KENT KINGS

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Kent Kings' Len Silver blasts at call-off v Eastbourne
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From the Kent Kings website:

A fixture change sees the home meeting at Kent Speedway’s Sittingbourne Greyhound Stadium base on Monday 16 May (start time 6.30pm) changed to a Travel Plus National League [TPNL] match versus Coventry Storm.

The previously-arranged meeting for this date, a TPNL match versus Rye House Raiders, will now take place on Monday 13 June.

Should the Kent SLYDE Kings progress to the next round of the National Knock Out Cup [NKOC], their opponents – it has been announced, following the draw being made for the Second Round of this competition -, will be Coventry Storm.

Kent take a 24 points lead (courtesy of last Monday’s emphatic victory in the first leg over the Isle of Wight Warriors) to the Warriors’ track in Ryde on June 7th. for the second leg. Should the SLYDE Kings prevail in this two-legged tie on aggregate, their visit to Brandon in Coventry on the following Friday (June 10th.) will change from being a TPNL fixture to an NKOC Second Round First Leg match; with a Second Leg scheduled for Central Park on Monday June 20th.

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Fresh from his latest success on the domestic Grasstrack scene (the Champion of Champions) and the superb form he’s been displaying riding in the Travel Plus National League [TPNL], Kent SLYDE Kings’ James Shanes is Germany-bound this weekend – competing on Sunday (22/5) in the third of the three disciplines he excels in: at an international championship Longtrack (or ‘Sandbahn’ as it’s often referred to in Europe) meeting.

It takes place in Scheeβel in Lower Saxony near Rotenberg and is Shanes’ second visit to the German sand tracks, so influential in Longtrack racing, this season – a year when the talented teen is aiming to qualify for the World Championship series.

It is certainly an impressive 15 rider field and James will be thrown straight in the deep end, facing a truly international set of competitors in his opening ride: from the Czech Republic (former SGP wildcard rider, Josef Franc) ; the Netherlands’ European Finalist, Henry van der Steen; Swede Andreas Westlaund; and home rider David Pfeffer.

Also competing in the Union Jack race jacket of the UK is Shanes’ team-mate from that hugely successful foray into Continental Sandbahn last year – when Team GB conquered the rest in the World Team Cup), Andrew Appleton, four times a British Masters champion (the title Shanes himself claimed in 2015); and the 2010 European Grasstrack champion. The rest of the field is mainly German including Stephan Katt, the multi-European Champion.

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Kent SLYDE Kings travel to their rivals’ Birmingham on Wednesday (7/9) on the back of a brilliant performance against Cradley, full of positivity about the challenge of a Cup semi-final against the Brummies.

Team boss Chris Hunt was delighted with the showing on Monday against the Heathens (also from the West Midlands and twice National League champions in the past three seasons) which has clinched a definite spot in the Travel Plus National League [TPNL] championship play-offs for the Sittingbourne-based Speedway team.

“It was a superb all-round team performance by all six of our riders. All pitched in with significant scoring contributions; and all the injuries which have held back a number of the lads who’ve made comebacks after being out are really behind us now. It was without question our best performance of the season and hitting such form on the eve of a vitally important week for us is really pleasing”.

One injury victim still not back on track is David Mason and the Central Park-based team will travel to Perry Barr without their experienced rider and will continue to use Rider Replacement to cover.

They will encounter hosts with problems of their own. Their number one Zach Wajtknecht remains on the injured list with broken fingers and the Brummies (who beat Kent in the National Trophy Final earlier this season) were dealt a further blow today when they learnt that their initial pick as ‘Guest’ to cover for Wajtknecht is also ruled out due to injury. Aussie Mitchell Davey is a relative newcomer to the TPNL and yet to face Kent for his club Coventry Storm but he has done well enough since arriving at Brandon in June to become the representative from the Storm in this year’s National League Riders Championship {NLRC] and was Birmingham’s ‘Guest’ in their last home match. A good performance then sealed his slot in the Cup semi first leg but now an accident at work (falling from some scaffolding) rules the rider from Queensland out of action. The new choice as ‘Guest’ will be former Cradley rider (so spending a season based at Perry Barr when he was a Heathen), Eastbourne’s Ellis Perks.

