West Kent Sport & Wellbeing - April 2024

SP RING HI T S! Nutrition, fitness and fashion advice from the exper ts

CH AMP IONS

SP ECI AL

Including football, hockey, rugby and swimming

It was so disappointing to learn in April that Kent will not be one of the eight counties to be awarded a Tier One, professional women’s team for the period 2025-2028. At an England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) meeting, the recommendation of the Selection Panel was ratified by the Board The eight Tier One positions were awarded to Lancashire, Durham, Warwickshire, Nottinghamshire, Surrey, Essex, Hampshire and Somerset. It is also understood that by 2027, Tier One will be expanded to ten teams, to include

Glamorgan and Yorkshire In 2029, the ECB aims to expand the top tier to 12 teams, although the criterion for expansion is unconfirmed Kent’s bid outlined the scale of opportunity to grow cricket in Kent and London with a dedicated Performance Centre and state- of-the-art training facilities based at The County Ground, Beckenham, the current base of the women’s regional team, South East Stars This was supported by data showing a combined population in Kent and four London Boroughs of almost three million people.

06

S evenoaks w in

S outh E as t Pr emier

Hockey club’s women’s 2s are on their wasy to the National League.

12

Eur opean Para Champion Iona

Tonbridge swimmer is a double European Champion in the pool

Hello, I

would say welcome to spring, but it appears to be very slow to be sprung this year. Perhaps we’ll just bypass it and go for the sweltering heat instead, fingers crossed.

With the loss of Kent Cricket’s icon Derek Underwood this month, it has been a struggle to look at the positives, however that is what we will do We have numerous Champions to honour in West Kent across football, hockey, rugby, and swimming

In hockey we saw Sevenoaks Women’s 2s and Tunbridge Wells Men’s 1s both topping their division for a place in next year’s National League Tunbridge Wells Foresters, Tonbridge Angels, FC Revo and Hawkenbury are leading the plaudits for their exploits in football after an amazing April, whilst Sevenoaks 2s also lifted the Counties Kent 2 Division title

And if that wasn’t enough, ex-Sevenoaks swimmer, Eva Okaro, has made history and is off to the Paris Olympics along with your new double European Para Swimmer Iona Winnifrith of Tonbridge Swimming Club. That’s a lot to take in, so please sit back, relax, and enjoy April’s issue of West Kent Sport & Wellbeing. See you soon.

Kind regards,

Steve

Steve Rowley

K ENT CR IC K E T MOUR NS THE LOS S OF DER EK UNDERWOOD (1945-2024 )

Kent Cricket was in mourning following the death of one of the icons of the Club, Derek Underwood, at the age of 78. A staunch one- club man, Derek Leslie Underwood was born in Bromley, Kent, on 8 June 1945 In 1963, he made his first-team debut aged 17 against Yorkshire –finishing his first innings as a first- class cricketer with figures of 4-40. He went on to become the youngest bowler to take 100 wickets in his initial season He was awarded Kent Men’s Cap number 141 in 1964 on the back of his achievements in his debut year and was named the Cricket Writers’ Club Young Cricketer of the Year in 1966.

Derek would go on to make over 900 appearances for Kent across three decades, from 1963-1987, taking a remarkable 2,523 wickets at an average of just 19.04. He captured his 1,000th first- class wicket aged just 25, and took 100 wickets in a season 10 times, notably 157 in 1966 He was the leading bowler in England on four occasions: 1966, 1967, 1978 and 1979

According to Wisden, no nickname was better earned than the “Deadly” which Derek’s Kent teammates conferred on him for the havoc he caused on rainaffected pitches Such was his accuracy and, for a left-arm spinner, pace – either side of medium when the ball was really biting – that when conditions favoured him, an avalanche of wickets was almost guaranteed for Kent

Derek made 86 Test appearances for his country after making his debut against the West Indies at Trent Bridge in July 1966, taking 297 wickets for England at an average of 25.83. He is England’s sixth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and is still the leading spinner in the list.

In One-Day International cricket, the leftarmer made 26 appearances during the emergence of shorter formats of the game, taking 32 wickets at 22 93 His wizardry brought England one of the most dramatic wins in the history of Tests when, with six minutes left against Australia in The Oval Ashes Test of 1968, he took his fourth wicket in 27 balls It clinched a 226-run win which

squared the series, even though a lunchtime cloudburst which flooded the ground had swallowed all but 75 minutes of the last four hours Following on from his stellar appearances in the Test arena that year, he was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1969 According to the retrospective ICC Men’s Test Bowler rankings, Derek Underwood was ranked number one in the world from Sept 1969 to Aug 1973 At Hastings in 1973, Underwood demolished Sussex by taking 8 for 9 after a bare-footed Kent team helped the Fire Brigade mop up another flooded ground Underwood’s accuracy, intelligence and patience meant he was always a blessing to his captains

He received two benefit seasons at Kent Cricket for his outstanding service to the Club, in 1975 and 1986 respectively, and was awarded an MBE for services to

cricket in the New Year’s Honours list of 1981 Derek retired from the game in 1987, having won three County Championships, two One-Day Cups, three National Leagues and three Benson & Hedges Cups as a Kent cricketer. He was named President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2008, after serving as Kent Cricket’s Club President in 2006, and was inducted into the ICC’s Cricket Hall of Fame in 2009 In 2011, the Annexe Stand at The Spitfire Ground St Lawrence was renamed the ‘Underwood & Knott Stand’ in recognition of his exploits for the county and highlighting the inspired partnership that he enjoyed for both Kent and England with another icon of the Club, Alan Knott.

