On tonight's show, we visit Gravesend Dynamite following a 71% rise in participation in Wheelchair Rugby. Plus, Ramsgate striker Joe Taylor has been announced as KentOnline's Player of the Season.
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00:27 Hello and welcome along to Invictus Sport, the only show on your TV dedicated to wrapping up all of Kent's sporting action.
00:34 I'm Bartholomew Hall and here's what to expect on this Friday the 31st of May.
00:39 And the winner is Kent Online's player of the season, Joe Taylor, tells us the secret behind a 53 goal season.
00:47 Open for all, Gravesend Wheelchair Rugby Club urges more to try out the sport.
00:52 And action replay with clips and pics sent in by you, the KMTV viewers.
00:58 But of course we start with a round up of the headlines and all eyes are turning towards the first fixtures of this summer's T20 Blast,
01:06 as in just under an hour Kent's campaign sets off away to Middlesex.
01:11 The 2021 Blast champions begin their White Ball summer with a double header this weekend,
01:16 with a trip to Southampton on Sunday to face Hampshire Hawks.
01:20 Kent are joined this season by talented overseas Australian fast bowler Xavier Bartlett,
01:24 whilst wicketkeeper Sam Billings will return to skip other team for the first time after stepping down as club captain in the winter break.
01:32 A welcome return for many. Here's his successor Daniel Beldrumman being asked about Kent's prospect of reaching the top four and a place in finals day.
01:40 Yeah, 100%. We all enjoy that format as we do all formats.
01:45 But yeah, it'll be good to get the shackles off and yeah, just try and get out there, swing the bat a little bit.
01:53 So like I say, it's a welcome change. It's been a tough seven games or so,
01:58 but yeah, the guys are hungry and ready to go and prove a point in the Blast.
02:03 Well, onto some football now. Football news now.
02:07 Gillingham's new manager, Mark Bonner, has made the second signing of the summer today.
02:12 Former Wimbledon midfielder Armani Little is set to join the club after turning down a new deal with his former side.
02:19 The 27-year-old's move to Gillingham was made in the town's High Street today, as you can see here,
02:24 where he appeared for a meet and greet with fans and unveiled their new green third kit.
02:28 With a career spanning more than five clubs now, the Southampton Academy graduate scored four times in 44 appearances last season.
02:36 The husband of a Kent horse rider has paid tribute to his strong and beautiful wife following her death after a riding accident.
02:44 Georgie Campbell from Lambethurst died on Sunday after suffering a fall in a cross-country event.
02:50 She was competing in the Bickham International Trials in Devon when she and her horse Global Quest fell into water at a fence on the course.
02:59 In a statement released on social media, her husband Jesse said people will talk about her smile and it was incredible.
03:05 It would make you feel like you were at the centre of the universe.
03:08 Now, moving on to another piece of news here.
03:13 Tunbridge team owner Winifred is set to become the youngest member of the Aquatics GB swimming squad at this year's Paralympic Games at just 13 years old.
03:23 The Tunbridge swimming club competitor has been with her West Kent club since the age of five.
03:27 She recently tied for gold in the 100 metre breaststroke at the British Championships.
03:32 After setting a time under the nomination standard, Winifred found out she secured her ticket to Paris on her 13th birthday.
03:39 What an incredible story there.
03:41 Now, after hundreds of votes were cast, Ramsgate striker Joe Taylor has been announced as Kent Online's player of the season.
03:47 After a 53 goal season that led to him being awarded the golden boot for non-league steps 1-4, he's also had his contract extended at the club.
03:55 Well, I caught up with him later on. Take a listen.
03:57 And yeah, 53 goals this season, so it's been my best ever scoring season.
04:02 I got to pick up the, well, first of all, I was in the team of the season, the Kent Online team of the season, which is a proud moment.
04:08 And then to get the star man in it, in the fan voted poll there, was another proud one for me.
04:15 And I've got to pick up golden boot at the awards the other day, the non-league paper awards for most goals at step 1-4.
04:24 So, yeah, something I've never won before and another really proud one.
04:28 And then the awards for the SME and South East division top goal scorers coming up soon.
04:34 So, yeah, it's been really busy, but a really proud time.
04:38 And obviously to add on to that as well, a new contract down at Ramsgate, extending your time there.
04:43 So it's all positive at the moment.
04:44 I want to talk about the Kent Online award, obviously the player of the year.
04:48 It comes around every year, it's fan voted.
04:50 And talking of fans, down at Ramsgate, you've had quite the following this season.
04:54 Kind of, obviously, that was the success of the FA Cup.