To increase the Brummies’ team boss Graham Drury’s woes, their talented teenager reserve Jack Parkinson-Blackburn is unwell and so a change has had to be made in the vital reserve berths with Lee Geary coming in as stand in for the reigning GB Youth Champion.

Teams [in alphabetical order] are:
Birmingham Brummies: Tom Bacon; Lee Geary; Danyon Hume; Ellis Perks; Tom Perry; Darryl Ritchings; Jack Smith

Kent SLYDE Kings: Danny Ayres; Luke Bowen; Luke Clifton; James Shanes; Jack Thomas; Danno Verge; Rider Replacement for David Mason

The meeting gets underway at Perry Barr at 7.30pm on Wednesday 7 September.

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From the Kent Kings website:
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From the Kent Kings website:
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The Kings busy spell continues as they host Birmingham at Central Park on Monday (12/9) 6:30 start time.

The Kings head into this second leg clash 8 points down on aggregate after the first leg at Perry Barr on Wednesday night (7/9). But after the confidence enhancing 26 point victory over Cradley last week there is no reason not to think that Kent can't overturn the deficit and put themselves into a Cup Final which would be against either Eastbourne or Cradley (ironically our previous two visitors to Central Park). The recent home form of Luke Bowen and Danny Ayres will feel the home side with confidence that they can at last break the run of defeats against the reigning league champions and that the luck goes in the favour of the Kings on this occasion.

Kent are still waiting on the fitness of key second string David Mason if he is still unavailable it will be Rider Replacement with the rides being able to be shared amongst Danny Ayres, Danno Verge, Jack Thomas and Luke Clifton. Danny Ayres will once again be available after missing the trip to Coventry due to a fixture clash with his Premier League side Glasgow.

Birmingham who were also carrying injuries in the first leg are hoping to have teenage sensation Jack Parkinson-Blackburn back from his brief injury lay off and Ellis Perks will once again be riding at Number 1 for the visitors.

The two previous fixtures between the two sides have been close run affairs when Kent when down 47-43 in the National Trophy Final 2nd Leg (losing 94-86 overall) and also losing 43-41 in the controversial league fixture that was abandoned after Heat 14. Whatever happens on Monday both teams will be hoping for a good match that is raced in the right spirit.

After this match there is a break in Monday fixtures due to Kent being at Cradley the following Monday (19/9) so the next home match will be the County Fours on Friday 23rd September.

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Kent County Fours Preview:
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It will be a ‘four-some’ night of entertainment at Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne on Friday evening (23/9/16) with the second annual staging by the Kent Speedway club of the Kent County Fours (6.30pm start time).

Four teams will do battle for the title with the home side, the Kent SLYDE Kings looking to wrest the title away from the Sussex interlopers, Eastbourne Eagles who took the inaugural County Fours title last year. Aiming to make sure neither Travel Plus National League [TPNL] heavyweight club gets it all their own way will be the Isle of Wight Warriors and a select side representing a famous club of old from the north-west of the county, the Crayford Kestrels.

The evening will be an opportunity to celebrate the rich heritage of Kentish Speedway too with some legendary former riders in attendance. Sponsored by the Crayford Supporters group they’ll be a reunion of former riders from the one-time London Borough of Bexley-based club, including their long-time skipper (and National League Riders’ Champion in 1975), Laurie Etheridge, record appearance-holder Alan Sage and Kentish-born legends Les Rumsey and Barry Thomas. The other now defunct side from the Garden of England, the Canterbury Crusaders get in the nostalgia act too with former riders who once wore the crossed swords race jacket and rode in the shadow of the Cathedral in Kingsmead, Barney Kennett and Ted Hubbard amongst those planning to attend.
It’s very much on the present, though, that the SLYDE Kings’ management will be focused – aware that the most important meetings in the Murston-based club’s four year history are coming up in the next two weeks: home and away TPNL Play-Off Semi Final matches against their local rivals Eastbourne, aiming to get a crack at the championship title itself in the Final.

