Kent

Words: Alex Raby   |   Images: © niallstrudwickphotography.com

Over 350 fans of the nomadic Eastbourne Eagles swelled the crowd to a record attendance in Iwade, Kent as the Sussex side made their debut at non-League level.  The opening fixture of Kent’s 2024 season under the NORA Motorsport Federation and the revival of their ‘Kings’ moniker saw the hosts come out victorious by a 47 point to 43 margin.

Save Eastbourne Speedway campaigners Michael Gray and David Graveling tracked a representative Eagles side featuring two members of the short-lived Eastbourne Seagulls outfit and Hailsham-born Vinnie Foord.  Nathan Ablitt, born in Sussex and a member of both 2021 Eastbourne teams, was due to lead the side at number one but was unfortunately withdrawn with an ankle injury sustained in a Heat 14 crash at Scunthorpe two days earlier.

Nonetheless, in perfect weather conditions it was an entertaining county derby in which there were never more than four points separating the two sides.  And that was the final margin as Kent took honours in a last heat decider.  But the Eagles had looked set for victory after twice taking the lead courtesy of their one and two partnership: guest from the Oxford Chargers Jody Scott and his race partner Vinnie Foord, who represented Kent in the third tier in 2021.  The duo also had an opportunity to set the tone for an early advantage in Heat One, before a late fall for 17-year-old Foord from the lead that gifted Kent first blood with an awarded race win to Ben Morley.

Eastbourne swiftly responded with Arran Butcher and Ryan Kingsley victorious in Heats 2 and 3, swinging the pendulum in favour of the Eagles for the first time.  The Sussex side provided 9 winners from the 15 heats, but lacked sufficient back-up with 11 non-scorers; 2021 Seagull Nick Laurence picked up his only point in that Heat 3 advantage.  There was plenty of incident too: Arran Butcher falling on the final bend of Heat 5, then when Butcher returned to winning ways in Heat 8 Jake Knight went down at Turn One.

Meanwhile experimental handicap regulations were used best by Kings boss Ben Clifton, who nominated Jody Scott for a 15 metre penalty in Heat 4, then Arran Butcher for the same in Heat 11, both riders came home scoreless.  Meanwhile Ben Morley recovered to second from the handicap in Heat 6, another small boost for Kent’s hopes. 

The key race appeared to be an entertaining Heat 9, in which Jack Kingston inflicted Ryan Kinsley’s first defeat of the meeting and pulled the Kings level.  And although the Eagles hit back with Rhys Naylor unable to recover from the penalty line in Heat 10 and Sam Ward coming down, Naylor was took his first win of the meeting with an unexpected success in Heat 14 and that paved the way for Kent’s victory.

Ultimately it was big scores from the Kings’ heatleader trio, all in double figures, that gave them the win.  Jack Kingston fittingly brought the meeting home in Heat 15 for the Kings, a fairytale story on his return from a fractured a vertebra, broken three ribs and a leg injury that ended his 2023 season.

But the Eagles had the final word in the five second half races sponsored by the Sussex Eagles Motorcycle Club, with their representatives winning all four of the qualifying heats to lock out the Grand Final places.  Ryan Kinsley won Heat 1 after a fall for Ben Morley, Jody Scott won a two-man Heat 2, Arran Butcher took Heat 3 and Vinnie Foord won the LCQ.  Butcher took the final honours ahead of Scott, with Kinsley unexpectedly relegated to the back as the track slickened off at the end of 20 races.