• This article was first published on kentcricket.co.uk on April 15, 2024

R EA DY FOR TE A M WORK

FULLY PREPARED. newbeacon.or g.uk

SE V EN OAKS HOC K E Y CLUB WOMEN’S 2S AR E THROUG H TO N ATION AL LE AGUE . . .

Sevenoaks Hockey Club’s women’s 2s are through to the National League system after securing the South East Hockey League Premier Division title by two points from Guildford 2s.

On the last day of the season they beat Burnt Ash of Bexley 11-1 with a hattrick of goals scored by Caitlin Calverley

The team will now play in the National League Women’s Conference East Division alongside Hampstead & Westminster 2s, Old Loughtonians, Old Georgians, Teddington, and Spencer

This also means that Sevenoaks Hockey Club now have three teams at National level, quite an achievement for the Holly Bush Lane side Congratulations

Elsewhere in the women’s game, HC

Knole Park celebrated a double title winning season as their 1s and 2s won the South East Women’s Division 1 West and Division 4 Invicta respectively The 2s will now play Sevenoaks 6s and Tunbridge Wells 4s next year

K Sports meanwhile were promoted out of Division 3 Invicta and will meet Edenbrdge, Tunbridge Wells 3s and Sevenoaks 5s next season

As we have reported, Tunbridge Wells men’s 1s are also into the National League Men’s Conference East Division after lifting the South East Hockey League Premier Division title in March (see article on next page).

In a season where there were no relegations for West Kent sides, the only other mover was Tunbridge Wells 6th Hoppers who now find themselves in Division 8 Invicta with Sevenoaks 9s and K Sports 3rd

Sevenoaks Hockey Club U18 Girls and U16 Girls Reach National Finals!

The stage was set at Nottingham for a weekend filled with intense competition and memorable performances, as the U16 Girls competed in the England Hockey Supra League National Finals, while the U18 Girls faced off against Teddington in the T1 Plate National Final, both showcasing the best of youth hockey talent.

Sevenoaks Hockey Club’s U16 Girls kicked off their campaign with a display of skill, and a dominant 5-0 victory over City of York, setting the tone for their performance over the weekend In a

nail-biting encounter against eventual champions Surbiton, the U16 Girls showcased their fighting spirit

After two heated passes Sevenoaks dominated the game and held Surbiton to a 2-2 draw in a fiercely contested match

The next day saw the girls up against Sutton Coldfield who tested their resolve resulting in a narrow 3-2 loss, but the girls bounced back with a 2-1 victory against home club Beeston, securing a well- deserved win to cap off their impressive campaign

The U16 Girls’ journey at the National Finals saw them clinch a 5th place finish, as well as being the second highest scoring team behind tournament champions, Surbiton

The U18’s journey to the final followed strong wins against Canterbury, Harleston Magpies, as well as a 600-mile round trip to Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club in Yorkshire.

In a very closely matched game, the U18 Girls played with skill, commitment and determination, right to the end The Sevenoaks team started strong in the first half with constant pressure and

possession, and very few chances at goal for both teams Eventually, Sevenoaks’ pressure resulted in a goal, but it was disallowed, and then Teddington scored in the last minute of the half from a short corner

Sevenoaks dominated the second half with numerous strikes on goal, including a narrow miss deflecting off the top bar Cards were given to Teddington players reducing their squad to nine, but Sevenoaks were unable to benefit from the advantage as Teddington’s experienced goalkeeper thwarted every attempt on goal The game ended on a controversial short corner decision, and Teddington claimed first place.

Both teams demonstrated immense talent, sportsmanship, and dedication throughout their journey to the National Finals and their performances were

. . .AND JOININ G THEM IN THE N ATION AL S AR E

THE TUNBR IDGE W ELL S MEN’S FIR ST TE AM !

Tunbridge Wells Hockey Club men’s first team have completed their challenge in South East Hockey’s Premier Division winning the title with th two game left of the season

A superb, but nervy 5-6 victory on the road at Horsham in March meant that the team could no longer be caught by second placed Woking, whilst Sevenoaks 2nd were just a little further behind

despite a great season too They finished off their season with a somewhat sticky 4-7 victory away at Sevenoaks Tunbridge Wells will now be promoted to the National League (England Hockey’s Men’s Conference East), where they will face the likes of Guildford’s first team, and the 2nd teams of Hampstead & Westminster, Surbiton, and Wimbledon. Congratulations to all the players and

the club on what has been a fantastic season!

