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Kent Kings pip Wimbledon in final-heat decider to win the four-team London Tournament at Iwade | England v Australia representative match to conclude season

By: KentOnline Sports Reporter

Published: 05:00, 07 August 2024

It was carnival time at the Old Gun Site on Sunday where a big crowd of 560 saw Kent Kings win the London Tournament in yet another last-heat decider.

Kent’s tally of 26 points saw them finish two points clear of Wimbledon while Hackney scored 18 and White City 14.

Kent Kings skipper Rhys Naylor setting up victory heading White City’s Luke Harris, Hackney’s Jack Kingston and Patrick Hamilton of Wimbledon Picture: Mike Pearce

The racing was fiercely competitive with two stand-out riders.

Kings No.1 Ben Morley was again in imperious form – continuing his long unbeaten winning streak on his home circuit, with a flawless maximum, followed by victory in the Vic Harding Memorial Trophy top scorers final.

And in the Heritage class - for riders mounted on the classic uprights which were the machines in use when these London tracks were in their pomp - Graham Knowler reprised his previous life as a Wimbledon rider back in the 1970s with a maximum.

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The four bonus points contributed by Knowler’s efforts put the Dons in pole position going into the final three heats with a four-point lead over the hosts - but a fall by Henning Loof and two vital points to Sam Woods turned the tables in favour of the Kings.

It was over then to skipper Rhys Naylor and Morley to bring home the much-acclaimed victory.

Naylor’s heat 15 win was richly deserved reward for the captain’s travails, as he had been involved in epic races with Dayle Wood - in Hackney colours this time - and the Dons’ Patrick Hamilton in his previous two rides, both narrowly going the way of the Aussies.

The other London outfit, White City, had started well and were still holding their own at the halfway point, with Luke Harris, Jamie Etherington and skipper Robert Hollingworth scoring consistently.

But the loss of Hollingworth to a damaged bike after a heavy prang in heat 11 and then the teenager Etherington to illness meant the west Londoners faded somewhat.

Jack Kingston impressed for Hackney alongside the ever-combative Wood and there was a welcome win contributed by that great trier, Nathan Hargrave.

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For the Dons, Jacob Clouting again looked mightily impressive around a circuit he must count as one of his favourites.

There was big news at the end of the meeting as Kings supremo Steve Ribbons announced a season-closing NORA representative match between England and Australia over 18 heats at the Old Gun Site on September 1.

Describing it as “possibly the biggest meeting ever put on at Iwade”, Ribbons added: “There will be national anthems to be played and sung, representative caps to be awarded, a special souvenir programme printed.

“The meeting we hope will be televised by KMTV to be shown on the whole of their sports programme - with also, special guests in the form of England World Cup winner Dave Jessup and hopefully others.”

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