Join Bartholomew Hall with a lookahead to Gillingham's final League Two game of the season. Plus: Buckmore Park is preparing for its annual 24 hour endurance race, we talk to the two-time winner.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Hello and welcome along to Invicta Sport, the only show on your TV dedicated to wrapping
00:19 up all of Kent's sporting action.
00:21 I'm Bartholomew Hall and here's what to expect on this Friday the 26th of April.
00:27 Racing on a high, Gillingham Legend expected at final game of the season, 24 hour race,
00:36 Chatham karting track gears up for marathon wheel to wheel event and action replay with
00:42 a look back at your pictures from the London Marathon.
00:47 But first a look at the headlines from the week.
00:49 Junior footballers are being discouraged from copying Premier League superstars such as
00:53 England player Jack Grealish.
00:55 It comes following new guidelines from the Kent FA on shin pads.
01:01 A rise in popularity in miniature pads such as the one seen here have found its way to
01:06 grassroots and younger players.
01:08 Well, the Kent Football Association is warning footballers that they're at an increased risk
01:12 of injury if they adopt the new style.
01:15 It says that shin pads are a compulsory piece of equipment and that micro or mini pads just
01:20 don't cover enough of the shin.
01:23 It's been confirmed that Australian bowler Xavier Bartlett will feature for Kent in this
01:27 summer's Vitality T20 blast.
01:30 The 25-year-old had previously been lined up to feature for Kent in both the blast and
01:35 the county championship but following a ruling by Cricket Australia, the international player
01:39 was blocked from playing four-day cricket after his appearances for the national team.
01:44 Bartlett became the Big Bash League's top wicket-taker last season with 20 as he helped
01:49 Brisbane Heat win the series.
01:52 Kent's T20 campaign sets off on Friday 31 May against Middlesex at Chelmsford.
01:58 Kent racer Jake Hill will get his 2024 British Touring Car Championship campaign underway
02:03 this weekend as he takes his Laser Tools Racing team to Donington Park.
02:08 The 30-year-old will be starting in his 11th full season in the series after finishing
02:12 third in the last two campaigns.
02:15 Last year he doubled his career win tally as he took six victories across the calendar.
02:20 As the current holder of the race lap record at Donington, as well as winning the final
02:24 race of last year's race weekend, Hill says he can't wait to get to the track.
02:29 No doubt about that.
02:33 Gillingham Thousands are expected to pack into Proofsfield this Saturday for their final
02:37 match of the League Two season against Doncaster Rovers.
02:40 Meanwhile, the Gillingham FC Supporters Club is set to host its honorary president and
02:45 Gillingham legend Bob Taylor, who famously scored all five of the Gilles' goals against
02:49 Burnley in 1999.
02:52 At the match this weekend, he will hand out the end-of-season awards.
02:56 Earlier on, I was joined by David Garth from the Supporters Club in the Fan Zone to look
03:00 back at the season and discuss what Steven Clements' priorities need to be going into
03:05 the summer break.
03:06 So David, thank you very much for joining me.
03:09 Now, let's talk this weekend, Doncaster Rovers at home.
03:11 Now, if results go well for them, kind of elsewhere and at Proofsfield, it could be
03:16 in the position that, of course, Gillingham wanted to be at the end of the season.
03:21 It's obviously not where I'm sure you wanted to have been at this point, you know, just
03:25 outside of the playoffs.
03:27 But how good would it be to end the season off with a win at home?
03:30 Yeah, I think it would be great to do that.
03:34 You've got to give Doncaster credit for where they have come from.
03:38 Ten wins in a row now.
03:40 It would be nice for us to actually end on a winning note in front of our own fans, of
03:45 course.
03:46 Yeah, of course.
03:47 I mean, when you think back to this season, how do you think it will be remembered?
03:50 Because it started off so strong.
03:52 We saw those, you know, those successive wins.
03:54 But then obviously lots of change happens.
03:57 You had coach, obviously lots of new players, some leaving, some joining, but finishing
04:02 off without that chance of getting back into League One.
04:05 So how do you assess the whole season?
04:08 Yeah, it's to be honest, it has been disappointing.
04:12 So right from what you say, that we did start, you know, a bit like a train and everything
04:17 was going probably far better than we imagined.
