Kentish Express Ashford & District
ST NICHOLAS MAKE THEIR MARK IN CROSS-COUNTRY AND FOOTBALL
Kent quartet off to capital
Skipper Sam Billings was the first Kent player off the board in the inaugural draft for The Hundred on Sunday evening, writes Cameron Hogwood.
Billings was selected by the Oval Invincibles in the second round and joins up with Kent head coach Matt Walker, who will serve as assistant to Tom Moody alongside Vikram Solanki.
Joe Denly was taken in the fourth round by London Spirit, before Kent big-hitter Alex Blake was also plucked by the Oval Invincibles to team up with Billings and Walker.
Zak Crawley, who recently earned a call-up to England’s Test squad for the tour of New Zealand, earned himself a spot on the Lord’s based London Spirit side with Denly, in the sixth round.
Reacting to his second round selection, Billings told Sky Sports: “Ravi Bopara and I were the only two who weren’t elected out of the English players earlier, so the lads were having a bit of a laugh at our expense! I’m very happy. You obviously have preferences, but it’s great to be at The Oval.
“It’s a strong side on paper and a great ground to play at so I’m very happy, with the Curran brothers (Sam and Tom) there as well. You don’t know how much Sam will be there, but Tom’s arguably one of the best in the country.”
The Oval-based Kent and Surrey side used their first pick on West Indies spinner Sunil Narine, with Chris Gayle, Kagiso Rabada and Lasith Malinga among the surprise omissions in the pool of players that had set their reserve at £125k. It was also announced that Tammy Beaumont will play for London Spirit in The Women’s Hundred, with the Kent captain one of eight additional marquee signings.
Five pupils finished in the top four in different age groups as St Nicholas Primary Academy in Romney Marsh excelled at the cross-country competition, part of the Shepway Sports Trust and Kent School Games.
Against 10 other primary schools and more than 100 individual competitors, the Year 3 and Year 4 team for St Nicholas took first place at Three Hills Sports Centre in Folkestone, with Harry Guest and Tobella Farrant coming second and third respectively. In Year 3, Rose Ryder finished fourth on her crosscountry debut.
In the Year 5 and 6 age group, the St Nicholas team came third in a field of more than 140 runners from 10 different schools. Individually, Oscar Weight was second and Leo Norris third
All 40 children competing from St. Nicholas Primary Academy took a place in the top 30 in their races.
When asked what was the secret to their sporting success, their teacher Mrs Arnold said it was due to their commitment and enthusiasm as well as working hard on their fitness.
Meanwhile, three pupils from the school were invited for under-11 county trials by the Kent Schools’ Football Association.
Rhys Lyon, Oscar Weight and Max Lindsey took part in trials for the Kent under-11 primary school squad on Tuesday in Maidstone.