The 2025 edition of the Celtic Nations Championships saw Scotland take the turn of hosting duties after it was ourselves who took the reigns last year where we hosted the competition. Hutcheson's Grammar School, just outside Glasgow was the venue on Saturday 18th October for a full day of Weightlifting action between the Celtic Nations of hosts Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

A total of 38 athletes took to the platform from across the three nations, with a strong team of 18 being selected to represent Team Wales - 6 youth (male and female), 6 junior (male and female), and 6 senior (male and female). This squad represented a good mix of international experience as well as newcomers to representing Wales. Which is what the Celtics is all about, mixing experience with youth.

With the Celtics being the unique opportunity in the calendar each year for our athletes to compete as part of our team, it provides that camaraderie that no other event does. It was brilliant to see everyone support each other and push everyone within the team to do their best for the team. 

Following on from last year's results where Ireland retained the title of Celtics champions, it was up to ourselves and Scotland to try to challenge another strong Irish team.

Early morning on the 18th October saw group 1 take to the platform, which comprised of the youth girls. Bethan Harry was the star of the show in this group ended up coming away as best youth girls lifter, with an impressive Sinclair score of 207.87, and some valuable points for Wales. Isabella Jones and Nyarai Hector did brilliantly too to give a strong start of the day to Wales.

Group 2 was the turn of the youth boys. Some strong showings across the board for our three youth boys (Thomas Duggan, Noah Ellson, Jac Green), with an average Sinclair score of just under 300 by the three of them. 

The turn of the juniors in the middle of the day with groups 3 and 4 saw some great competition and everyone giving it their all for their respective nations. Isla Travers did tremendously well and became very close to earning herself as best junior girls lifter with a Sinclair score of 217.29. Elsewhere in the junior girls, Millie Lerwill and Grace Morris performed brilliantly to add some vital points of the Team Wales Sinclair score. Meanwhile, the junior boys was fiercely contested with some outstanding lifts on show by all. All three Welsh lifters of Llewellyn Waits, Daniel Davies, and Luke Fletcher all scored over 300 Sinclair points each, significantly boosting Wales' total Sinclair total.

The final two groups of the day coincided with the senior women and men take center stage. Molly Greenwood, Sabrina Butler, and Megan Dixon all gave their very best with the rest of the team behind them, and ended up adding 660 Sinclair points in total across the three of them out of group 5. And then finally with the senior men, saw consistent lifting by James Wales and Cian Green in particular by going 5/6 from their lifts, but it was Ollie Ebenezer who with a 336.02 Sinclair score contributed the most points out of anyone to the overall team total, which were the final points of the day for Wales.

In the end after all Sinclair points added up, it left with the following end of competition results:

• 1st - Ireland (4650 points)
• 2nd - Wales (4595 points)
• 3rd - Scotland (4496 points) 

A repeat of the standings from the 2024 Celtics, with Ireland taking the title again. Silver medals for our Welsh squad who should be very proud of their performance and representing the nation with pride.

As we look back on events from this year's Celtics, I think we can successfully say it's been another rewarding competition and some great learnings from it for all of our team, who we hope enjoyed the experience.

A special thanks must also go to all of the Team Wales coaching team - Matthew De Filippo, Tom Jolly, Leah Clarke, and Gareth Evans, who supported all athletes brilliantly to perform at their best, as well as creating such a welcoming team spirit between everyone.

Weightlifting Wales would like to thank Weightlifting Scotland for running a really well-run event and for being such incredible hosts. We are grateful for all the work they have done in making the weekend another Celtics Championships to remember. 

Another thank you goes to our transport provider for the weekend - Edwards Coaches, who helped transport all of our team up to Glasgow. As the official transport partner for Team Wales for next year's Commonwealth Games it was great to be under their service, and we looking forward to being able to work with them in the times to come.

Finally, this years Celtics was another National Lottery-funded event. Without the support of the National Lottery, on top of Welsh Government funding, events like these which hugely aid the development of our talented athletes from the exposure of international competition would not be possible. 

Everyone is looking forward to next year's installment of the Celtic Championships when we all head over to Ireland in 2026.

The full results from this year's Celtic Nations Championships can be viewed below: