The Celtic Road and Dirt Crit Series
Updated 10/07/2012
Celtic Crit Road Round 3 Tuesday 10th July 2012
Report: Garrie Tillett
Results: Final Series Standings
The final Celtic Crit of the series took place in mild conditions for a change and saw 51 riders battling it out for the race and overall. Mostly the racing went to form in the girls racing but a few new riders came along in the boys and upset the normal order. In the Under 8 girls we saw the usual finish with Zoe Backstedt and Evie Higgins Worral battling at the top of the order with Elen Price a consistent 3rd. This was also the picture for the overall series. For the boys Iolo Dafydd split the top pair of Dan Wylie Morris and Ashley Cole with Dan taking the honours and the series with his win.
In the under 10’s Isabelle Bennett put in a strong ride and runs in unopposed for the girls series win. For the boys Joe Nethell put in a good second ahead of Ryan Phillips in 3rd but it was Jack Roberts who took the win and the series with another impressive win having ridden with the lead U12 bunch for the duration, only being dropped in the final sprint.
Normal service in the U12 girls with newly crowned National Road Race Champion Megan James taking a good win ahead of Elynor Backstedt and Ellie Shaw. In the boys race Joe Beckingsale has proved unbeatable all series and took the crown easily ahead of a battle for second and third taken by Oliver Beere and James Codd. In the overall Joe Beckingsale was winner with Huw Higgins Worrall proving consistency is a winner in the long term and Oliver Beere topping off an impressive season with 3rd overall.
Under 14 girls was won by Lowri Thomas with Sophie Wylie Morris taking second ahead of Emily Tillett but in the overall Emily took the crown ahead of Elizabeth Bennett and Sophie 3rd.
For the boys it was newcomer Brett Nethell who took the day ahead of Tomos Nesham who improved his position in the overall to second. Jack Broadley was uncatchable to win overall and James Tillett taking 3rd.
No Under 16 girls today but 5 riders in the U16 raced hard with Joe Wiltshire riding away unopposed to the win ahead of a race long battle between Harry Lock and Sam Beckingsale. Sam had 3rd today but takes the overall. Sam Rees took 2nd overall with Jacob Phelps taking 4th on the day but 3rd overall.
Many thanks again to all who helped, particularly Diane Marshall who ran the sign on as smoothly as she normally does. Also to Liam Shaw who is becoming a top lap scorer, Celia Morris for nursing duties, Rich Davies from the Celtic Manor for allowing us to use the facility and all others who have chipped in with marshalling duties.
I would like to also thank Julian Beere from Sunset Cycles for supporting us with the finish arch and kindly providing a goody bag of prizes for overall series podium places.
I am expecting series trophies to arrive shortly and will make sure they are given out to the correct riders as soon as possible.
There was some talk after the racing that there may be a number of races in September so look out for these!
Overall Standings after Round 5
(Dropped rounds have been highlighted in red
2 plus 2 OR 3 plus 1 will qualify for the overall Series Prize)
Celtic Crit Dirt Round 3 Tuesday 3rd July 2012
Report: Garrie Tillett
Results: Celtic Crit Round 3 U8
42 brave souls battled the elements in the soggiest Celtic Crit in memory. With the motorway blocked as well it just goes to show how hardy (or slightly bonkers!) bike riders can be.
We are used to excellent skills and attitude at the Crits but the evening took things to a whole new level with conditions treacherous underfoot.
In the Under 8’s Ashley Cole took a convincing win ahead of a trio of girls headed by Zoe Backstedt. The Under 10’s found the full course very demanding but all riders finished with Lily Crowley taking a win for the girls ahead of Isabelle Bennett taking 2nd. In the boys Jack Roberts continued his winning ways with a win from Aled Trott and Gethin Price.
For the Under 12’s Joe Beckingsale continued his dominant form by taking a controlled win for the boys with Elynor Backstedt continuing her strong form to take a win in the girls.
Tom Nesham continued his fine progress with a win overall in the U14/16 race on his new bike. He was followed home by U16 winner Sam Beckingsale. The Jif pair of Sam and James Tillett taking the next 2 spots. For the girls Emily Tillett ran in unopposed winner for the U14’s.
Well done to all concerned and thanks as always to those who helped out with marshalling, sign on etc. I will award prize money next week due to the conditions. I am hopeful that the final round next week will be in better weather at the road Crit. Series prizes will be awarded by Julian Beere of Sunset Cycles so come along!
Celtic Crit Road Round 2 Tuesday 26th June 2012
Report: Garrie Tillett
Results: Celtic Crit Road Round 2
A best ever attendance of 52 riders took a chance on dry racing, coming in with tales of monsoons in Cardiff and beyond and over the water in Bristol. Racing stayed dry and warm with some more superb racing to entertain the crowds. The riders also enjoyed racing under the new inflatable start and finish arch kindly brought along by Julian Beere of Sunset Cycles.