04:57 So there was a big spotlight on Ramsgate.
04:59 But week in, week out in your league games as well, having those four figure attendances at the grounds.
05:04 What's it been like to have that following behind you?
05:07 It's been brilliant.
05:10 It's been really, really, really good to play in front of.
05:12 And I was there in my first World Cup when I was a lot younger.
05:16 We had 180, 200 fans turning up to games.
05:19 So we played, I think the average was over 1,000 this season.
05:23 And we played in front of big crowds in the FA Cup.
05:26 And in the Pivotal League games, there was always big, big, big crowds.
05:30 So, yeah, it's amazing.
05:32 There's loads of kids there now as well.
05:34 And it's a real family day out.
05:36 So, I mean, if you're from Kent and you haven't been, then come down and watch a game.
05:40 And if it's for you, it's for you.
05:42 But I'm pretty sure that you and the family will enjoy yourselves.
05:46 And the last time we spoke was just before you took on Wimbledon.
05:49 Obviously, you mentioned the FA Cup there.
05:51 Back then, you were on track for the--you were in contention for the Golden Boot in that competition.
05:57 Did you think at that stage that you'd be going on and getting 53 by the end of it?
06:01 I mean, it's not to say that you haven't had that in previous seasons.
06:03 You're quite the goal-scoring machine.
06:07 Yeah, well, my previous best was 37.
06:11 So, yeah, 53 is a number that's always up in the clouds, if I'm honest, is getting to 50.
06:18 But with the extra games in the FA Cup and the FA Trophy, I had a couple in that as well,
06:24 I knew I was going to have to score more goals than games that I played in,
06:28 which is not easy to do and not something that I think I'm going to be able to do again.
06:34 But this year, yeah, I had some great players around me.
06:38 And I just got myself in really good shape and I really dedicated myself to it.
06:43 And I was playing in front of a lot of people I knew, so I didn't want to let myself down.
06:47 And, yeah, a lot of things came together and I was just able to keep scoring goals
06:52 and keep affecting games, which was what I was trying to do.
06:56 When you look back, do you have a highlight of the season?
06:59 Obviously, there is the FA Cup, but in the league as well,
07:01 it was a really competitive, exciting race between yourselves and Cray Valley.
07:06 Is that one?
07:08 Yes, it's a hard one, that, because obviously we didn't get the promotion,
07:13 so there can't really be a highlight of the season in the league.
07:18 And the FA Cup is the obvious one to say, but we won 9-1 at home
07:22 and I had my kids there and my partner there and we had a photo taken in front of the scoreboard.
07:27 And it was just a really special day for me that when we won 9-1.
07:31 I scored four and I was flying at the time and it just felt great.
07:36 I had a lot of my family there that day, so that was a personal favourite of mine.
07:41 But, yeah, obviously playing on the telly and playing in front of 8,000 at Wimbledon.
07:46 And, yeah, even if I only touched the ball two or three times that game,
07:49 it was still good exposure, wasn't it?
07:52 Absolutely. And we'll talk about next season then.
07:54 You signed on for another one. What do you think could happen next time out?
08:00 Well, we're going to go for it again, the league.
08:02 That's the main aim, is to get promoted in any way possible.
08:07 We're going to win the league. We've seen what can happen in the playoffs.
08:11 Now you dominate a game, you lose 1-0, that can easily happen.
08:15 So, yeah, we want to go and try and win the league.
08:19 Ramsgate treated me really well last season and I had a lot of interest this off-season.
08:26 I signed early for Ramsgate because I wanted to repay the loyalty they showed me, I suppose I'm trying to say.
08:33 And, yeah, I'm a big part of their plans and I'm really proud to be at the forefront of their plans.
08:42 Well, all the best for the future, Joe. Thank you so much for joining us.
08:45 Really good to hear about that. And, yeah, like I say, best of luck.
08:49 Thank you very much.
08:52 Great chat with Joe there.
08:53 Now it's time to remind you that you can keep up to date with all the latest sports news, interviews and features
08:57 from right here on Invicta Sport by heading to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
09:01 Just click on the Sports tab and there you'll see videos like this one about a new football arena at Bluewater Shopping Centre.
09:07 Zip-lining, a cinema, a trampoline park, mini-golf and now Bluewater has expanded once more with its own football arena.
09:16 International stars Rio Ferdinand, Mark Noble, Bobby Zamora and Roberto Carlos arrived at the Bluewater Shopping Centre this week
09:23 to promote their new venture, Ballers, a 3,000 square foot dome featuring a high-tech pitch and skill zone.