Chris Hunt, the SLYDE Kings’ boss selects the two Lukes, skipper Bowen and Canterbury-born Clifton (whose uncle Graham will be among the former Crusaders in attendance) plus the in-form Jack Thomas and another one-time Divisional Riders’ Champion in David Mason in the hosts’ quartet.

Eastbourne limber up for their quick-fire return the following week with Aussie-raised Ellis Perks, Maidstone-based Georgie Wood, GB U16 championship runner-up Tom Brennan and fourth generation ‘Eagle’, Kelsey Dugard comprising a strong looking four representing the Sussex coast side.

The Warriors from the holiday Hampshire island cross the Solent to race at Central Park for a fourth time in 2016, led by the experienced pairing of James Cockle and Sevenoaks-based reigning SilverSki champion Mark Baseby plus former GB Under 15 title winner Nathan Stoneman and the up and coming Layne Cupitt.

Completing the line up is the Crayford Kestrels four, comprising as skipper Kent SLYDE Kings’ Danno Verge, the popular former Kings’ man Connor Coles, GB Under 21 finalist Alfie Bowtell and the 2015 Laurels rostrum finisher, Chris Widman.

The action gets underway way at 6.30pm with gates opening at 5pm.

Teams in alphabetical order:

Kent SLYDE Kings:
Luke Bowen; Luke Clifton; David Mason; Jack Thomas

Crayford Kestrels:
Alfie Bowtell; Connor Coles; Danno Verge; Chris Widman

Eastbourne Eagles:
Tom Brennan; Kelsey Dugard; Ellis Perks; George Wood

Isle of Wight Warriors:
Mark Baseby; James Cockle; Layne Cupitt; Nathan Stoneman
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The final meeting of a memorable Speedway season at Central Park came to the most dramatic of ends with home star James Shanes triumphing in the end of season ‘King of Kent’ individual meeting and claiming the impressive SilverSki Trophy.

It was very tough luck on two of his team mates, skipper Luke Bowen who’d stormed through the qualifiers with four wins; and Danny Ayres who – desperate to sign off his third season with the Sittingbourne-based club with the individual meeting win he so covets – fell while leading the Final.

The qualifiers saw Bowen take a maximum 12 points; though the draw kept him apart from Ayres, who recorded three impressive heat victories himself, including two wins over Shanes - who was struggling with his starts and finding it hard to progress through the field on a wet track surface - and an impressive heat 12 win over one of the pre-meeting favourites, former Kent skipper, Ben Morley. In a portent of what was to follow, though, Ayres had crashed out in his third (and easiest on paper) ride – falling when clear in first place; his team mate David Mason gratefully benefitting with a vital win securing his own qualification.

Ayres’ nine points saw him in second ahead of Morley courtesy of that heat 12 win. Shanes, meanwhile, after just one point from his opening two rides had to thank a heat 7 win over another of the most fancied visiting riders and another former Kings’ captain, Steve Boxall for the five points which saw him take the penultimate slot in qualifying for the semis.
The countback couldn’t separate Jack Thomas and Central Park debutant, Jordan Jenkins also finished on five points and a run-off was necessary - with the SLYDE Kings’ teenager Thomas gating superbly and then holding off the ardent challenges of the impressive looking Jenkins.

Surprise packet in the qualifiers had been Connor Coles – again impressing on the return to the track he graced as an ‘original’ King in 2013. With Coles in fourth and Boxall, who struggled after looping out in heat one only fifth, it meant the first semi featuring riders in first, third, fifth and seventh remarkably threw together Bowen, Morley, Shanes and Boxall!
Something had to give in this battle of the stars and when Bowen drifted too wide on the fourth bend of the third lap chasing Morley (who’d made a lightning fast trap out of the start) thus allowing the hard-chasing Shanes up the inside, it was the maximum man who was out.
It was plain sailing for Ayres in the other semi - with Thomas taking full advantage of the run off reprieve that had seen him progress, to get past Mason and secure a place in the Grand Final for himself.