04:20 There was always that sort of doubt, I think, with a lot of supporters that we weren't scoring
04:24 the goals.
04:25 We were winning literally one nil every week and it soon came back and bit us.
04:30 And I think we were all disappointed with the transfer window, that it didn't really
04:36 bring us in the sort of players that everybody was hoping for.
04:40 And, you know, to end where we are now, yeah, it's a disappointment, I think, overall, really.
04:46 We've come a long way as a club, but on the pitch, we need to do an awful lot better than
04:50 that.
04:51 Yeah, I mean, I think that January window was a real kind of moment of new players came
04:56 in.
04:57 I'm thinking, you know, Josh Walker, Josh Andrews, Jorge Otado, but then their kind
05:00 of chances to play have been scuppered by injuries at different levels as well.
05:05 Let's hear from Stephen Clements, because he gave us a bit of an anecdote this week
05:09 at the press conference, talking about how he's going to go forward with Gillingham into
05:14 the summer and into the next transfer window, where he had some advice from a certain Premier
05:19 League manager.
05:20 Let's hear from him now.
05:22 I was very, very fortunate where I got invited to go and to watch, to coach Manchester City's
05:28 young pros, players between 20 and 24 in the summer.
05:32 And I was there for five or six weeks and I got to meet Pep and I said to him, I was
05:38 lucky where I got some time with him and I asked him, I said, "I'm thinking about going
05:41 into management, any advice for me?"
05:44 And he said to me, "Sign good players."
05:46 And I said, "Is that easy?"
05:48 He said, "Sign good players."
05:50 And obviously he was being very humble.
05:51 But he said, "The Barcelona team I had, with obviously some of the best players we've seen
05:58 in the last 10 years, or 15 years, whatever it was, he said I could have managed them
06:03 blindfolded.
06:05 So we've got a big summer ahead and it's my job to try and sign some good players at
06:10 the football club, which make us better."
06:14 So hiring good players, do you agree with Pep Guardiola?
06:17 Yeah, of course.
06:20 We'd all like to sign the best players in the world and we know that that's not going
06:23 to happen at Gillingham.
06:24 But when you look back, I mean, there was all this hope that we were going to sign someone
06:29 like Alfie May.
06:31 It never happened.
06:32 And as you rightly say, we then signed somebody like Josh Andrews, who was injured.
06:38 And we didn't really get going after that point.
06:40 We saw Tom Nicholls leave and go to Mansfield.
06:44 Again, there was no real replacement for that.
06:47 But yeah, if we can get the right players in, that's got to be the way forward.
06:51 And I think we were all hoping that was going to happen last season.
06:54 So this summer, I think there's an awful lot of pressure on the whole management team and
06:59 Hess and Tyler and Jackett to get the right players in.
07:02 And hopefully it will be Stephen that will make that decision.
07:05 Yeah, absolutely.
07:06 And Stephen, of course, also said at that press conference this week that he's looking
07:09 at all the different options of bringing in new players, whether that's on loan, outright
07:13 buying a new player or, of course, looking at free agents as well.
07:17 Now, before we go, I wanted to bring it back to this weekend, of course.
07:20 Now, Gillingham unbeaten at home in the league, of course, since Boxing Day, a clean home
07:25 record of no defeats.
07:26 Now, we've also seen at Priestfield that famous song, The Last Waltz, being brought back into
07:32 its kind of regular singing before the start of a match.
07:35 Of course, to top it off, as we've already said, to finish off the season would be great
07:39 with a win.
07:40 But you're also bringing back a Gillingham legend, Bob Taylor.
07:43 He's the new honorary president.
07:45 So is it going to be a bit of a party atmosphere this weekend?
07:50 We hope so.
07:51 I mean, yeah, we could always do with someone like Bob Taylor coming back now in his prime.
07:55 I mean, imagine if he was leading the forward line.
07:57 I think we would really be going for it.
08:00 But he is a legend and you've got to be careful when you use that word.
08:04 But with someone like Super Bob, it's absolutely right.
08:08 And we as an organisation are delighted to have him come along.
08:12 He is a joint guest of both ourselves and the club, and he'll be presenting the Player
08:16 of the Year award before the game.
08:19 So it's going to be good fun.