09:30 This features a sprint speed timer, football sharpshooter games, footy tennis and even a robotic keeper to test your skills.
09:39 Since the facility lets you replay your best moments from the game, we asked Bobby Zamora what moments from his long career
09:45 at clubs like Fulham, West Ham, Tottenham and Brighton he would choose to relive.
09:50 Anything I could replay, any moment I could replay. Do you know what, walking out at Wembley for England.
09:57 If I could go back, absorb that again, the first time walking out at Wembley for your country as a kid, always dreaming about it
10:03 and having that, you know, just is an amazing feeling, a real dream come true, real cliche but it really is
10:10 and that, if I could go back, just relive that one moment again, that would be perfect.
10:15 The six-a-side AstroTurf pitch is equipped with a Premier League changing room and realistic crowd noise
10:21 and the skill zone features games designed to improve your physical and mental abilities.
10:26 One of those was the passing zone where players had to hit as many targets as they could, with one former pro racking up 58 in one minute.
10:34 And now I'm going to give it a try for myself.
10:36 And five, two, one.
10:40 Well, the less said about that, the better. And my luck with the Robo Goalkeeper was about the same, ending my Premier League dreams for good.
10:50 Ballers also offer football coaching for kids of all ages and abilities in group sessions or position-specific clinics.
10:57 To open the dome, a six-a-side tournament called Battle of the Ballers was held with four teams of former pros, influencers and Charlton Athletic squad members.
11:06 I spoke to football YouTuber Jules from Goals Front 3, a channel that does football trivia with players like Rudiger and coaches like Mikel Anteta.
11:15 So who do you think out of the players, like the former stars that are coming today, they might perform the best?
11:19 I don't know. I'm going to be biased, I'm a Real Madrid fan, so I'm probably going to say Roberto Carlos.
11:24 Come on, big baller, big baller. It's going to be unbelievable. If you look everywhere, everything's high-tech, perfect. It's going to be good fun.
11:32 After all the players had arrived, they emerged out of the tunnel to christen a new pitch, while the attendees looked on from the balconies.
11:38 According to Rio Ferdinand, Ballers is designed to make anyone feel like a star, which is pretty tough when the best laugh back in history is right next to you.
11:46 Finn McDermott for KMTV.
11:48 Great stuff there from Finn. I really do want to take a trip down to the Ballers dome. It looks like it's a lot of fun.
11:55 We'll be coming back after the break now. We'll be talking wheelchair rugby with Gravesend Dynamite and of course, Action Replay, my favourite part of the show.
12:02 All that and plenty more after the break.
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15:29 Hello and welcome back to Invicta Sport live on KMTV.
15:32 Now following a 71% rise in participation of wheelchair rugby,
15:37 Gravesend Dynamite are expanding their club.
15:39 The North Kent outfit has won four trophies in the last five years
15:42 and they're now urging people of all backgrounds to pick up the sport
15:45 even if they don't use a wheelchair in everyday life.
15:48 In just a moment I'll be joined by one of the members of the club
15:50 but first of all let's see them in action.
15:52 We sent our reporter Tony Mazzanichita down to the club to give the game a try.
15:57 I'm here in Gravesend with wheelchair rugby club Gravesend Dynamite.
16:01 I'm here to take a look at what wheelchair rugby is all about and give it a go myself.
16:05 So let's take a look and see what it's all about.
16:08 The wheelchair rugby league is very similar to regular rugby
16:10 as it replicates a lot of the game making it a rough and tough sport.
16:13 The club here in Gravesend was founded by Jason Owen
16:16 offers both those that are able-bodied and disabled a chance to play together
16:20 in a sport and can be in a league and bring the community here in Gravesend together.
16:24 Eleven years ago we started, I founded the club
16:28 because I felt that there needed to be an inclusive sports club in Gravesend.
16:33 A club where men and women can play together, children and adults,
16:37 people with physical disabilities, people with no disabilities,
16:41 people with hidden disabilities like epilepsy, ADHD, hearing impairments.
16:47 I just felt there needed to be a club where all these people were able to come together and enjoy rugby.
16:53 The club has found a lot of success in the league
16:55 winning the national challenge trophy four times in the last five years
16:59 and is still looking to build and grow as they have been supported by the governing body of the league, the RFL
17:04 bringing in more chairs and opportunities for the club.
17:06 As the club now has two teams, the Gravesend Dynamite team and the Detonators.
17:11 And with the league being its biggest ever, expanding with more teams being added into Kent and Essex
17:16 the sport continues to grow.
