England now they have not ruled out staging the race at Falkirk at a later date. We can however look that Abigail achieved International status in this race.