So to the denouncement of a dramatic season with perhaps more heart-wrenching drama in it than any other individual race all year at Central Park. Ayres swept past Morley into the lead and was clear and away. A superb effort by Shanes to get past his former skipper was to pay huge but unexpected dividends when on the fourth bend of lap three, Ayres went too wide, made contact with the fence and was down. Though up in a shot, there was no catching Shanes or Morley now and a third place was really no reward for a great night’s racing by the Newmarket-based rider.

For the Boy Wizard of Balance, Shanes though, it was a second individual meeting win of the season as his adopted Kentish home and the crowd hailed their hugely popular teenaged star.

Qualifying scores

Luke Bowen 3 3 3 3 12
Danny Ayres 3 3 0 3 9
Ben Morley 3 2 2 2 9
Connor Coles 2 3 0 2 7
Steve Boxall X 1 2 3 6
David Mason L 1 3 2 6
James Shanes 1 0 3 1 5
Jack Thomas 1 2 1 1 5
Jordan Jenkins 2 1 2 0 5
Ben Hopwood 2 2 1 X 5
Danno Verge 0 0 F 1 1
Nathan Stoneman M M - - 0

Qualifiers
1. (re-run) Bowen, Jenkins, Stoneman (exc 2 mins) Boxall (f.exc) 58.4
2. Morley, Hopwood, Thomas, Mason (f.rem) (LPD) 58.8
3. Ayres, Coles, Shanes, Verge 58.6
4. Bowen, Morley, Boxall, Shanes 58.3
5. Ayres, Hopwood, Mason, Stoneman (exc 2mins) 58.4
6. (re-run) Coles, Thomas, Jenkins, Verge, 60.4
7. Shanes, Boxall, Hopwood, Coles 58.1
8. (awarded) Bowen, Morley, Verge (f.exc) no time
9. Mason, Jenkins, Thomas, Ayres (f.rem) 61.2
10. Boxall, Mason, Verge, 58.2
11. (re-run) (awarded) Bowen, Coles, Thomas, Hopwood (f.exc) no time
12. Ayres, Morley, Shanes, Jenkins 58.4

Run off for 8th.: Thomas, Jenkins 61.4

Semi final: Morley, Shanes, Bowen, Boxall 59.0
Semi final: Ayres, Thomas, Mason, Coles 58.9
Final: Shanes, Morley, Ayres (f.rem), Thomas 59.3

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Friday night (18/11) was an opportunity for fans and riders of the Kent SLYDE Kings Speedway club to get together at the annual end of season awards & fund-raising evening and let their hair down.

There was also a chance for fans to get their hands on some very unique merchandise courtesy of a raffle that had a staggering 71 prizes; with the race jackets worn by the ‘magnificent seven’ comprising the Sittingbourne-based Speedway club’s most successful ever side auctioned off also.

The centre piece of the evening was the award ceremony that was organised by ‘Supporters of Kent Kings’ [SOKK] Facebook group – with awards based on voting during the year for Rider of the Meeting and via a judging panel of fans and sponsors.
The trophies for the various awards were sponsored by friends and sponsors of the club and were awarded as follows.

The Boiler Engineer Shield and CTA Fire Trophy for the Rider of the Year went to young Jack Thomas. Jack has made sensational strides this season and has flown (literally once) around Central Park - memorably bravely battling through several pain barriers (having ended up the wrong side of the air fence barrier in a spectacular prang) in the home victory against King's Lynn. In a double celebration for the teenager who was riding in 2016 in his first ever season of league Speedway, Jack also won The UK Mobile Bars Trophy for the Young Rider of the Year.

The SOKK Special Award and recipient of The Whistle Gang Shield was the Central Park-based club’s inspirational skipper, Luke Bowen. Luke came in after spending over 10 seasons at Rye House and became one of the top riders in the Travel Plus National League [TPNL] often leading from the front, especially during Kent's club-record breaking 15 match unbeaten run.

