Essex Kestrel

Thanks very much 1st bend Kestrel stumbled across this - a close run match! On a more serious note sorry to have to tell everyone that due to unforeseen circumstances and the non availability of some key personalities the planned reunion has been cancelled. We will be looking at some alternative arrangements and will post news when available

That's really kind Derek and much appreciated but I was actually directing the question to Tony M!! Tony are you planning on attending - good launch pad for the DVD!

and how many tickets do you want??!!!!!

All, latest news on the fast approaching reunion. Tickets have been posted to Mr Kestrel Laurie Etheridge .As a reminder full details of the event are on the excellent and informative website www.crayfordkestrels.co.uk

The reunion got a mention in this week's Kent Kings Prog - very apt as it was the Tunnel Trophy v our "friends" from Rye House! Good win (first!!) for our newly adopted team. Also caught sight of Woodsie and Thommo at Lydd (sadly not riding). There are still tickets left so anyone interested follow instructions as above and you will be in on the best Speedway reunion dinner ever held at Dartford FC!!!

Yes, there were a few glitches and some people won't come back but lets give the Kent boys a chance, its clear a lot of effort has gone in to the set up and I am sure Uncle Len and co know what needs to be done. Its OK to flag concerns and provide some constructive feedback, but main thing is to support these new tracks to build a strong base for UK speedway. To be honest I live a little down the road from Lakeside but would rather watch a meeting at Sittingbourne and see some British talent develop. The big challenge is the start time and thats outside the promotions control. Maybe if they make a go of it the council will relent a bit? My suggestion - get a tie up with Shepherd Neame and we could get a decent pint then!!!!!

All more tickets been posted out, get yours soon to avoid disappointment. To save you scrolling up two posts here are the details again! Please send cheques payable to “The Kestrels 30th Anniversary” to: 5 Longmarsh View, Sutton At Hone, Dartford, Kent DA4 9DZ or alternatively, bank transfers to: sort code 77-95-18 (Lloyds Bank, PO Box 1000, BX1 1LT), account no. 83050960, favour of The Kestrels 30th Anniversary. If paying by bank transfer, please use your name as a reference and also e-mail: savage-d2@sky.com (with your name, address and ticket requirements). Kev

Not much more on the Iwade v Wimbledon match of 20th March - it was sponsored by Andy Galvin's parents, Paul Whittaker rode for Iwade, Gordon Humphreys scored 7 and Phil Vance 6 paid 7 for the Dons. The challenge matches v the Rivets ran as follows Away 1. Terry, Passey, Warren, Newnham 65.2 3-3 2. Terry, Warren, Hunt, Smith 64.7 6-6 3. Passey, Hunt, Smith, Newnham 64.8 11-7 4. Warren, Terry, Passey, Smith (F-Exc) 65.2 15-9 Home 12th July 1. Terry, Newnham, Ransom, Edwards 59.7 5-1 2. Smith, Baine, Ransom, Gentry 60.0 8-4 3. Newnham, Smith, Bain, Edwards 60.7 13-5 4. Newnham, Ransom, Bain (fell), Smith (F-Exc) 59.8 16-7 Thats pretty much it from my archives (as they are now - I ditched all my non Crayford progs a couple of decades ago!) Cheers Kev

Hi Richard, yes I will see what I can dig out on those matches. The details are from my own progs of the era as I (along with a few others that were daft enough and fortunate enough to have jobs that allowed us to follow the Junior Kestrels as well as the main team). We even set up a junior team fanzine alongside Bryns excellent Kestrel News - following the popular TV programme of the time we entitled it "Not The Kestrel News"! I dont have much on other junior matches of the time as I was pretty kestrel focussed! Cheers Kev