08:20 We're going to enjoy it.
08:22 Well, best of luck for your team this weekend and hopefully we'll catch up again next season.
08:30 Thank you.
08:31 Look forward to it.
08:37 Once more for Gillingham in the 23-24 season.
08:40 They take on Doncaster this Sunday, but it's also finals day in the Izmir Premier League
08:46 too.
08:47 Margate head to Essex, where Billa Rookie are looking to seal a place in the Premiership
08:50 playoffs.
08:51 The team, after Margate's board released a statement this week admitting that they
08:54 are likely to be relegated.
08:56 Minns Foksen is safe in 16th, and Chatham Town will head to Enfield as they battle with
09:02 Enfield for that second position.
09:06 Now Mason versus Worthing.
09:08 This is a big one.
09:09 That semi-final taking place on Sunday as one of them hope to get into the playoff final.
09:14 That happening, of course, in the National League South.
09:17 Now don't forget, you can keep up to date with all your latest stories from right here
09:20 on Invictus Sport by heading along to kmtv.co.uk and clicking on the sports tab.
09:26 Let's take a look at one now.
09:36 Parkinson's UK estimated that last year there were 128,000 people living with Parkinson's
09:41 disease in the UK.
09:43 This raises the question of what those diagnosed can do to manage the condition and promote
09:48 their well-being.
09:49 They say that Parkinson's is one of the most important things.
09:51 It is to keep you fit.
09:53 I think it's improved my balance and my coordination.
09:58 It was a surprise really that it was so beneficial to Parkinson's.
10:04 It seems to be really taking off.
10:06 Any exercise helps, but this helps in particular because you've got so many formats to it.
10:10 Building up muscle and the whole thing.
10:11 It takes a bit of courage to actually come to somewhere you don't know anybody.
10:15 But once you've done it, I mean, they're all sort of friendly.
10:19 No, they are friendly.
10:20 We all chat and have a good laugh as well.
10:24 Born from a need for community support for those with Parkinson's, Boxing for Parkinson's
10:29 has been run by Olympia Boxing director Wayne Smith for the last seven years.
10:33 He emphasises the wide range of benefits that boxing brings to participants' mental and
10:38 physical well-being.
10:39 It's a high intensity exercise that creates the dopamine that they're missing.
10:43 It's the regulation, like through the punching, the coordination, the movement, everything
10:48 that involves in boxing, it re-regulates them.
10:52 And members of their families have been saying, like, I get the old feel back for a couple
10:56 of hours.
10:57 And some of them saying, listen, when I come home, my shakes are less, everything, my speech
11:03 is better.
11:04 More gyms across the country are now recognising boxing as a valuable sport for all.
11:08 Coaches at St Mary's are looking forward to seeing more accessible programmes become available
11:13 and are hoping to increase support for their own.
11:15 At the moment, it's entirely put on by Olympia Boxing, by our boss, so it's entirely funded
11:19 off our own back and to do with St Mary's, the boxing gym.
11:22 But it would be really, really good for hopefully a bit more community support and a bit more
11:25 everybody getting involved, coming around to help us.
11:28 Having learned about the beneficial relationship between boxing and Parkinson's disease, I
11:32 wanted to know more about what the diagnosis means to those with it and the people supporting
11:36 them.
11:37 Ring fencing, it's something that some of these guys might suffer from X, others suffer
11:43 from it.
11:44 It's all different.
11:45 Don't be scared of it.
11:46 It's not bothering about it and it's not going to beat me, so it shouldn't be anybody.
11:51 People don't always think of it as a shaking.
11:53 It's a...
11:54 [Squeak]
11:54 [Squeak]
12:00 [Squeak]
12:05 Thank you for listening.
12:18 [ Applause ].
12:20 [ Applause ].
12:22 [ Applause ].
12:24 [ Applause ].
12:26 [ Applause ].
12:28 [ Applause ].
12:30 [ Applause ].
12:32 [ Applause ].
12:34 [ Applause ].
12:36 [ Applause ].
12:38 [ Applause ].
12:40 [ Applause ].
12:42 [ Applause ].
12:44 [ Applause ].
12:46 [ Applause ].
12:48 [ Applause ].
12:50 [ Applause ].