17:18 And the players here are embracing the sense of community and enjoying the atmosphere here at the club.
17:23 I wanted something for the winter months to keep me busy
17:26 and I thought I'd have a go at Wheelchair Rugby League, absolutely loved it.
17:30 And the club here is fantastic, they're so inclusive, yeah, no it's a great place.
17:34 So Gravesend Dynamite is a great club, it's really friendly, everyone gets along,
17:39 it's a great experience when you come along on a Tuesday night and train,
17:43 it's even better on a game when everyone's together trying to support the team, yeah.
17:47 Post lockdown I just wanted to get some social skills back, you know, you miss everybody
17:52 and yeah I thought I'd give it a go, I wasn't ever one for sport, but I thought I'd give this one a go
17:58 and yeah I've just loved it ever since, I've been here for about a year.
18:01 I also got in one of the chairs and participated in training
18:04 and although I had no prior experience, I was able to pick up the sport with the help of the Gravesend team.
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18:13 Now, I may not be playing in any championships any time soon,
18:26 but the Gravesend team is open to all and are waiting for more people to join the club
18:30 and compete in the league.
18:31 Tony Muzanichita, rolling out for KMTV.
18:36 And joining me now in the studio is Nicole Benjamin.
18:38 Nicole, thank you very much for being here, really good to have you on the show.
18:41 We were hoping to have Tony as well from the club, Tony White,
18:45 there was a bit of traffic today so it's just yourself, but no less brilliant to have you here.
18:50 Tell me what was it that first got you into the sport,
18:53 because compared to Tony you haven't done it as long as him.
18:55 No, he's been doing it quite a few more years,
18:58 so it was great to have his and others' experience as well,
19:01 but I actually do a couple of other wheelchair sports
19:04 and a couple of years ago we had the World Cup over in England
19:09 and a couple of my friends through the other sports were playing for some of the home nation's teams,
19:14 so I went to watch and when you get into all that excitement and things,
19:17 you have to get in touch and see if a local team will take you.
19:21 So I got in touch with Gravesend and within a couple of hours I was getting messages saying,
19:27 "Yeah, come along."
19:28 So I actually went along with my stepdad at the time as well,
19:30 and we both went and played and it's such an amazing team, I've been going weekly since.
19:35 Yeah, and it's a really interesting sport as well.
19:37 I had a go of trying it once, we were talking just a minute ago,
19:41 and the thing that hit me first of all as someone that doesn't use a wheelchair in everyday life,
19:45 how difficult it is to really push yourself along when you're in a competitive environment as well.
19:49 Is that something that you found? I know you said you'd done other sports before.
19:53 Definitely, though. I don't use a wheelchair in my day-to-day life either,
19:59 so getting the initial movement, just like the initial pushes to go through,
20:03 it takes a lot of energy in your arms and things, but with the enthusiasm of people around.
20:10 I think there were a lot of us at Gravesend that started at the same time,
20:15 so a couple of winters ago, a good few months after the World Cup,
20:20 but we'd been inspired and we wanted to go along.
20:22 I think because a lot of us were there at the same time, we were all cheering each other along,
20:27 it makes you go quicker, it makes you not realise there's any aches or anything like that.
20:32 You're just having fun.
20:33 Yeah, absolutely. I think one of the things, just from looking at Tony's report,
20:37 and we can see some of the pictures on the screen there,
20:40 is just the wide variety of people who can take part in it.
20:43 Obviously, the club there is so diverse, you've got people of all different ages,
20:45 of all different backgrounds. Is that something that you found pretty out of the box?
20:48 It's quite a lot. My first go there, I think the youngest person was early teens.
20:54 It reaches up until the 60s and beyond. As I said, I started with my stepdad,
21:01 and we had another father and son there, and we have partners that go and play.
21:08 It doesn't matter what sex, what age, what religion, whether you've got a disability or not,
21:13 or what your disability is, everyone's welcome to go and play on the same stage,
21:17 and it just makes it special.
21:19 Yeah, tell me what it's like week in, week out then,
21:21 because you've been there around about two years now.
21:24 Tell me what it's like week in, week out.
21:27 When I started, we had slightly split sessions.
21:30 One day would be the more experienced people like Tony and others that were doing a team session,
21:36 and I was part of a beginner's session on another day of the week.
21:39 But we're one club, so they took the decision to actually merge the sessions this year,
21:45 so everyone is there on the same day.
21:47 We all get to warm up together, as you would have seen in the video,
21:50 and then we split it depending on who's available,
21:55 whether anyone's got any games coming up and they need to try and work together.