Here's the last few matches of the Junior Kestrels League winning season for the statos 19th July home v Wimbledon 1. Terry, Newnham, Vance, Carter (Rtd) 61.6 5-1 2. Terry, Smith, Bines, Carter 59.8 10-2 3. Smith, Newnham, Bines, Vance 59.7 15-3 4. Smith, Terry, Bines, Vance 60.0 20-4 so a comprehensive vistory for the JKs The scheduled match v Oxford on 2 Aug was postponed so the next league match was 1st Sept away v Oxford Cubs 1. De'Ath, Minnett, Newnham, Terry (rtd) 64.6 5-1 2. Minnett, Terry, Williams, Smith (fell) no time 9-3 3. De'Ath, Williams, Newnham (exc 2 mins), Smith NS 65.2 14-3 4. Minnett, Williams, Newnham, (F-Exc), Terry (Rtd) 65.0 19-3 an unusual and dramatic reverse for the JK (is this how / why they claimed the league?!!) A chance for revenge came a few days later on 6th Sept back at London Road 1. Terry, Newnham, Minnett (fell NS in re run), Williams (Fell) 59.7 5-0 2. Terry, Weygang, Smith (F-Exc), Minnett NS 60.0 8-2 3. Newnham, Weygang, Gentry, Williams (Smith exc tapes) 60.8 12-4 4. Newnham, Terry, Williams, Weygang (F-Rmt) 62.2 17-5 Like everyone else I cant find a record of the away fixture at Wimbledon ever being run. We did however have a challenge match back at Reading towards the end of June where the Rivets actually beat the JKs 15-9 (Mark Terry scored 8 of the 9, Nicky Smith 1 and Richard Newnham failed to trouble the scorer that night. Thanks folks it was fun looking back on this fine achievement. Hope you found it interesting. Kev

Not sure what happened to my post which precedes the May and June info (maybe lost in the moderators inbox since I am new?!) so am re-providing the earlier match details. The first Southern Junior League match for the Kestrels was 4 May away v Weymouth (although most of the team lined up for Iwade v Junior Dons on 20th March- I'll share some info from this later) 1. Humphries, Terry, Dowie, Dowsett 72.6 secs 4-2 2. Dowie, Dowsett, Newnham, Pinder (Rtd) 74.0 7-5 3. Humphries, Terry, Newnham, Pinder (ef) 74.1 10-8 4. Terry, Dowsett, Dowie(fell), Humphries(fell) awarded no time Kestrels win 10-13 Next up Reading away 25th April 1. Dowsett, Warren, Terry, Hunt 66.2 secs 2-4 2. Terry, Warren, Andrews, Newnham(fell) 66.2 5-7 3. Dowsett, Newnham, Edwards, Andrews 66.6 6-12 4. Terry, Dowsett, Hunt, Warren 66.2 Kestrels win 7-17 (Bob Radford stated that the JK team were too strong for the league!) First home match 26th April v Exeter 1. Terry, Dowsett, Fey (F-Exc) Mike Semmonds F-inj replaced in re-run by Andy Semmonds (F-Exc in re-run) no time 5-0 2. Terry, Fey, A. Semmonds, Newnham (F-rmt)61.8 8-3 3. Dowsett, Newnham, Fey, A. Semmonds 61.8 13-4 4. Terry, Smith, A. Semmonds, Fey (NS) 61.2 Kestrels win 18-5 (Nick Smith took a reserve ride in the nominated heat) back to the Iwade meeting v Wimbledon - it finished 49-29 to Iwade with Andy Glavin getting a 12 point max, Mark terry paid for the lot 11+1, Richard Newnham 7+4, Nicky Smith 6+2 and Brad Dowsett 5. A certain Martin Goodwin who had done some Crayford second halves got 8 from 5 starts and Steve Bosley was rather unlucky and scored just one from three starts. Hope this interests someone after I have sat and typed this post pub!!

