Weekend sport programme hit by freezing weather

Northampton's Sixfields Stadium - one of several grounds where games have been called off

Freezing weather conditions across the United Kingdom have hit the weekend's sporting programme, with the FA Cup and Challenge Cup among the competitions impacted.

The UK has recorded its coldest night of this winter, along with widespread frost, with more bitterly cold weather expected over the weekend.

Saturday's all-League One third-round cup-tie between Mansfield Town and Wigan Athletic has been called off because of a frozen pitch. It will now be played on Tuesday, 14 January (19:45 BST).

That was followed by the loss of the Preston North End-Charlton Athletic tie, also now rearranged for Tuesday week.

Two League One games have been postponed, Shrewsbury Town against fourth-placed Huddersfield Town and fifth-placed Barnsley's trip to Northampton Town.

In League Two, the first game to go was Carlisle United's home game against MK Dons, followed by Port Vale v Barrow.

There are also now just three National League games on out of the scheduled 10 - at Aldershot, Boston and Yeovil.

The fixtures that were scheduled for AFC Fylde, Altrincham, Barnet, Gateshead, Maidenhead, Oldham Athletic and Southend will all be rearranged.

Elsewhere, the National League North programme has been badly hit with the matches as Brackley, Curzon Ashton, Darlington, Hereford, Marine, Radcliffe, Southport and Spennymoor all off.

Racing and Challenge Cup hit by weather too

As has been the case all week, horse racing has been badly hit by the weather too.

Friday's meetings at Doncaster, Huntingdon and Lingfield Park are off, leaving only the all-weather evening card at Newcastle.

Saturday also so far has three abandonments, at Kempton Park, Warwick and Wetherby.

Ffos Las, in west Wales, has now agreed to host Wetherby's £40,000 Grade 2 two-mile Towton Novices' Chase, which has been moved from Yorkshire to make it an eight-race card - but that is also now subject to an 07:30 GMT inspection.

Meanwhile, 11 of the weekend's fixtures in the first round of Rugby League's Challenge Cup have succumbed to the conditions and have been rearranged for next weekend.

Five ties scheduled for the south of the UK are expected to go ahead, while Ince Rose Bridge are asking for help bringing in industrial heaters to thaw out their pitch to avoid opponents Longhorn having a wasted trip from Dublin.

This weekend's postponed fixtures

Saturday, 11 January

FA Cup

Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic

Preston North End v Charlton Athletic

League One

Northampton Town v Barnsley

Shrewsbury Town v Huddersfield Town

League Two

Carlisle United v MK Dons

Port Vale v Barrow

National League

AFC Fylde v Sutton United

Altrincham v Wealdstone

Barnet v Hartlepool United

Gateshead v Braintree Town

Maidenhead United v York City

Oldham Athletic v Eastleigh

Southend United v Halifax

Challenge Cup

Crosfields v Maryport

Dewsbury Moor v Haresfinch

Lock Lane v Doncaster Toll Bar ARLFC

Mirfield v Royal Navy

Stanley Rangers v Hunslet ARLEFC

Rochdale Mayfield v Telford Raiders

Thatto Heath Crusaders v Orrell St James

Waterhead Warriors v Leigh Miners Rangers

West Bowling v Wath Brow Hornets

West Hull v Edinburgh Eagles

Sunday, 12 January

Challenge Cup

GB Police v York Acorn