Speedway roared back into Central Park in terrific fashion on a beautiful Bank Holiday Monday (31/5) as the Kent Iwade Garage Royals took on the Eastbourne Seagulls in a local derby in the National League [NL]. It was an encounter that was close throughout and eventually, that ended in a 45-45 draw on a day when Speedway was very much the winner.
For the Royals, the star of the show was Dan Gilkes, who blitzed his way to his first ever NL maximum in front of an adoring and vocal home crowd. Providing support to this masterclass of Speedway was fellow teen Jake Mulford who proved his enforced break from Speedway had done him no harm as he powered his way to four fantastic wins on his way to a career best 14 from six rides.
On the Seagulls side, it was former King Nathan Ablitt who came to show how much he’d matured by registering a consistent 12 points finishing second in each of six races and the returning Jake Knight, back after four years, picking up paid 12.
It was the home side who produced the majority of the heat winners, a sizeable thirteen to Eastbourne’s two – however both heat winners for Eastbourne were as part of maximum heat advantages from the same duo Jake Knight and Connor King and that was ultimately enough for the visitors to keep ahead or level throughout proceedings. The first 5-1 came in the opening race over the homesters’ new number one Ryan Kinsley setting down an initial marker. There was then a chain of seven successive drawn heats, but they were not without their drama.
In Heat 4, Royals’ skipper Robert Ledwith suffered heartbreak after waiting 19 months to ride again, his cut out came loose at the start and he didn’t leave the tapes. The race though saw Mulford blitz away from the Eastbourne of duo of Ablitt and Richard Andrews to take the second of his four wins. In Heat 6 the unlucky Jacob Clouting was handily placed in third place but fell gifting a share of the points to the visitors.
A dramatic eighth race was rescued by the majestic Mulford, after Clouting was twice excluded for exceeding the two minute time allowance, which had a double effect, the first being no replacement was allowed in the race for the unlucky Jacob and also he was still to have his third ride which went Mulford couldn’t come into Heat 10 – he did however beat the duo of Ablitt and King to keep the gap at four points.
Heats 9 and 10 turned the match towards its eventual outcome, as the home side notched in two 4-2 heat advantages, either side of the interval finally to level the match. The first came from Gilkes and Mulford in what was a fascinating race. Gilkes got alongside his team mate on the opening lap for what looked like being the hosts’ first maximum heat advantage, but Andrews had other ideas and powered around the outside of Mulford exiting bend 2 on the second lap. In Heat 10, former King Danno Verge made a fantastic gate but was passed sensationally by Kinsley. Chad Wirtzfeld was holding third but fell to allow Clouting through and then fell again on the last lap.
A second Seagulls’ maximum heat advantage in Heat 11 was cancelled out again by successive 4-2’s in heats 12 and 13 which levelled proceedings once again. Heat 12 will go down as an NL classic as the one-time teammates Ablitt and Gilkes produced a terrific race, with Ablitt taking the lead but Gilkes powering his way around the outside.
After the meeting Gilkes reflected back on this crucial moment,
“It was a great race and there wasn’t a lot of room but great to be involved and win races like that.”
The ‘Man in Black’ completed his maximum from the tapes in what was a shared final race.
After the match Royals’ Team Manager John Sampford commented,
“The neutrals will say it’s a fair result, one or two riders had some early season teething troubles and the youngsters will need track time to come good.”
While Mulford reflected on the great experience he had in appearing for the senior Kings’ side in the Championship recently and his success on the grass at Frittenden yesterday (30/5) that the results produced confidence.
Next up for the Royals, is the return fixture at Arlington on Saturday 19th June, whilst the senior side the TouchTec Kings have a very busy week in the SGB Championship with away trips to Plymouth tomorrow (1/6) and Eastbourne in the first leg of the Knockout Cup on Sunday (6/6).
Next meeting at Central Park is the first home SGB Championship fixture for the Kings taking on the Glasgow Tigers on Tuesday 8th. June. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday – ‘phone 01795 475547 during 10am to 4pm or call at the stadium in person.
Kent Iwade Garage Royals 45
1. Ryan Kinsley 1, 3, 3, 3, 0 10
2. Jacob Clouting 0, F, XM (x2), 1 1
3. Dan Gilkes 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 15 [M]
4. Jamie Couzins 0, 0, 0 0
5. Rob Ledwith EF, 3, 0, 1 4
6. Josh Warren 0, 0, 1 1
7. Jake Mulford 3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 3 14
Eastbourne Seagulls 45
1. Jake Knight 2′, 2, 3, 2, 1′ 10+2
2. Connor King 3, 1′, 1′, 2′ 7+3
3. Chad Wirtzfield 1′, 2, F, Fx 3+1
4. Danno Verge 2, 1′, 2, 1′ 6+2
5. Richard Andrews 1′, 2, 2, R 5+1
6. Nick Laurence 1′, 1′, 0 2+2
7. Nathan Ablitt 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 12
Heat Results
1 King, Knight, Kinsley, Clouting 60.8 [1-5]
2 Mulford, Ablitt, Laurence, Warren 58.4 [4-8]
3 Gilkes, Verge, Wirtzfield, Couzins 58.9 [7-11]
4 Mulford, Ablitt, Andrews, Ledwith (EF) 59.0 [10-14]
5 Gilkes, Knight, King, Couzins 59.2 [13-17]
6 Kinsley, Andrews, Laurence, Clouting (F) 59.3 [16-20]
7 Ledwith, Wirtzfield, Verge, Warren 59.7 [19-23]
8 Mulford, Ablitt, King, Clouting (exc. 2m x2) 60.2 [22-26]
9 Gilkes, Andrews, Mulford, Laurence 59.9 [26-28]
10 Kinsley, Verge, Clouting, Wirtzfield (F. Rem, F) 61.1 [30-30]
11 Knight, King, Warren, Ledwith (F.Rem.) 59.4 [31-35]
12 (rerun) Gilkes, Ablitt, Mulford, Wirtzfield (Fx) 59.3 [35-37]
13 Kinsley, Knight, Ledwith, Andrews (F.Rem. Ret.) 60.3 [39-39]
14vMulford, Ablitt, Verge, Couzins 60.3 [42-42]
15 Gilkes, Ablitt, Knight, Kinsley 60.8 [45-45]