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CELTIC CUP 2009
SCOTLAND WIN CELTIC OPENER - posted 8 March 2009
Scotland won the opening leg of the inaugural Celtic Cup, beating Ireland by 68 points to 60 at the neutral venue of Eaton Park, Norwich earlier this afternoon.
As international cycle speedway goes, it was a low-key affair witnessed by only a few hardy local supporters on an afternoon that started in bright Spring sunshine and then got progressively colder.
Several of the Scottish squad had flown from Edinburgh to Stansted before picking up a mini-bus to travel the two hours plus up the A11 to Norwich. The Scots got off to a jet-propelled start, taking the opening race with maximum points after Ireland's Dave Martin fell while challenging Scotland's Craig Newsome on the final turn.
The match then fell into a predictable pattern with Ireland providing the race winners, mainly through Craig Norton and Leigh Cossey, while Scotland packed the middle order. As a result, nine of the thirteen heats, raced over the six-man formula, were shared.
Fielding virtually a Norwich Premier League side, Ireland failed to capitalise on their 'home' advantage, not recording a heat win until the very last race when reserve Daniel Butler and Dave Martin combined to sandwich Nathan Groves into second place, to record Ireland's solitary heat win.
The Scots looked solid throughout the order. Nathan Groves top scored with two wins and three second from his five outings while Craig Newsome, Alan Smith and Mikey Hewittson all recorded race wins from four starts. Leigh Cossey, fresh from Great Britain duty in Australia looked fit, tanned and sharp but team-mate Dave Martin struggled, hitting the deck in the opening race and receiving an exclusion in his next for taking his Scottish opponent wide.
Star of the show was undoubtedly Craig Norton. The Irish skipper has been putting in the work during the close season - and it showed as Norton won three of his four races, being beaten only by Nathan Groves in his final race.
As a match it wasn't a spectacle. Without a crowd and with a rookie announcer, the match lacked atmosphere and excitement, which was a shame, especially for those who had flown down from Edinburgh to take part.
CELTIC CUP - First Leg
Ireland 60
Craig Norton 15, Leigh Cossey 14, Dave Martin 9, Daniel Butler 7, Lewis Connor 6, Gary Colby 6, Scott McDowell 3
Scotland 68
Nathan Groves 17, Craig Newsome 12, Josh Colby 11, Alan Smith 10, Mikey Hewittson 10, Richard Hunt 8, Gavin Kennedy dnr
Referee: Stanley Allison (Cambridgeshire)
spokesman-online's ace photographer Brian Barnett travelled to Norwich today to cover this afternoon's Celtic Cup match. Here are a few of his excellent photos. A wider selection appear on British Cycling's website.
RIDER PROFILES
Scotland Rider Profiles
Craig Newsome (Edinburgh)
Edinburghs undisputed number one and the most successful Scottish rider of the Noughties. Craig, who finished tenth in the 2005 World Final in Australia, has enjoyed a number of spells in the Premier League for Stoke, Wednesfield and Astley & Tyldesley.
Joshua Colby (Norwich)
Joshua was runner up in the British Under-13 in 2007. Last season he finished third overall in BYJL Under-14s. Joshua has good knowledge of the Eaton Park track, where he should know his way round after recently completing a sponsored 200 laps. His gate is one to be watched on a good day.
Alan Smith (Edinburgh)
Alan is an established Scottish international who was back to his best last season after taking a year out of the sport in 2006. He is the current Edinburgh track record holder.
Mikey Hewitson (Bury)
Edinburgh-based Mikey made his international debut in the 2005 Home International. There are rumours circulating that Mikey is considering a return to his home track in 2009 and there is no doubt that current Northern KO Cup holders Edinburgh would benefit from his fast starting and incredible bike handling skills.
Richard Hunt (Norwich)
The most experienced rider in the Scotland side, Richard returned to the Scotland side for the 2008 Home International after a number of years in the international wilderness. Having ridden for Norwich for a number of years, Richard will be hoping to show his Scotland teammates the fastest way around the Eaton Park circuit.
Nathan Groves (Birmingham)
Nathan makes his international debut for Scotland after an outstanding 2008 season for Birmingham. Following the Monarchs promotion to the Premier League, you can expect to hear a lot more about this talented youngster over the course of the 2009 season.
Team Manager: Gavin Kennedy
This is Gavins second season in charge of the national team, having taken over from the hugely experienced Dave Baxter at the beginning of last year. With experienced riders like Pete Young and Kevin Burns no longer available to him, Gavin faces a difficult job in rebuilding the national team, however he has shown in his team selection today that he is not afraid to blood promising youngsters quoting the old adage if theyre good enough, theyre old enough.