12:52 [ Applause ].
12:54 [ Applause ].
12:56 [ Applause ].
12:58 [ Applause ].
13:00 [ Applause ].
13:02 [ Applause ].
13:04 [ Applause ].
13:06 [ Applause ].
13:08 [ Applause ].
13:10 [ Applause ].
13:12 [ Applause ].
13:14 [ Applause ].
13:16 [ Applause ].
13:18 [ Applause ].
13:20 [ Applause ].
13:22 [ Applause ].
13:24 [ Applause ].
13:26 [ Applause ].
13:28 [ Applause ].
13:30 [ Applause ].
13:32 [ Applause ].
13:34 [ Applause ].
13:36 [ Applause ].
13:38 [ Applause ].
13:40 [ Applause ].
13:42 [ Applause ].
13:44 [ Applause ].
13:46 [ Applause ].
13:48 [ Applause ].
13:50 [ Applause ].
13:52 [ Applause ].
13:54 [ Applause ].
13:56 [ Applause ].
13:58 [ Applause ].
14:00 [ Applause ].
14:02 [ Applause ].
14:04 [ Applause ].
14:06 [ Applause ].
14:08 [ Applause ].
14:10 [ Applause ].
14:12 [ Applause ].
14:14 [ Applause ].
14:16 [ Applause ].
14:18 [ Applause ].
14:20 [ Applause ].
14:22 [ Applause ].
14:24 [ Applause ].
14:26 [ Applause ].
14:28 [ Applause ].
14:30 [ Applause ].
14:32 [ Applause ].
14:34 [ Applause ].
14:36 [ Applause ].
14:38 [ Applause ].
14:40 [ Applause ].
14:42 [ Applause ].
14:44 [ Applause ].
14:46 [ Applause ].
14:48 [ Applause ].
14:50 [ Applause ].
14:52 [ Applause ].
14:54 [ Applause ].
14:56 [ Applause ].
14:58 [ Applause ].
15:00 [ Applause ].
15:02 [ Applause ].
15:04 [ Applause ].
15:06 [ Applause ].
15:08 [ Applause ].
15:11 >> Now, this weekend, Chatham karting track Buckmore Park is set to host more than 30 teams of racers going wheel to wheel for 24 hours nonstop.
15:21 The flagship event coincides with the circuit's 60th anniversary year and has grown in popularity in the past few years as YouTubers have started joining in on the action.
15:30 Our reporter Jack Darkin has been down to the track to find out more.
15:34 [ Music ].
15:56 >> Buckmore Park is a race track located just outside of Chatham and this weekend on Saturday the 27th of April they'll be hosting their flagship event of the year, a 24-hour endurance race.
16:08 The 24-hour race is the ultimate test of endurance and has been a historic part of Buckmore race track's long history.
16:15 The event has been running since 2013 and has become their main attraction of the year.
16:19 With more and more racers taking part each year, the challenge has become bigger and more enjoyable.
16:24 I was able to talk with managing director Philip Ling to explain the format of the race and how it works.
16:30 >> It is what it says on the tin.
16:32 Essentially, it is an endurance race event, 30 teams taking part in it for 24 hours.
16:39 So there's a practice session first, teams to get used to everything that's going on, conditions for the day, a qualifying session to set the grid for the actual start of the race,
16:49 and then competing in teams, 24 hours of straight racing, person that completes or the team that completes the most laps at the end of the 24 hours is the winner.
16:59 >> The teams will compete in one of two classes, professional or rookie.
17:03 The race itself starts with a traditional Le Mans standing start with the racers running into their carts for the start of the race.
17:09 The event starts at 2.30pm on Saturday and will take place all through the night until 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon.
17:16 In previous years, celebrities and YouTubers such as the Sidemen and a team from Formula One's Lando Norris have competed in the competition.
17:24 After winning the previous two years at Buckmore, Sean Dabin spoke to me about how he's feeling ahead of this year's race and how it felt to win it.
17:31 >> I feel alright to be honest with you. I think our team's well prepared.
17:35 I've done two now, so not really that nervous anymore.
17:39 I heard about the 24-hour race and thought, you know, this sounds awesome.
17:42 We should go and give it a go.
17:43 Got a few mates together, went there with hopes of top seven, top five, and then we end up winning it.
