THE Olympic Games could provide the biggest obstacle for Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies' hopes of a swift return to division one of the UK Athletics League (Chris Bevan writes).

This year's games, which take place in Sydney, Australia, at the end of September, mean there will be a conflict of interest between the club and country for many of Essex's top stars.

Brenda Wilmot, Essex Ladies assistant secretary, explained: 'We have got the athletes to get promotion, no doubt about it, but the big question is whether they will be able to compete for us.

'The Olympics dictate when an athlete starts her competitive work and because of that everything is delayed.

'The athletes are all warm-weather training at the moment and they aren't back yet. Even if they are they aren't ready to start their competitive season.

'It's a funny old sport. We have no hold over the athletes and there are no contracts. They compete purely if they want to and it depends when meetings clash with internationals.'

That means Essex will have to do without the likes of sprint stars Christine Bloomfield and Joyce Maduaka, hurdler Tracey Duncan and distance runner Birhan Dagne when the domestic season gets underway in Liverpool on May 7.

Former European junior 100m champion Julie Pratt is also training in warmer climes but will be back in time for the curtain raiser.

According to Wilmot all the above stars have a chance of making the British team for the Olympics, but it will all come down to the AAA Championships, which double up as the Olympic trials and take place from August 11 to 13.

She said: 'On the performances they all showed last season and so far this year they should do well. They need to keep their form and avoid injury and they have a very good chance.

'There is not much between Christine and Joyce in the sprints and I think Julie is far better over 100m than she is over 60m. Tracey will be there or thereabouts and Birhan is now eligble for the UK.'

But even if the club don't get off to a flyer without their missing stars next week, Wilmot is confident that promotion is still a strong possibility.

She added: 'We anticipate a few problems for the opening day and it is not a good time to have it. But the standard is not as high in division one and even if we aren't so strong we should still do well.'