Kent Kings

Kent Kings are a British speedway team formed in 2013. They compete in the SGB Championship but also run a second team in the National League called Kent Royals.

For the baseball team, see Kent Kings (baseball). For a list of Kentish kings, see List of monarchs of Kent.
Kent 'Slyde' Kings
Club information
Track addressCentral Park Stadium,
Sittingbourne
CountryUnited Kingdom
Founded6 May 2013
Team managerChris Hunt
Team captainScott Nicholls
LeagueSGB Championship
Websitewww.kent-speedway.com
Club facts
ColoursRed and white
NicknameKings
Track size268m
Track record time57.3s
Track record date6 June 2016
Track record holderDan Greenwood
Current team
Rider CMA
Scott Nicholls 8.14
Nico Covatti 7.82
Cameron Heeps 7.42
Paul Starke 6.33
Tom Bacon 5.07
Rob Ledwith 4.00
Dan Gilkes 2.00
Total 40.78
Major team honours
National League Pairs Champions2018, 2019
National League Individual Championship2019

Based at Central Park Stadium in Sittingbourne, with a track laid inside the greyhound racing track, Kings joined the National League in 2013 with the backing of sponsors CTA Fire. Len Silver co-promotes the Kings with Roger Cearns, seeing the return of professional speedway to Kent for the first time since Canterbury Crusaders closed in 1987.[1][2]

History

2013–2019: National League

2013

The first match for the team was a challenge against the American Touring Team in May 2013, attended by more than 3,000 spectators.[3]

The original 2013 team line up was Steve Boxall, Jack Kingston, Ben Morley, Connor Coles, David Mason (C), Sam Woods, Adam Kirby, and the team manager, John Sampford. David Mason was signed as captain, but lost his team place after two matches to Benji Compton, with Steve Boxall taking over the captaincy.[4] The Kings finished seventh out of eight teams in the National League and bottom of the National Trophy. However, the debut season for the Kent CTA Fire Kings at Central Park saw some achievements, including second in the NL Fours (Steve Boxall, Benji Compton, Ben Morley and David Mason), third in the NL Pairs (Steve Boxall and Ben Morley), and third in the British Under 19 Championships (Ben Morley). Steve Boxall won the National League Riders Championship and finished as holder of the Bronze Helmet.

2014

The original 2014 line up was Simon Lambert, Luke Chessell, Ben Morley, Benji Compton, David Mason, Daniel Blake, and Brandon Freemantle. John Sampford was to remain in charge, but the highly respected former Isle of Wight manager and former rider Chris Hunt was appointed assistant manager.

Simon Lambert took over the captaincy from the returning David Mason and went on to score heavily throughout the season with a cavalier and exciting style. Daniel Blake retired after two meetings and was replaced by Luke Harris. Luke Harris was himself dropped from the team in June and was replaced by Jason Garrad. Brandon Freemantle was forced to bow out of the Kent Kings side in early May and his place was taken by a former motocross rider making his debut in speedway, Danny Ayres. The team was further disrupted when Benji Compton injured his hand as was ruled out in June. His place was taken by newcomer to the Kent side, Aaron Baseby. Compton made his return in July, with Luke Chessell being dropped.

The Kings finished third of the nine teams competing in the National League. This was enough for a play-off place, and in the home first leg of the semi-final against Coventry Storm, the Kings ran out 49-44 winners. In the away leg, the Kings were beaten 54-39, with Coventry progressing to the final against Cradley. In the National Trophy, the Kings finished last of the four teams competing. Lambert and Morley finished third in the National League Pairs, and Morley finished third in the National League Riders Championships. In the National League Fours, Lambert, Morley, Ayres and Baseby fell agonisingly short in a last heat decider in the Semi-Final group.

2020: Championship

For the 2020 British speedway league season Kent Kings entered the SGB Championship, but the promotion also continued to run a team in the National Development League which was newly named Kent Royals.

References
  1. "Kent Kings Roundup", speedwaygb.co, 5 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013
  2. "Kent Kings geared up for start of new season", yourswale.co.uk, 5 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013
  3. Tucker, Craig (2013) "Fans turn out in force for opening Kent Kings speedway meeting at Central Park", Kent Online, 8 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013
  4. Miles, Greg (2013) "Sacked Kent Kings captain ‘disgusted’ with treatment", kentnews.co.uk, 16 May 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2013
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