17:49 And we were just all like, wow, like, it's really cool.
17:53 Really cool achievement. And it goes down in the history books at Buckmore.
17:57 So very cool to win it.
17:59 >> Despite not being a public event, Kent's racing fans can tune into a live stream to see who will finish top of the podium.
18:05 Jack Darkin for KMTV at Buckmore Park.
18:09 >> Well, it looks like it's going to be a lot of fun.
18:11 Well, you heard from him there in that piece.
18:13 Sean Dabin has won the Buckmore 24 for the past two years alongside his team there.
18:18 I caught up with him earlier this week to see how he's feeling about the prospect of making it a triple.
18:25 >> I feel alright to be honest with you. I think our team's well prepared.
18:30 I've done two now, so not really that nervous anymore.
18:34 I know what to expect. So, yeah, I'm OK.
18:37 >> Done two now. And am I right in saying won two now as well?
18:40 The previous two years your team have come away victorious.
18:43 >> That's correct, yeah.
18:45 >> Tell me the story there then, because it's not easy. These 24 races are tricky things to get by.
18:51 >> Well, the first one, so I heard about the 24-hour race and thought, you know, this sounds awesome.
18:57 We should go and give it a go. Got a few mates together.
19:01 Went there with hopes of top seven, top five.
19:07 And then we end up winning it. And we were just all like, wow, it's really cool.
19:13 Really cool achievement. And it goes down in the history books at Buckmore.
19:17 And then the second one was a little bit different.
19:21 Didn't feel as special, but still very cool to win it.
19:25 >> Absolutely. And of course, this year you've got a chance to go three in a row, get your third one on the board and in the history books, as you say.
19:33 Tell me about the team that you've got with you. Who's in it and what are your strengths?
19:39 >> Well, so this year I've got Jake Taplin again. He's an awesome driver. Great reputation at Buckmore Park as well.
19:47 He knows it off the back of his hand. I also have Peter Knight. Peter Knight is an absolute legend as well, known by many.
19:55 Harry Noyage, again, absolute legend.
19:58 I also have Sam May. He hasn't done too much at Buckmore Park. He's done the sprint series and won it by a mile.
20:05 But that's all. He races caterhams. Young kid. Very, very quick. Very good driver.
20:15 Yeah, I just feel like it's a really strong team.
20:19 >> Pretty strong team. Yeah, no, absolutely. Do you know yet who's going to be doing which stint?
20:23 Who's going to be starting for you? Because you've got that kind of Le Mans style start where you'll be running along to your karts as well.
20:31 >> I do know. Don't want to give it away just yet.
20:34 >> OK. Fair enough. Fair enough.
20:36 >> All sorted out. All planned, ready to go. Whether it rains or don't rain, we're ready for it.
20:43 >> Perfect. Well, tell me, for some people that maybe haven't heard of a 24-hour race, obviously you do it in stints.
20:49 That's why you've got the team with you. Can you just explain to me how you go these long periods of driving, keeping your concentration and keeping racing as well?
21:01 >> Well, you need to build yourself up a little bit. So you start off by sprint racing.
21:06 But we'll do a great sprint series. You'd want to do that first, learn the track.
21:10 And then you'd want to move on to the pro series, which is longer format of racing.
21:15 That tests you a little bit. And once you've done that, you just kind of want to do some back to back half an hour sessions.
21:21 Just build yourself up, maybe a bit of cardio. And I think the trick is to always eat well before your stint.
21:29 No silly foods, a decent amount of food and water. And then just get yourself in a rhythm, in a zone, almost in a daydream.
21:37 Ignore everything else around you and just drive as fast and as quick as you can and cleanly.
21:43 >> That sounds fantastic. It sounds incredible. I mean, going 24 hours with this team of yours, it's going to be great.
21:50 And Buckmoor as well, of course, is a very popular track. How often have you had to race since last year's 24 hour race at Buckmoor?
22:02 >> I've done a race in a pro car around Buckmoor Park.
22:07 I've done a senior road tax event as well. And I've done a couple of charity events at Buckmoor Park, which are great as well.
22:16 That's about it really, to be honest with you. I haven't done much more because I've been busy with owner driver activities.