.. I recall trotting of to Exeter on 2 May for the Rapide (Junior Kestrels were scheduled to race the Imps after the main event) which was due to start at 11AM. When we got there it was rained off so quick pint and back to Kent!!! 3 May Crayford v Weymouth 1. Terry, Dowsett, Satchell, Pinder 63.2 5-1 2. Satchell, Smith, Terry, Dowie (fell) 62.7 8-4 3. Smith, Dowsett, Pindder, Dowie (fell) 63.7 13-5 4. Terry, Switchell, Newnham, Pinder (F-Exc) awarded 17-7 10 May Crayford v Reading 1. Terry, Dowsett, Hunt, Andrews (fell)60.0 5-1 2. Terry, Newnham, Edwards, Warren 59.8 10-2 3. Newnham, Dowsett, Hunt, Warren (Rtd) 59.5 15-3 4. Newnham, Edwards, Smith, Andrews 59.6 19-5 24th May Crayford v Swindon Sprockets 1. Newnham, Smith, Smart, Chessell (F-Rmt) 61.2 5-1 2. Terry, Butterfield, Chessell, Smith (F-Exc) awarded 8-4 3. Terry, Newnham,Smart, Butterfield 60.8 13-5 4. Smart, Newnham, Terry, (sorry not sure who was last had Butterfield written in prog then crossed out?) 60.5 16-8 30th May Exeter v Crayford - featuring Mal Bedkober (the world's oldest junior!!) 1. Coles, Terry, A. Semmonds, Newnham (F-rmt) 76.8 4-2 2. Bedkober, Terry, Weygang, Smith (F-Rmt) 73.7 8-4 3. Bedkober, Coles, Smith, Newnham (Fell) 74.2 13-5 4. Weygang, Terry, Smith, Semmonds (ef) 73.8 16-8 25th June Swindon v Crayford 1. Terry, Smart, Smith, Butterfield (fell) 73.4 2-4 2. Chessell, Smart, Newnham, Smith (fell) 73.2 7-5 3. Terry, Chessell, Butterfield , Newnham (F-Exc) 72.0 10-8 4. Terry, Smart, Smith,Chessell 71.8 12-12 Last few matches when I get another beer

Hi just sitting down with a cheeky pre-dinner beer and have a bit more detail if folks interested Weymouth v Crayford 4/4/83 Ht1 Gordon Humphries, Mark Terry, Ian Dowie, Brad Dowsett 72.6 secs 4-2 Ht2 Ian Dowie, Brad Dowsett, Richard Newnham, Billy Pinder (Rtd) 74.0 7-5 Ht3 Gordon Humphries, Mark Terry, Richard Newnham, Billy Pinder (ef) 74.1 10-8 Ht4 Mark Terry, Brad Dowsett, neither Humphries or Dowie finished (both fell) and the race was awarded gvivng the Kestrels the match 10-13 Reading v Crayford 25/4 1. Dowsett, Warren, Terry, Hunt 66.2 2-4 2. Terry, Warren, Andrews, Newnham (fell) 66.2 5-7 3. Dowsett, Newnham, Edwards, Andrews 66.6 6-12 4. Terry, Dowsett, Hunt, Warren 66.2 7-17 (Bob Radford complained that our team were too strong for the league!!) Crayford v Exeter 26/4 1. Terry, Dowsett, Fey (F-Exc), Mike Seemonds (fell - inj) In the rerun Andy Seemonds (who replaced brother Mike) also F-Exc 5-0 2. Terry, Fey, A.Seemonds, Newnham (F-Rmt). 61.8 8-3 3. Dowsett, Newnham, Fey, A. Seemonds 61.8 13-4 4. Terry, Smith, A Seemonds, Fey (NS) 61.2 18-5 more to follow....

Hi Rowan so we can expect a (further) rush on sales?!!! For anyone interested in getting tickets please send cheques payable to “The Kestrels 30th Anniversary” to: 5 Longmarsh View, Sutton At Hone, Dartford, Kent DA4 9DZ or alternatively, bank transfers to: sort code 77-95-18 (Lloyds Bank, PO Box 1000, BX1 1LT), account no. 83050960, favour of The Kestrels 30th Anniversary. If paying by bank transfer, please use your name as a reference and also e-mail: savage-d2@sky.com (with your name, address and ticket requirements). Dave Savage takes the money in and I'm set and ready to ship more tickets out. Kev

Thougt folks might like to know that I have just posted Moggo his tickets!