As usual the Under 8’s started proceedings with some spirited riding from boys and girls which saw Dan Wylie Morris taking a strong win for the boys and Zoe Backstedt taking the win for the girls.
25 riders started the Under 10/12 race and the longer course seemed to suit a breakaway group which quickly formed of the top U12 riders who contested the lead throughout. Private 2 or 3 rider battles unfolded further down the field ensuring there was something of interest all around the course. Joe Beckingsale eventually won the sprint from Megan James to take the top U12 spots. Jack Roberts had another excellent day coming in 6th overall and U10 Boy winner with Isabelle Bennett taking the win in Under 10 girls.
17 riders contested the U14/16 race with the U14’s catching the U16 group quickly despite a 20 second staggered start. A 9 strong bunch stayed together for the whole of the race with riders taking turns to push the pace and test their fellows but no single rider managed to get away. A sprint finish was inevitable and was taken by Harry Lock from Sam Rees in the U16’s. Tom Nesham was next over the line to record his first victory in the U14 category despite an earlier fall when leading the bunch. Ffion James rode in 6th to record a win for the U16 girls. Lowri Thomas rode a solitary race to win the U14 girls and round off proceedings.
My thanks as always to the riders for making this a thoroughly entertaining evening and also to those who pitched in to help with the multiple tasks that are very necessary to the smooth running of a bike race.
See you in the woods again next week for the penultimate round in this Celtic Crit series.
Remember you need 4 results to be eligible for the overall series prize to be awarded on the 10th July.
Posted 21/06/2012
Celtic Crit Dirt Round 2 Tuesday 19th June 2012
Report: Garrie Tillett
Photos: Keith Davies
Results: Celtic Crit Dirt Round 2
Warm and sunny at the sign on area but sticky and heavy going in the woods made for different conditions that suited some riders more than others. 46 riders from across the categories put in some great work again and the Under 8’s again showed us how tricky traverses should be handled. Ashley Cole ran out the boys winner after Dan Wylie Morris experienced some difficulty in the single track area – not sure what happened but we all heard his cries of anguish! He came in 2nd with Kyle Jones rounding it our for the boys. Zoe Backstedt rode with confidence and took a clear win for the girls ahead of Evie Higgins Worrall and Elen Price.
20 riders set off in the U10/12 race with the lead hotly contested by Joe Beckingsale and Megan James with Huw Higgins Worrall, Oliver Beere and Mitchell Cole in hot pursuit. Joe eventually ran home an unopposed winner after Megan had some problems on the top part of the course. Huw took 2nd ahead of a spirited ride by Oliver. 1st U10 boy was Jack Roberts and 1st U10 girl Isabelle Bennett.
Some exceptional skills shown in the U14/6 race with the MTB specialists Sam Beckingsale and Ffion James leading the way in the U16’s boys and girls. Both ran away to straightforward wins. Mixed fortunes in the U14 race for the Tilletts who were celebrating becoming teenagers; Emily won her first race with some ease and James managed to finish despite shoulder charging a tree to add to his injuries from the weekend track omnium. Brother Sam managed a 3rd for the boys with eventual winner Teifion Best taking it from Jack Broadley despite a race long battle.
My thanks as always to those who helped with sign on, marshalling and lap scoring etc. See you next week at the Road Crit.
Posted: 15/06/2012
Celtic Crit Road Round 1 Tuesday 12th June 2012
Report: Garrie Tillett
Results: Celtic Crit Road Round 1
A warm evening greeted riders and spectators for the best supported Celtic Crit so far! 50 riders provided some fantastic racing on a tight and challenging circuit set out to reward those with excellent cornering skills.
The Under 8’s kicked us off with Ashley Cole racing into the lead from the off, closely followed by Zoe Backstedt. Dan Wylie Morris put up a strong display after struggling to clip in his pedal at the start. He moved from almost last place through to catching the leaders on the final lap and managed to outsprint Ashley to the line with less that a bike length separating them! Zoe came in 3rd and 1st girl. Well done to all, you certainly encouraged the crowd to cheer!
10 Under 10’s and 16 Under 12’s set off next in a busy race with a lead group quickly forming of the top Under 12’s. These proved to be uncatchable with Joe Beckingsale taking a close run sprint from club mate Megan James. Oliver Beere and James Codd taking 2 and 3 for the boys U12. A spirited ride from Jack Roberts claimed the U10 boys win in 6th overall with Nikita Baylis taking the U10 girls win.
