The Orwell Women's Crit League is back, and with a brand new format! Moving away from Sandyford, the focus is on encouraging beginners into the sport, but there's still plenty for the experienced rider! Click through for more!

Updated! Now with sign-up link!

Time for a catch-up with the final rounds of Corkagh Park Ladies' Racing, with wins by both Aideen Keenan and Orla Hendron, both heading for a late season peak, and Mary Brady taking her first prize at the head of the B group! We also say goodbye to organiser Siobhán O'Connor, as after three years she's handing over the reins to Aideen Keenan and Lucan's Maria Mulvany.

Aideen Keenan notched up her most dominant win yet, soloing to victory in Clonmel at the weekend, ahead of the bunch gallop, which was taken by a flying Rachael Kaye-Mellor. Keenan followed that up with a tight second in Corkagh Park, which was also the scene of Helen Horan's début win from the B group! And last Thursday Conor Murnane pipped Arek Pierozynski for an excellent win R18 of the league on Dorey's Forge. Some men also raced in the Suir Valley 3 Day.

It's a delight to commence the 2014 race reports with a superb win for Aideen Keenan in Monasterevin yesterday, and a fine fourth for Bernard English in the A4 event.

Ahead of today's National League opener, we asked Ned Flanagan winner Aideen Keenan to reflect on her experiences in Clonard last weekend.

And while the vets are going through a strong streak, the women are not to be dismissed! Corkagh Park has been the scene of many an Orwell triumph, and recently it was the turn of Helen Horan to take silver, and the following week Aideen Keenan celebrated her first win of the series.

Last weekend in Donore, two riders from different ends of the spectrum both got themselves on the podium. Ciara Kinch continued her winning streak with silver in the women's race, while Garry Blair matched her result to take his first ever open points! Read on for the details from both riders...

On a damp and dismal day in Dundalk, Monica Marconi netted herself a great third place in the women's race at the Trader's Cup.

Last weeks league crit saw a repeat win for Conor Murnane, and Liam Rowsome taking a maiden triumph from a break, while the weekend was packed with results - Barry Dace winning in the vets, Neal Hudson taking silver on the road, and Orla Hendron an actual silver on the track. Fionn Sheridan also won bronze, and Ciara Kinch placed in the National League race.

At last we come to the catch-up on the open action! Ciara Kinch's win in the women's race at Moynalty was the only result of note on the road that weekend, but last weekend we had a host of Orwell placings, including Rachael Kaye-Mellor's First Woman prize at Sorrento's 10TT, and Keith Harte's 3rd in A4 in the Seamus Kennedy Memorial, prompting his upgrade to A3. Monica Marconi also netted 3rd for the women on the day, with Tom Blennerhassett taking home an unplaced A2 prize.

We've been remiss in our racing coverage, with the women in particular scoring a number of fine results - Sandra Telford with a Corkagh Park win, and Ciara Kinch 4th in the Meath GP. Read on for much, much more!

Thanks to Ciara Ní Fhlathartaigh for this write up on Round 1 of the Womens League

Last night saw thirty five of the fifty registered riders turn up to Corkagh Park for Round 2 of the Scott Orwell Wheelers Women's Crit League.

The Crit Chronicles continue into Round 4. This was the final round at Corkagh Park before heading to the road.

The Crit Chronicles make their way down the N81 to Brittas for the fifth round's Road Race.

The Scott-Orwell Wheelers' Women's Crit League will start on Tuesday April 4th 2017.

On the women's open scene, Monica Marconi scored an emphatic victory in Wexford for the final round of the National League, while Ciara Kinch came home a fine 5th. Kinch then went on to notch up Gold in the Leinster Hill Climb Champs, with Aideen Keenan in silver a mere 7" behind her. And Orla Hendron displayed rude form at the Track Champs to take home two national medals, while Rachel Glendon also won silver in the National Middle Distance Triathlon Champs.
Update: now with hill climb podium pic, and news of Naoise Sheridan's track league medal!

The races came thick and fast over the weekend, with Kilmessan hosting two days of events for Ciara Kinch and Orla Hendron to take envelopes home from, and the Ballinrobe 2 Day taking place out west, with Pat O'Brien, Neal Hudson, Ronan Grimes and Aideen Keenan all putting in strong performances, and Keenan winning the women's prize there. This all followed the club TTT, won by a team featuring Colum Bradley, Daniel McElroy, and Sean and Conor Murnane.

The Women's Crit Series hosted by Scott-Orwell Wheelers returns for 2018 and this year we are delighted to welcome a new sponsor – Appleby Jewelers. The league welcomes all levels and abilities of women racing from absolute beginners to experienced veterans. The first race of the series will take place on Tuesday 10th April....

Tonight is the first round of the StickyBottle.com Orwell Women's Crit League, opening with a 10TT at Batterstown. It's a flat, simple out and back course - perfect to give time trialling a first try!