Runners were left feeling “devastated” when a cross country event on the edge of Oxford was called off just minutes before the opening race.

The first competitors were already on the starting line when organisers cancelled the South of England Inter-Counties and Masters Championships yesterday morning (Saturday, December 9).

South of England Athletic Association (SEAA) said the Horspath course was “unsafe” following heavy rainfall.

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But the decision has been called a “kneejerk reaction” as runners were reportedly keen to race on in the muddy terrain.

The Oxford Mail was told runners had travelled from as far as Jersey, Cornwall and Brighton for the event.

Oxford Mail: John Exley said he was outraged that the race had been cancelledJohn Exley said he was outraged that the race had been cancelled (Image: Contributed)

Oxford City’s John Exley told Athletics Weekly: “I was outraged. There was nothing that was any more dangerous than the usual cross-country course.

“The courses were all as last year and SEAA approved.”

The course, which starts at Horspath Track by Horspath Athletics & Sports Ground, has been used for more than 50 years.

The cancellation came after heavy rainfall had swept across Oxfordshire on Friday night and Saturday morning.

Elsewhere in the county, football games were called off because of waterlogged pitches and flood alerts were issued by the Environment Agency.

One man, who asked to remain anonymous, travelled from Brighton with his daughter so she could race in the under 15s event.

He said there were people from 20 different counties at the competition, including some who had travelled from Jersey and Cornwall.

“Everybody was staying in hotels the night before. This event is massive,” he told the Oxford Mail.

“I have a barber shop which I shut to come.

“The 13-year-olds were the first to race and they were on the start line when they called it off.

“It was just hearsay at first and then everybody was asked to go back to their tents.

“What’s annoying is that the kids were happy to race because it was only a bit of mud.

"They were all in spikes and had been running all winter. This is the big one.

“It was a completely knee jerk reaction to call it off.

“There was no sense at all that things would be called off until the very last second.

“I have never known something to be called off at such late notice. If they had to cancel it, why not do it the day before. They had plenty of time.

“Everyone was gutted and devastated. Imagine travelling up from Cornwall for nothing.

“My daughter was gutted. She had been hugely looking forward to it.

“And they haven’t said anything about rearranging it. The next inter counties competition isn’t until March.”

The SEAA has been contacted for comment.