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Kent V Eastbourne Playoffs


Dave Stummings

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I was really looking forward to these two meetings over two legs. Then I find out this morning Danny Ayres for some reason isn’t available for the home fixture! So why on earth have the management of Kent Kings changed the day from a Monday to Friday?

Firstly I’m not local to Central Park, like many others. I live in east London and it’s bad enough travelling to Central Park on a Monday, but at least it’s not as bad as the decision to change race nights to Friday! Is the Kent promotion expecting hundreds of extra people to travel to Central Park on a Friday?

And why isn’t Danny Ayres riding? I can’t see a clash of fixtures with Glasgow so is there something going on here we don’t know about?

Then of course low and behold Eastbourne has changed their race day to Friday for the second leg! I’m led to believe this is so Adam Ellis is available. Why on earth have Kent agreed to this change. Again as I’ve stated Friday isn’t a good day to travel from London or anywhere else in the southeast come to think of it!

I’m a great believer in continuity and this just throws everything out of the window!

With work commitments I’m unsure if I’ll be able to get to either legs, but if Danny Ayres isn’t riding it’s a bit of an anti-climax to be honest for me. With the greatest respect to his guest replacement Ben Hopwood he’s not a match for Ayres at Central Park.

There’s been far too much of doubling-up riders missing from Kent’s teams over the last few seasons. I of course would not stop any rider wishing to progress but surely if the NL club ‘own’ the rider they should have first call on the services of this rider.

But it doesn’t stop in the NL. Rye Houses Edward Kennett a Rockets asset yet when a Rye meeting is rearranged and his EL club have a fixture the Hoddesdon outfit loose out on his services. Yes there aren’t enough riders currently to go around but surely the BSPA need to sort this totally unacceptable situation out [amongst many other] for next season.

So assuming no Danny Ayres on Friday and possibly the following Friday at Eastbourne should Edinburgh beat Ipswich in the playoffs.

Just heard Danny Ayres is available now for next Friday! The question is if Len Silver or Chris Hunt where aware Ayres had a meeting for Glasgow why on earth change their race day or is it to accommodate Adam Ellis?

Somebody at CP needs to grow a pair!

So whinge over, back to the subject in hand, Kent v Eastbourne.

This’ll be a close affair. With Eastbourne having free practice at Central Park last Friday [how stupid is that] this could go to the wire. If Bowen, now Ayres and Shane’s can all fire, likewise with Thomas and Mason Kent could win this easily. However Thomas has gone a bit off the boil recently. Mason is usually good for 6 or so points, but my worry is the reserves Verge and Clifton. A very optimistic me says Kent on their day can win by at least 10, but Eastbourne are in good form at the moment and they’ll up there game. So I’m going for a draw!

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Ellis will bang in 13 or 14 for sure, and Perks set a time well inside the top 10 CP all time, race times recently so no doubt will be good for a big pay day. Knight and Wood both have the ability to win by miles or be completely off the pace and will always be a threat. Harris is hitting good form again, but Brennan has yet to set the world on fire at CP yet.

 

Onto kent our top 3 should all be good for double figures but need to settle for 2nd rather then bin it looking for wins that possibly aren't there.

Mason in the meetings leading to his injury and the meetings since his injury has been on fire so if that continues that's a massive plus. Jack back in the main body is beating nearly all the second strings and the odd heat leader or number 1 so more then doing his job in the grave yard role. After a punishing return to the sport Clifton has returned to some form barring the Monmore blip and if he can chip in 5 or so in both legs that will be a good return. and still on a falsely low average for his ability and experience hopefully we secure his services next year before the vultures circle.

Danno is a different Danno and seems to like the big occasions now and can hold on to a lead over faster riders now with his extra stamina.

 

This really could be a tight couple of meetings possibly hinging on a couple of 50/50 ref decisions or an unlucky ef at the wrong time.

 

Both sides must go in full of confidence as both have the riders to win this. Let's hope for to good night's safe racing with good weather in front of Bumper crowds.

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We were lucky that the standard Mason and clifton turned up and not the ones riding in recent weeks. Knight had an off night and Ellis has been proved beatable but we still won.... pretty good I would say! I bet the guy shouting 'you won something (the coin toss on good Friday) was silenced :D normal service is resumed

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Funny old thing sport!!

As we were arriving at the stadium Friday (prior to me ruining a wheel on the church street width restriction!) we were saying what we would be happy with from the meeting and decided that a 6 point loss would be great, 8 points a bit scary but to lose by ten would be poo pants time!

 

In the end, we left disappointed after winning y 4!

 

For a match that lacked overtaking it was certainly entertaining and I enjoyed it as a whole, even the Kent fightback.

 

Seriously, I would have been much happier had we could have taken the 12 point lead to Arlo but any win must put Eastie in the driving seat.

 

I have seen no explanation for Adam Ellis second half being so below par (for him). How can someone get the track record, followed by a win and then struggle after? And was heat 15 the first last he has run all season (other than DNFs)

 

Been doing this a lot lately, saying nice things about other teams but I do like the Kent team, the stadium and the fans. If the do beat us, I may go to Kent and support them in the play off final. However, I think Birmingham may be too strong for either of us over the two legs.

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Still going to need the Eagles top 4 to score well on Friday. Will be up against it vs Brummies as they have a solid look about them but Eagles run them close at Perry Barr and won at home ... so will still fell confident if they can make the final.

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Still going to need the Eagles top 4 to score well on Friday. Will be up against it vs Brummies as they have a solid look about them but Eagles run them close at Perry Barr and won at home ... so will still fell confident if they can make the final.

 

I admire your enthusiasm, Hackett.

Having seen quite a few NL teams in action this year and having seen both Eastbourne and Birmingham in the past couple of weeks. I find it hard to believe that anyone will get past the Brummies.

 

Eastbourne and Kent are pretty good outfits but if Carling made National League speedway teams, the can would be red and yellow and have Birmingham stamped all over it.

 

just my opinion, obviously.

:t:

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Positive outlook :party:

 

The Eagles achilles heel is at reserve and having to cover most of r/r #2 rides. Eagles will be prone to a team with a heavy hitting reserve If Jack Parkinson Blackburn takes to Arlington as he did Buxton the Eagles will be in trouble.

 

Could be about who makes the least mistakes at reserve who wins if Brummies and Eagles meet as the top 5 will be a match for each other.


Kent will be without Danny Ayres, who is riding for his Premier League club, Glasgow. Ben Hopwood, a member of last year’s treble-winning Eagles’ team, comes in as a guest replacement.

Solid guest for the Kings ...

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Looks like Luke Harris is still out. Tom at reserve and r/r for Cottham looks a bit risky unless they have a decent no 8 on hand . An early accident and only 5 riders could ###### the tie away from them.

 

The top 4 look far too good for Kent however, Perks and Wood v Hopwood and Mason should be no contest.

 

(Why I got the hashes instead of the word I used to mean rapidly take away from I cannot imagine)

Edited by Hunters
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Looks like Luke Harris is still out. Tom at reserve and r/r for Cottham looks a bit risky unless they have a decent no 8 on hand . An early accident and only 5 riders could ###### the tie away from them.

 

The top 4 look far too good for Kent however, Perks and Wood v Hopwood and Mason should be no contest.

 

(Why I got the hashes instead of the word I used to mean rapidly take away from I cannot imagine)

It is a very rude expression in American!

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