The Code Clean Trophy for the Most Improved Rider of the Year was won by James Shanes. This season has seen James (who retained his British Masters Grasstrack title in 2016 and took the European crown on the Grass too) step up to be a consistent heat leader in the TPNL, often hitting double figures and thrilling crowds by coming from the back. The Boy Wizard of Balance won two individual meetings at Central Park and his victories over Great Britain’s Speedway World Team Cup squad member Adam Ellis will live long in the memory of the SLYDE-sponsored Kings' fans.

So as the bar staff called last orders and the party mood in full swing, it was a last call to toast the magnificent season that the Kent SLYDE Kings enjoyed as the attention now turns to who will be riding for the club come Good Friday 2017 - two award winners in Luke Bowen and Jack Thomas are confirmed returnees, with all eyes next month on the League Promoters’ Conference where crucial decisions on points limits which will determine which team selection choices can then be made.

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From the SGB website:
KENT have confirmed a team place at Central Park next season for Luke Clifton as the third returning rider from this year’s line-up.

The Kings are set to make several changes with Danny Ayres and Danno Verge having already been announced elsewhere, whilst promoter Len Silver has confirmed James Shanes and David Mason are also moving on.

Silver said: “Before the (AGM) meeting myself and team boss Chris Hunt were confident the points limit would remain unchanged from last year, so it was a shock when the reduced total was voted in.

“This has thwarted our plan to combine James Shanes with our already announced retention of skipper Luke Bowen and young rising star Jack Thomas in the septet for 2017.

“I'm pleased that we can offer Luke Clifton a second season with us. Luke had a difficult 2016, his first season back in the sport after a long time out, suffering several bad knocks to his knee. Both Chris and myself think Luke will really step up to the plate in 2017.”

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Kent are happy to announce that agreement has been reached for Bradley Andrews, the grandson of England International, Bob Andrews, to fly in from his home in New Zealand ( arriving in March) to sign a contract for the Kent Kings where his 3.07 average will place him in one of the reserve positions.
He appeared for Cradley in 2016 and had a disastrous first half to the season, then, with a change of equipment, his form took an upward surge to mark him as one to watch. Kings team manager, Chris Hunt has commented ..." It is obvious to me that Bradley's current average is well below his capability and we plan to give him some very intensive training before our season begins so that he hits the ground running.
"He is well equipped and has a full time mechanic so is well set up to succeed with the backing of his New Zealand based family.....his grandfather actually rode for Kent promoter, Len Silver in his Hackney Division One team in the 70's, so the family connection carries on."

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From the SGB website:
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KENT’S riders have received a pre-season boost with the news of a sponsorship deal covering every individual member of the team.

Locally-based CTA Fire Detection were club sponsors during their first two seasons and are now offering backing to all of their riders during the National League campaign.

CEO Gill Best said: “The planning application decision last year making speedway permanent at Central Park was an important milestone for the sport in the county; and CTA Fire Detection, as a local company, want to continue to play our part in supporting the Kent Kings club.

“Having supported the Kings since the beginning we understand the financial pressure the riders and their families face. CTA Fire Detection hope that our input goes some way towards helping the riders and ensuring success on the track.”

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KENT have moved to sign Nathan Stoneman as their second heat-leader for the new National League campaign.

Stoneman returned to the sport last August with the Isle of Wight after time out with injuries, and impressed greatly in achieving a 6.98 average.

He said: “I am determined to please the Kent fans and show that the faith shown in me by Len (Silver) and Chris (Hunt) is not un-warranted.

“The management and the fans, who I’ve heard are unparalleled in their enthusiasm for the sport, will always get 110 per cent from me in every race.”

Stoneman will make his Kent debut on Good Friday (April 14) when the Kings host Mildenhall in the Easter Chase, with further holiday action scheduled for Central Park on April 17 with the visit of Lakeside in the Tunnel Trophy.

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