It would be true to say that the Kent Eagles have suffered as much as any team so far as injuries are concerned as the 2025 season has unfolded up to now.
The Iwade outfits’ most recent outing to King’s Lynn’s Adrian Flux Arena last Wednesday saw both skipper Ben Morley and young star Jamie Etherington finish the evening in the local hospital and potentially facing indeterminant spells on the injury sidelines.
With Nathan Hargrave also suffering the effects of a brace of heavy falls at Birmingham and both heavy hitters Nathan Ablitt and Jacob Clouting out of action having sustained wrist and hand injuries respectively there is no denying that a scan down the Eagles casualty list has made for grim reading.
A crumb of comfort for the beleaguered club’s management however is that Charlie Wood, who until recently also graced that catalogue of woe is working towards his return to action for the Eagles and is set to take his place in the line up as the Kent side set their focus on their crucial return clash against the King’s Lynn Young Stars on Sunday August 10th.
Having completed a couple of comeback rides following last Sunday’s British Youth Championship Round at Iwade’s Old Gun site, Wood is due to have further valuable track time as part of the Ipswich Academy team as they are set to go head to head with Mildenhall Academy in a six heat challenge match following the Witches home Premiership fixture against the Birmingham Brummies on Thursday evening.
In addition to that Wood is also due to ride alongside team mate Hargrave at the Isle of Wight’s Smallbrook Stadium this coming Tuesday as part of the Cradley Heathens against the local Wightlink Warriors in the first leg of the Vince Mapley Memorial Trophy.
Hopes remain prevalent that better fortunes lie in store for the immensely popular and highly regarded Wood as it would also be fair to observe that his own season thus far has been beset with misfortune.
With much expectation heading into the Kent Eagles first fixture against the Leicester Fox Cubs it was to prove disappointment all round, not least to the rider himself as he crashed out in his opening ride sustaining a shoulder injury.
When he did take to the shale once more at Perry Barr two weeks ago Wood launched into the lead in heat eight showing every bit of his undoubted potential until unfortunately disaster struck once more, the rider coming to grief on the third bend.
With man and machine now having healed, all involved with the Kent Eagles will be hoping for a far brighter second half of the season for the young rider which of course will also be of huge benefit to themselves.