21:59 It means that everyone gets to work with everyone,
22:03 and you get to use the experience from the really experienced players in our club.
22:09 We have the coaches who are amazing, and they bring a wealth of knowledge to the team,
22:16 and it's really great to be able to work with them and work with people from all levels,
22:23 from the people that have just come that week up to people that have played at international level multiple times.
22:30 Tell me a bit, because it's interesting what you said there about the split when you first started,
22:34 about the different skill levels.
22:36 What are the things that you find yourself working on to improve?
22:40 There's always the basics.
22:43 I've actually got one of the playing kits on.
22:46 We've got Velcro bits on the side, you would have seen that, where you have the tags.
22:50 So rather than tackling like in the running game, they'll have to pull a tag off.
22:55 That is such a fundamental skill, you're always just trying to re-tag in your little spare time,
23:01 make sure you've got that done, and just general pushing and things, and passing and holding the ball.
23:07 And then as it goes on, we're then working away to tactics towards games,
23:12 and how you're, rather than individual play, how you're working as a team and moving across the court as a team,
23:18 to try and benefit everyone.
23:20 It's incredible. I think every time we talk to people about wheelchair rugby, they're always so passionate,
23:25 and I think even around here and in Kent as well, the community is so tight-knit,
23:29 which is something we were talking about just before, and what it is between clubs as well.
23:33 Tell me about that, when you are playing against other teams from around this region.
23:38 Yes, for some reason, rugby league was always considered a northern sport, but Kent especially,
23:45 and it's growing, now other areas of London and beyond, the clubs are starting to spring up as well,
23:52 so you get a good opportunity to play against people.
23:56 There's a few local teams, and we've got a few friendlies coming up ahead of when we start our proper competition.
24:02 We've got our proper competitive league games at the end of the month,
24:05 and so it's good to have that bit of give and take with each other, to know that yes, we can train as a club,
24:11 but we can go and be competitive at the same time.
24:13 Well, best of luck for when things do start up, and thank you so much for joining us.
24:16 It's been really interesting to hear about it and to take a look into the world of wheelchair rugby.
24:20 Can I just say quickly, thank you to Maidstone Council as well.
24:23 Their support has been really crucial for our game at the end of June,
24:29 so I just wanted to say a big thank you for helping get that underway,
24:32 so it's great that Dan might get a bed for tigers on the 30th.
24:36 Brilliant, thank you so much.
24:37 Well, we've reached full time now on today's episode,
24:39 but there's just a few minutes of extra time to take a look at this week's Action Replay.
24:43 It's the segment where we take a look at the clips and pictures that you've sent in to us of you taking part in sport.
24:48 Let's see what we've got on this week's Action Replay.
24:51 We start this Action Replay all the way in Scotland,
24:56 where Folkestone's Charles Bain Smith has taken on a staggering 175 miles hiking challenge,
25:02 all to raise money for brain tumour research.
25:05 The 57-year-old averaged an astonishing 17 miles a day during his 10-day hike,
25:11 as he ventured part of the Hebridean Way to as far as Stallaway in the Scottish Highlands.
25:17 Charles raised more than £600 from his journey, and we say a very big well done.
25:23 Next up, we move from walking to cycling,
25:27 where Ashford's very own Invictus Games medallist and army veteran Johnny Ball has taken part in a mass cycling race across London.
25:35 The 100-mile challenge goes across the Essex countryside and into the capital.
25:40 Here's Johnny moments from the finish line, ending the huge challenge alongside other Invictus vets,
25:46 all helping each other at the last leg.
25:49 And finally, after a wait of more than 30 years, Tombridge's Shirley Ellis has taken on a skydive,
25:56 after her first attempt all the way back in the 90s was called off.
26:00 Raising money for the children's charity Stand By Me, the 70-year-old told us just how special the moment was for her.
26:07 It's not something you do every day of your life, but I've got a very supportive family.
26:14 I mean, over the years I have done some crazy things. So yeah, my grandchildren just see this as something their crazy super gran is doing again.
26:27 Incredible stuff!
26:29 Well, that's it for this week's Action Replay. Don't forget, it could be you in the next week's edition.
26:35 Just send in your pictures and videos on social media or to sports@kmtv.co.uk.
26:43 Well, I have to say I'm very jealous of Shirley there getting to skydive. That's always been a lifelong ambition of me.
26:49 Maybe she can take me next time and show me how to do it.
26:52 Yeah, incredible stuff. Well, that's it. That's us today on Action Replay. We'll be back on Monday. See you then. Bye bye.
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