Regular readers will know that we’re giving away a mixed team place to this year’s pioneering TransWales stage race (12-20 August, most of Wales). The entries are now in, and we’ll be bringing you the details of one of the shortlisted entries each day this week before throwing open the voting on Friday.

Our fifth and final candidates for the big TransWales prize are the poetic Russ Hall and Celia Brown…

In their own words

Because we love mountain biking (even keep our bikes in the bedroom) and a good, truly bonkers challenge!

Celia can come up with limericks to suit the occasion and if we get to ride will try to come up with one for each day!

There was a young man from Stoke,
He got Celia riding (he was that kind of bloke),
To the TransWales they aspire,
For the mountains are higher,
Their tactic is Russ farts – the opposition choke!

We like to have a laugh and racing is in our blood (and more often than not our blood is on the race course). You can guarantee that we’ll give 100% and with the threat of my arse, Celia will ride up hills faster than it was ever thought possible.

Of course if we don’t win, it’ll mean that we have to spend August riding around Cannock Chase terrorising the locals (shouting, laughing and crashing all over the trails). So really you owe it to the good people of Cannock to let us race…

In short we’ll give it our all, have tremendous fun and make you laugh every day!

Russ and Celia’s race CV

Celia Brown

Well you have to start somewhere … and Wales seems as good a place as any (in for a penny, as they say)!

I’m reaching over from the darkside: I’ve done a few time trials, triathlons and duathlons (including the World Age Group Champs in Geel).

I’m far from a race virgin though, as I’ve been running round in ovals for many years as a 400m hurdler and 800m runner – but I got dizzy and wanted a break!

Russ Hall

• Sleepless in The Saddle 2003, 2004, 2005
• Enduroplus 2005, 2006
• Bristol 12 hour 2005
• XC races in Cannock Chase from about 15 years ago to last year
• Hell of the North Cotswolds 2003, 2004, 2005
• Flintshire Challenge 2003, 2004, 2005
• Worked as a mountain bike guide in Les Gets for Alp Active – 1998

Generally ride three or four days a week in search of good single track and dusty trails – rode over 7000 miles last year. Also a keen XC runner and 10k racer (completed my first duathlon ever in 13th place this year!)