Irish Riders Profile
Gary Colby (Norwich)
Current Irish team manager is now in third term. He is a coach at the Norwich club and knows the Eaton Park circuit well, havong started his career there way back in 1984! Gary is disappointed that Joshua will be riding for Scotland and not Ireland. Gary is hoping to visit Ireland team sponsors Sibton White Horse inn on St Patricks night!
David Martin (Hethersett)
He is one of Hethersett's top riders and knows the track well as he races in the Premier League for the Norwich club. He made his debut for Ireland last year in the Home International and just returned from Oz after a successful World Cup.
Leigh Cossey (Norwich)
Currently he is Irelands top rider who has just returned from Oz and helped Ireland to fourth place in the World Cup. Leigh is an important member of the Norwich Premier League team.
Craig Norton (Norwich)
Craig is looking good this season having made a successful return to racing after a serious illness. As a top county darts player and speedway mechanic, he finds it difficult to commit himself to cycle speedway but always gives 100% when he does.
Daniel Butler (Norwich)
Daniel does not ride regularly but has been drafted in as a late replacement for Steve Copping who has had to stay on in Oz due to a leg infection. Dan knows the Eaton Park circuit well. He rode for Ireland last year in the Home International at Great Blakenham.
Lewis Connor (Norwich)
Lewis is one of Norwich up and coming junior riders and has been drafted in as a last minute guest replacement for Barry Copping who has stayed in Oz to be with his brother Steve.
Scott McDowell (Somersham)
Scott has been invited to ride at the eleventh hour. After a chance conversation with Paul Jay, it was discovered only recently that Scotts grandfather is Irish, therefore making Scott eligible to ride for Ireland. Scott says his father will be very proud of him racing in the green and white.
IRELAND ANNOUNCE TEAM FOR CELTIC CUP - posted 1 March 2009
Ireland team manager Gary Colby has announced his team for the first leg of the newly introduced Celtic Cup to be held at Eaton Park, Norwich next Sunday (8 March). It is based on the squad that contested the World Cup in Adelaide last weekend, that is David Martin, Leigh Cossey, Steve Copping, Barry Copping, Craig Norton and Colby himself.
Colby had hoped to include Tom Doyle (Bury) and new Irish international Adam Stephenson (Hull) in his squad but both have club commitments.
The Celtic Cup starts at 12.30pm and will be followed by a four-team tournament featuring Edinburgh and three local sides.
SCOTLAND TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR CELTIC CUP - posted 26 February 2009
National team manager Gavin Kennedy has announced the Scotland team for the Celtic Cup match against Ireland at Norwich on Sunday 8 March. It is Craig Newsome (Edinburgh), Joshua Colby (Norwich), Alan Smith (Edinburgh), Mikey Hewitson (Bury), Richard Hunt (Norwich) and Nathan Groves (Birmingham).
The match will be ridden over a 13 heat format with the return leg staged at Redbraes Park, Edinburgh on Sunday 14th June - the day after the 2009 Home International.
ENTER THE CELTIC CUP - posted 26 January 2009
As we hinted earlier in the week, plans are at an advanced stage to hold a Celtic Cup international series between Ireland and Scotland. Respective team managers Gary Colby and Gavin Kennedy have agreed dates and venues and expect British Cycling to endorse their proposals for the matches to have full international status within the next few days.
The first international will be held at Norwich on Sunday 8 March, start time 12.30pm. The second will be held at Edinburgh on Sunday 14 June, start time 12noon.
Scotland team manager Gavin Kennedy was delighted with the initiative.
"From a Scottish perspective, the match at Norwich is an ideal opportunity to give debuts to a couple of up and coming youngsters. I'm hoping to get permission from Birmingham to use Nathan Groves, who qualifies to ride for Scotland through his mother. I'm really excited about seeing Nathan in action having heard a lot of good things about him from his club mate Marcus Wadhams. I'm also hoping to use Robbie Venson of Leicester who, of course, scored a 20 point maximum in last year's British under-16 semi-final at Southampton. Edinburgh Falcons have always enjoyed an excellent relationship with his Dad and it was Norman who tipped me off about his eligibility to ride for Scotland" Kennedy told spokesman-online.
"The match at Redbraes comes the day after the Home International and it'll be nice to host a weekend of international racing on our newly laid track surface. Gary and I have also been talking to Dave Murphy about the possibility of holding a Celtic Cup event in Wales later in the season. However we've still to identify a gap in the racing calendar for that one."
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