That the sport at Arlington was for many years a huge catalyst for local talent is shown by the Eagles side tracking three extremely locally-based riders, Vinnie Foord, Nick Laurence and their captain, twice British Youth Champion, Nathan Ablitt. A big draw for those travelling Eastbourne fans is the unexpected return to the track of their former favourite, Jake Knight.
\nThe hosts have put together a team which is captained by a former British Youth Champion also, in Rhys Naylor; and at number one have Kings\u2019 stalwart (record appearance & points scorer for the club), the twice National League Riders\u2019 Champion, Ben Morley.<\/p>\n
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Morley was an \u2018original\u2019 King from 2013 and he\u2019s joined by two others who can date their Kings lineage to those early days at Central Park, Sam Woods and 2014 British U19 Championship rostrum man, Jack Kingston. The team is completed by 2023 Iwade Second Half Series winner, Ashford-based Nathan Hargrave and making a Kent debut, Sam Ward.<\/p>\n
Kings\u2019 Team Manager Ben Clifton is bullish about the prospect of his charges taking on the Sussex side,<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that the Eagles have chosen to come to us with a very strong team, adding the experienced pairing of Ryan Kinsley & Arran Butcher to the Eastbourne-connected riders in their line up \u2013 but we are fully up for the challenge. There\u2019s a brilliant team spirit in our camp and so much positivity around the club with a new Supporters Club formed also, so we are really keen to get going and are up for this first challenge.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Following the 15 heats of the main match, they\u2019ll be a trophy up for grabs in a second half individual, the South Coast Cup, sponsored by the Sussex Eagles Motorcycle Club.<\/p>\n The club have announced also that \u2018Blue Light\u2019 workers can enter at a concessionary rate \u2013 those seeking to take advantage of this offer will need to produce work IDs to show they work for the NHS, Ambulance Service, Fire Service or Police. Words by Kent Kings – Images by Niall Strudwick Photography<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The long-anticipated return to track action of the Kent Kings team happens this Sunday, 14th. April (2pm start time), with a tantalising challenge match against Eastbourne Eagles in a local Derby which will bring many memories back to long-time followers of the sport in the neighbouring Speedway hotbed counties of Kent and Sussex. The two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[8,73,74,9],"class_list":["post-2257","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-british-speedway","category-speedway","tag-british-speedway","tag-kent-kings","tag-nora-speedway","tag-speedway"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nAdmission prices are \u00a313; \u00a310 concessions (pensioners, disabled, \u2018Blue Light\u2019 workers); and accompanied children 15 years and under free.<\/p>\n