The Under 14’s and 16’s took off next with an early stretch provided by Teifi Best. The lead bunch gradually pulled away from the rest with eventual U16 winner Sam Rees setting the pace with U14 boys of Sam Tillett, James Tillett, Jack Broadley and Teifi Best taking their turns with no boy managing to get away. The early pace provided by Teifi proved costly as he eventually tailed off the group and it was an exciting sprint to the line with Sam Rees first followed by U14 winner Jack from James Tillett and then brother Sam in 3rd U14. For the girls Lowri Thomas took the win in U14 and Ffion James took the U16.
Thanks again to all the marshalls and helpers on the day. We are back in Coldra Woods next week for MTB 2 so see you there! Road Crit 2 is then on 26th June and I am promised a blow up finish arch just like the pro’s have!
Posted: 08/06/2012
Celtic Crit Dirt Round 1 Tuesday 5th June 2012
Report: Garrie Tillett
Photos: Keith Davies
Video: Keith Davies
Results: Celtic Crit Dirt Round 1
38 riders braved drizzly rain for the first of the Celtic Crit events for 2012. Numbers were boosted by the arrival of the Talent Team to race as part of a week’s camp so it was great to have some older riders for others to watch and try and keep up!
Racing started with the Under 8’s as usual and there was some strong riding from boys and girls with Thomas Wadsworth coming out on top after a long battle with Ashley Cole. Evie Higgins Worrall came in next ahead of Zoe Backstedt with Harry Codd rounding out the Under 8’s. Great balancing skills were on display from riders negotiating the slippery traverse with wheels sliding around under them.
Under 10’s and Under 12’s raced the full circuit and found it muddy going and a stern test of bike handling skills. Megan James dominated proceedings for the Under 12’s but nearly ended her challenge within metres of the start when she slid over the bridge and almost came off! Maddie and Anna Wadsworth continued the good family form by taking 2nd and 3rd girl U12 with Huw Higgins Worrall and Mitchell Cole ahead of them. Tom Lane rounded the U12 Boys podium. Torin Graham rode a strong race to win the U10 boys race finishing 6th overall with the U12’s. Bevan Smith taking 2ndfrom Jack Roberts.
The Under 14’s and U16’s rode together with numbers boosted by Talent Team riders in the U16 category. These showed some impressive form and great skills and took top 3 places in the U16 race with Billy Harding finishing ahead of Dylan Kerfoot Robson and Jack Ravenscroft. The U16 Talent Team girls of Amira Mellor and Ffion James were split from the boys by Sam Beckingsale taking 4th overall. First U14 boy James Tillett came in next significantly ahead of the battle for 2nd between Jack Broadley and Sam Tillett. Jack proved too strong in the finish to take 2nd with Sam 3rd. For the girls Emily Wadsworth took the win to maintain a clean sweep of family honours ahead of Emily Tillett. Mention must go to Ethan Baker in his first competitive outing taking most of the mud home with him!
My thanks as always to those who stepped in to help on a day when we were short of regular volunteers. Without your support the racing would not take place. My apologies that we ran out of change meaning prize money will be given out next time.
Next race 12th June in the top car park for a ROAD crit. See you there!
Posted: 11/4/12
The Celtic Road and Dirt Crit Series is for Youth riders exclusively with 3 Road events and 3 Dirt events building on the success of the Celtic Crit Series over the last two years.
Online entry available: here>>>
It is designed to encourage newer riders to take part although there will be enough challenge for more experienced riders. To encourage road riders to try MTB and vice versa, there is an overall Series prize which will be based on riders' best performances over two Dirt and two Road events.
The road circuit will be based at the top of the site near to The Lodge. Use the Overflow car park and follow the signs. The Dirt Crits will use the Coldra Woods at the bottom of the site, marked Walking Trails, accessed from the Lower, Conference Centre, Car Park below the Old Manor House.
Celtic Manor directions: more>>>
Entry fee for the whole series is £25, alternatively, £5 entry on the day.
Pre entry will be taken using a standard Road Entry form and sent to Garrie Tillett, Welsh Cycling, Wales National Velodrome, Newport International Sports Village, Newport NP19 4PS
Please note that the Road and Dirt events are both listed under ROAD on the on-line Events Calendar as they are a linked Series. Age Categories for both Road and Dirt will be;
Youth A (Youth) born 1996, 1997
Youth B (Juvenile) born 1998, 1999
Youth C (U12) born 2000, 2001
Youth D (U10) born 2002, 2003
Youth E (U8) born 2004, 2005
Signing on from 1800, racing starts 1845 with U8/U10, 1900 U12 and 1930 U14/U16
The first race of the series is on 5th June which will be a Dirt race. Other dates as follows:
Dirt rounds: 5th June, 19th June and 3rd July
Road rounds: 12th June, 26th June and 10th July
