Kent Eagles claimed their first trophy courtesy of a thrilling 45-44 victory over the Thurrock Hammers in the Ken-Ex Cup at Iwade’s Old Gun Site on Sunday afternoon.

It could hardly be argued however that the win came in controversial, potentially unprecedented and somewhat bizarre circumstances.

The Kent outfit entered the final four laps of an entertaining contest 1-point adrift of their visitors, 42-41. They had not led throughout the meeting, Thurrock having gone ahead thanks to a first race 4-2 and they maintained their lead that varied from one to five points in impressive style, their number one and captain, Jason Edwards in particular in imperious form, reeling off four straight wins to lead the charge.

With Edwards and Mickie Simpson taking their place in those all decisive four laps, the former looking to complete his full house against Eagles Jack Mulford and Eagles own Captain Ben Morley, the scene was set, the only issue that was soon to become apparent was that the fateful heat fifteen was set to be run over not four, but five laps.

As the tapes arose it was the home supporters who were instantly cheering as Mulford led the pack having eased clear of Edwards into the first turn. That delight increased as Morley blasted into second place down the back straight.

Edwards soon fought his way back past Morley however and set his sights on Mulford. He gave good chase and within sight of the chequered flag he made his move and seemed to make good the Thurrock victory taking his Redcar team mate on the run into the line.

At this point it was the visitors who were celebrating his last-ditch effort that claimed the trophy for the Essex boys.

Amid the jubilant refrain it was then pointed out that the race had concluded after five and not the regulation four circuits.

Confusion reigned momentarily before match referee Les Drury decreed that the result be declared as it stood on conclusion of the four laps, this meaning that Mulford took the win over Edwards and with Morley third banking the home 4-2, this seized the trophy out of the hands of the Hammers and into the grateful arms of the Kent contingent.

Indeed, there was many a moment during the afternoon that might effectively have proved decisive as to the destiny of the Cup. As early as heat one the Eagles suffered misfortune, Edward Kennett having overcome early leader Edwards in determined fashion suffered a rear chain break to hand the visitors a first race. 

Heat two saw Mulford take the win but despite Jack Kingston maintaining pressure on Mickie Simpson and Ben Whalley, he couldn’t quite make it stick and the race finished as a 3-3.

Nathan Hargrave was ruled out of race three due to a time exclusion and with visitors Harrison Rogers failing to make it off the starting grid, Jordan Jenkins match race victory over Morley saw the visitors lead increase to 3-points, 10-7

A stunning race in the fourth between Edwards, Kennett and Mulford eventually realised a win for the Thurrock captain, Mulford held an early lead having battled through on lap one, but he was soon relegated to third. Kennett never gave up the chase, but it was to prove a share of the spoils and 10-13 scoreline overall

Heat fine and a fine start from Morley resulted in a tapes to flag win but with Simpson and Whalley again holding firm in the minor places the 3-3 saw the difference remain at 3-points, 13-16 progressively.

Kennett looked equally comfortable in the sixth heading home Jenkins while Connor King claimed third place and Eagles first heat advantage of the afternoon, the 4-2 reducing the difference to a single digit, 17-18.

It was back to three following the next however, Edwards continuing his winning streak ahead of Mulford while Alex Spooner claimed third taking advantage of Kingston’s machinery woes, the 4-2 setting the scores 19-22 as the match entered its mid-point.

Simpson again impressed in the eighth as he came from the back to defeat Morley and with Whalley following on in third the second consecutive 4-2 to the Hammers saw them go 5-points to the good, 21-26 proving the progressive scoreline.

A similar advantage to the hosts in heat nine, Mulford moving clear of Jenkins and with Kingston seeing off Rogers saw the difference back to 3 once again, 25-28.

The battle of the captains in the tenth saw Morley threaten to depose Edwards but it wasn’t to be, the Hammer producing a superb outside swoop entering lap two to see him remain unbeaten. With Spooner following on in third, the visitors 4-2 widened the margin yet again, the progressive scores moving to 32-27.

Kennett produced another commanding win in race eleven but Simpson and Whalley again combined to block the minor places so that the five-point disparity, now 30-35 remained in place.

Another one of those moments that clearly had an effect on the final outcome followed in heat twelve as race leader Jenkins hit a rut, suffered a nasty fall and earned an exclusion from the race. With Kingston and Hargrave claiming a 4-2 over Rogers in the rerun, once again the visitors lead was trimmed to 3-points, 34-37.

Heat 13, the first of the nominated races saw Spooner claim the victory from King with Hargrave following in third for a share of the spoils. Indeed, the Hammers threatened the 5-1  that might have secured them the contest there and them but Rogers, tangled with the air fence on turn two and thereafter dropped out of contention.

Kennett had the beating of Whalley in the penultimate race and with Kingston getting the better of Rogers, replacing the  injured Jenkins, for the 4-2 that moved the hosts to within one-point, 41-42 of their visitors at the crucial point of the match with only those four, or would it be five, decisive laps set to follow who could have predicted the high drama, intrigue and controversy set to follow, waiting merely moments away.

With the dust having settled, Thurrock Team Manager Mark Sexton, reflected on a bitter pill to have to swallow but remained magnanimous in defeat. ‘A magnificent and exciting afternoon’s racing which had a bit of everything including controversy in the very last race. Does a race finish after four laps or when the chequered flag is dropped!? Answers on a postcard please!’

Even if the final 44-45 result went against the Hammers, everything else went to plan and congratulations and thanks are due to Dave Graveling, Emily-Jane Humphrey and all the staff at Iwade for the invite and collaboration throughout the meeting. Recent work on the Iwade track surface clearly paid dividends and the fans were treated to plenty of close racing and passing which, hopefully, will encourage many to return.

The campaign to return speedway racing to Essex will continue and meetings like the one today can only help the cause!’

A clearly delighted Eagles Team Manager David Graveling summed up the mood following his sides last gasp victory ‘What can I say, what a meeting and our first trophy following a controversial last race. An amazing atmosphere and only in the lead following heat fifteen. Thanks go out to all of our loyal fans’.

Scorers:

Eagles: Jake Mulford 12+1(5), Edward Kennett 11(5), Ben Morley 10(5), Jack Kingston 5(5), Connor King 5(5), Nathan Hargrave 2+1(5). – 45

Hammers: Jason Edwards 14(5), Mickie Simpson 9(5), Jordon Jenkins 7(4), Ben Whalley 6+3(5), Alex Spooner 6(5), Harrison Rogers 2(6) – 44

Pictures supplied by Tiffani Graveling.