The Kent Eagles are back on track this weekend as they take on old rivals Hastings Saxons.

Sunday afternoon will see the two sides contesting the 1066 Trophy at Iwade’s Old Gun site with tapes up at 12pm.

Another treat is surely set to unfold with the Eagles set to take on the Hastings Saxons in a battle for the 1066 trophy.

The longer standing Southeast based speedway supporter will recall many epic encounters between teams from Kent and Sussex, most notably including both the Canterbury Crusaders and Crayford Kestrels against the Eastbourne Eagles.

Though the Saxons never featured as a team in those match up’s the Sussex spirit will surely be just as strong as in those bygone days and they certainly will not be intending to yield to their Kent hosts.

Certainly, the Saxons will come well equipped. Leading the charge and making a swift return to Iwade is Jason Edwards who performed heroics for the Thurrock Hammers in the last home meeting at the Old Gun Site. Edwards, who also rides for the Ipswich Witches in the Premiership and for the Redcar Bears in the Championship, proved arguably the standout rider on that occasion.

He rattled off four straight wins and then featured in the all decisive last race. A stunning last-ditch effort to overcome Jake Mulford saw him seemingly complete his full house and looked to have won the trophy for the visitors.

However, the record books since show the truth of that fateful final heat, that it was mistakenly contested over five laps and not the regulation four, match referee Les Drury subsequently decreeing that the result should stand at the point that the four circuits were completed which snatched the silverware back for the home side.

Edwards will undoubtedly be looking to go one better, remain unbeaten and seize the win for his side this time around and that cause will most certainly be aided by the man in overall control of the Hastings team this Sunday.

Jason Pipe who has taken on Team Manager duties for the Saxons has yet to taste defeat in five visits to the circuit. Most notably his achievements saw his Kings Lynn Young Stars side capture the National Development Trophy title with a resounding win at the venue last season and then the run continued as Iwade’s curtain raiser in 2026 saw Pipe steer the Norwich Stars to a last gasp victory, one that required a runoff to claim for them the Phoenix Trophy.

The Saxon’s sextet is one rich in quality, containing, in addition to Edwards, the likes of Mickie Simpson, Charlie Southwick, Harry Sadler alongside Kenzie Cossey and Sam Woods, some the domestic sports brightest hopefuls for the future.

Leading the home offensive will once again be Edward Kennett who forms a dominant looking spearhead along with former Kent favourite James Shanes.

With Jack Kingston unavailable for the contest, the Eagles management have moved to engage the services of New Zealand Champion Ben Whalley, another who previously impressed as part of the Mildenhall Fen Tigers in their recent outing in Kent.

The line up is completed by capable trio, the returning Alex Chadd, Nathan Hargrave and Connor King, all of whom will be looking to play their part in seeing off the challenge posed by the invading Saxons.

Eagerly anticipating the contest in prospect Eagles Team Manager David Graveling commented ‘We are certainly looking forward to Sunday. Can we ruin Jason Pipe’s winning streak? Can we win another trophy? We have two great looking teams so let battle commence’.

Kent Eagles: Edward Kennett, Alex Chadd, Ben Whalley, Nathan Hargrave, James Shanes, Connor King.

Hastings Saxons: Jason Edwards, Kenzie Cossey, Mickie Simpson, Harry Sadler, Charlie Southwick, Sam Woods