22:22 >> Absolutely. And I think that's a big part of it as well. The fact that you don't have your own car in this race.
22:27 Everybody's on the kind of same footing. What dynamic does that give you?
22:31 Would you prefer to be in your own car or is it kind of better that the guy behind you and the guy in front of you, you're all in the same machinery?
22:39 >> It's pros and cons really. It's nice having your own car because it's molded to you.
22:45 It's a custom. So it's nice. You know what you can do in it.
22:49 When you're given a piece of machinery, you've got to trust that it's up to the job.
22:53 And to be fair, Buckmoor cars, they are. They are very well matched. They're very consistent.
22:59 So things are round about, but it's definitely more exciting if everyone's in the same machine.
23:04 It really separates the drivers and the cream rises to the top. Always.
23:08 >> Absolutely. And of course, just finally, it's going to be a very popular race.
23:12 There's a few kind of celebs jumping in, a few YouTubers here and there.
23:15 Obviously, that gets the headlines in. Any in particular you're hoping to be getting past?
23:20 I know you're in the elite race. So does that kind of split you guys entirely?
23:25 >> I'm not sure what class they're in. But to be honest with you, I try not to focus on that.
23:32 Try and put them to one side and just focus on getting to that checker flag first
23:36 without getting into any sorts of trouble or kerfuffle. In between maybe with speed.
23:42 But yeah, I just try not to focus on them too much. Just try and remain 100% focused on the task at hand.
23:48 >> And hopefully taking home a third in a row. Well, thank you very much for joining me, Sean.
23:52 And best of luck for this weekend.
23:54 >> Thank you. Cheers.
23:56 >> Great stuff there. Well, best of luck to everybody who is taking part in the Buckmore 24.
24:01 And as Jack said earlier on, you can watch along on YouTube.
24:05 Now, we've reached full time on today's episode, but there's just a few minutes of extra time on this Invictus Sport
24:11 to take a look at this week's action replay. It's the segment, my favourite one of the show,
24:16 where we take a look at clips and pictures that you, the KMTV audience, have sent in of you taking part in sport.
24:22 This week, we've got a special edition. It's all centred around the London Marathon from last week.
24:28 Let's take a look at this week's action replay.
24:30 >> First up on this special edition of action replay, the annual London Marathon approaches the starting line
24:38 as Chatham runner Ruden Boutier is gearing up to outrun exhaustion and hunger as he goes for an incredible record.
24:46 Ruden looks to do the route four times in a row, netting 104.8 miles ran in 24 hours.
24:53 Next up, James Page has raised £7,300 for Children with Cancer UK by running the marathon with a twist.
25:02 James ran the whole route wearing a military backpack, weighing in at a whopping 11 kilograms,
25:08 and was inspired to do the run by his parents' cancer diagnosis and the thought of his children going through something similar.
25:14 And finally, Longfield's Deborah McCarthy completed the London Marathon on Sunday in aid of brain tumour research
25:21 to honour the memory of her friend's son, Joshua.
25:25 Joshua tragically passed away from a highly aggressive form of brain cancer in September 2023 at age 25.
25:33 Deborah ran an impressive 26.2 miles in 3 hours and 58 minutes,
25:38 with her friend Eve praising her for being a huge inspiration and source of support after Joshua's death.
25:44 Well, that's all from this week's action replay.
25:47 Don't forget, it could be you in next week's edition.
25:51 Just send in your pictures and videos to social media or to sport@kmtv.co.uk.
25:59 Thank you very much, Bailey. Now don't forget, if you want to appear in next week's action replay, you absolutely can.
26:05 All you need to do is tag us on social media @kmtvkent or send us an email to sport@kmtv.co.uk
26:13 and add your pics and videos as an attachment.
26:16 Just tell us what part of Kent you come from and what it is you do and you'll be here on action replay next time.
26:23 Well, that is it for full time on today's episode.
26:27 If you want more from KMTV, you can watch all of our other special programmes.
26:31 We've got the Kent Politics Show, Made in Kent, Kent on Climate and the Kent Film Club,
26:35 all available on our website on demand by visiting kmtv.co.uk.
26:40 I'll be back on Monday with a brand new episode. I'll see you then. Bye bye.
26:44 [Music]
26:56 [Music]