Kent

Words: Alex Raby   |   Images: © niallstrudwickphotography.com

Thurrock Hammers pulled off a surprise victory over the Eastbourne Eagles in a rare match-up between the two former top-flight sides.  The rivalry between the two clubs peaked in 2007, but the Hammers’ Arena Essex Raceway closed in 2018, while the Eagles left the Elite League in 2014 before closing mid-way through 2021.  But neutral venue Iwade in Sittingbourne saw the two teams back on track in a fixture organised by Sussex Eagles Motorcycle Club.

The Eagles, tracking their 2008 Knockout Cup winner Scott Nicholls at number one and 2021 Eagle Edward Kennett, were expected to have too much top-end strength for the Hammers in this fixture.  But the hosts produced no less than three double figure scorers and had enough middle order strength to run out victors by a 43 point to 47 margin.

Ultimately, the four-point difference between the two teams was established in the opening heat of the afternoon, in which Nicholls suffered a mechanical problem and was never at the races against Iwade track record holder Alfie Bowtell and his opening partner Jack Kingston.  Nicholls got his revenge around the outside of Bowtell down the backstraight in Heat 4 and went on to secure three impressive race victories with the fastest times of the day.  But the Eagles spent the rest of the fixture trying to recover from that early loss.

Bowtell delivered three race victories for the Hammers and he received admirable support from Ben Morley, particularly in the early stages.  Morley did well to get around the outside of Nathan Ablitt around bends three and four on the opening lap of Heat 2, then with Morley’s second win and Rhys Naylor making a smooth pass around Henning Loof on lap three of Heat 5, Thurrock were back in front by four points a third of the way through the day.

Edward Kennett, who spent six seasons with the Eagles and was a part of the last Eastbourne side in 2021, provided more entertainment than his six-point score would suggest.  Kennett, who last raced League Speedway in 2022 when he aggravated an arm injury in his opening meeting for Plymouth, has competed in other fixtures staged under the NORA federation and is the current British 500cc Upright Champion.  The only rider competing on a traditional upright engine here, his best ride was Heat Seven when he made a determined inside pass on Jack Kingston on the top bend of Lap Two and hassled Alfie Bowtell to the finish line, only just finishing short.  Nathan Ablitt, the third former Eagle on show for the Sussex side, delivered his lone race victory in that Heat 7 and with a second consecutive advantage left the scores level heading in to the second half of the meeting.

Paul Starke was the Eagles’ only other heat winner, taking the chequered flag with a fast Heat 8 ride after getting around Ben Morley.  Kennett then made the start in Heat 9 but was picked off by Jason Edwards coming off turn two.  Jack Kingston’s fall in the run to Turn One in Heat 10 contributed one of five consecutive shared results and the sides could only be separated in the nominated races.

Two last places in the final three Heats for the Eagles ultimately proved costly, and they went into the final race four points down and needing a maximum return to tie.  Scott Nicholls provided the Heat 15 entertainment with a brilliant pursuit but suffered only his second defeat of the day.  And the final word went to Jason Edwards, an Eagle between 2018 and 2021 riding here for Thurrock and top-scoring for the Hammers with just one dropped point. 

Ben Morley beat Paul Starke and Nathan Ablitt to claim the John Ling Memorial Trophy to ensure all of the day’s honours went back to Essex.