Youngsters to compete on national stage

Three Ashford AC youngsters compete at the two-day English Schools Athletic Championships International Stadium in Gateshead starting tomorrow (Friday).

Emilie Knights Toomer (javelin), Cameron Amadee (400m hurdles) and Christopher Scrivens (hammer) will be competing against the best in the country.

Two others, Marshall Smith (5k) and Jacqueline Benson (3k), will feature in the race walking finals in September. Kent assistant coach Matt Walker admits Kent have nothing to lose as they seek to return to the knockout-stages of NatWest T20 Blast. The Spitfires have lost six of nine South Group games and need to close at least a threepoint gap to reach the topfour, despite having played a game more than their rivals. Kent visit Somerset today (Thursday, 5.30pm) and Gloucestershire the following day (6.30pm) and Walker admitted: “These are two very important games to get our T20 campaign back on track. The raw truth is we probably have to win every game to qualify. If we don’t win then that will probably be the end of us, but we’ll not give up.” Walker claimed the standard of the South Group had gone up this year, but admitted Kent had fallen short of their own high standards too often. He added: “T20 is a volatile competition and the margins are very small, but we have not put the total package together - batting and bowling - enough times this year.” Matt Coles remains unavailable due to a disciplinary matter but Daniel Bell-Drummond (thumb) and Calum Haggett (ankle) could return for the Championship clash with Sussex at Tunbridge Wells on Sunday, July 17.

Picture: Matt Bristow FM4409003 Chase Arnold competes for Ashford in the hurdles at the Young Athletes meeting staged at the Julie Rose Stadium. See page 63