It’s been a pretty sound season for all West Kent clubs and we send all of them our congratulations on such a fantastic year, very well deserved indeed Don’t forget you can keep up -to - date during the season by downloading the Amherst Accountancy weekly statistics report at localsportsnews.co.uk

testament to the hard work and commitment put in throughout the season Sevenoaks Hockey Club extend their thanks thanks to coaches Maddie

Moore (U18 Girls) and Alex Salmon (U16 Girls), as well as the numerous supporters who travelled to Nottingham for the matches.

Tunbridge Wells Foresters gave a complete performance as they lifted The DFDS Kent FA Women’s Plate in April.

The match, played at The Gallagher Stadium, the home of Maidstone United, drew in a significant crowd of supporters as women’s football really starts to take off in West Kent SECWFL Premier Division side, Tunbridge Wells Foresters, took to the 3G to play Petts Wood who sit a division

below them in the Kent 1 West. And it only took Tunbridge Wells 10 minutes to get on the scoresheet before adding another just a minute later. Orla Leech, Annabel Stokes and Lauryn Underhill all scored two goals apiece to secure the Plate win for Foresters, running out 6-1 winners.

A great win to finish off a marvellous season for the team, who have just been pipped to the league title by XL Over in the men’s camp, Tunbridge

Wells Foresters will take on Ebbsfleet Town on Saturday 11th May at Maidstone Road Sports Ground in Chatham in the DFDS Kent Junior Cup B

Final A comprehensive 2-0 win against Woodnesborough Reserves in the semifinal opened the door for their first final appearance.

Good luck to the team and their coaching staff in the final, and we’re pretty sure they would appreciate as much support as they can get!

FC Revo, who won the Sevenoaks & District Premier Division in 2022, and subsequently promoted themselves to the Kent County Football League last year, have won the Kent County Football League Division Three Central & East title at their first attempt They completed a wonderful season winning 17 of their 20 games and scoring a whopping 105 goals in the process. David Crouch was top scorer of the season with 18 goals in 17 games played.

• Snodland Town Reserves and Aylesford are both promoted from Division One East and Division Two East respectively

Tunbridge Wells Fores ter s lif t T he DFDS Kent FA Women’s Plate at the Gallagher S tadium af ter an impressi ve 6-1 w in over Pe t t s Wood.

TONBRIDGE ANGELS ARE LE AGUE CUP WINNERS

Tonbridge Angels were the underdogs going into their League Cup match as they faced Premier

Division side Margate at The Gallagher Stadium in April

After a slow start which saw Margate

Hawkenbury Football Club have won the Sevenoaks & District Football League Premier Division four years after making it into the division The team won 12 out of their 14 league games, losing just once to runners-up Southborough

Lifting the club to the top of the table was Julius Walker and his 28 goals scored in all competitions The team also added the Craske & Wells Memorial Trophy to their list of achievements in 2024 and will be hoping to add a third when they take on St Lawrence in the Smith’s Senior League Cup final, which will be played on Tuesday 30th April at the Jockey Farm Stadium in Rusthall. DON’T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD

take a well deserved lead, Tonbridge came back into the match, equalising from the penalty spot. Gemma Sullivan converted the spot kick after Faith Gilson was brought down just inside the box 1-1 and the teams headed into extra time where Tonbridge were now the brighter of the teams and it wasn’t long before Mandy Beeput dispossessed a Margate defender and finished calmly to give Angels the lead

That’s how the scoreline stayed and Tonbridge Angels were the SECWFL League Cup winners for 2024

Tonbridge will now try to topple Cray Wanderers at the top of the Kent 1 West Division, although Cray do have the upperhand with just two games to go A great season for the newly reformed side and we anticipate much more success in the future

Congratulations to Tonbridge Angels, you are a shining beacon of women’s football in West Kent and your success is duly noted!

Credit : Sophie Pur ves .

E VA OK ARO RE ADY

Former Sevenoaks Swimming Club member Eva Okaro has set her sights on an Olympic medal after qualifying for the Paris games at the British Swimming Championships in April.

Eva, 17, who now trains at Repton College in Yorkshire, is part of a 33-strong team that will represent Great Britain across pool and marathon swimming during the games, with action getting under way in Paris on July 27th at La Defense Arena. Eva will join Adam Peaty in Team GB, who is going for a third Olympic 100m breaststroke title in a row.

Having covered Eva since she was 10 years old, we are extremely pleased for her to reach the pinnacle of her sport and wish her the best of luck at the games in Paris this summer We are sure she’s going to smash it out of the pool!

• You can read a full archive of Eva’s rise to fame on our sister website at localsportsnews.co.uk/?s=Eva+Okaro

SUCCE S S FOR SE V ENOAK S AT

Two Sevenoaks Swimming Club swimmers competed at the recent 2024 British Swimming Championships. Albert Branch, 18, qualified for 100m and 200m Fly and Imogen Myles, 14, was one of the youngest qualifiers for 100m and 200 Breaststroke Albert secured personal best times for both races and a massive improvement in his national rankings Imogen had a strong 100m swim and secured an impressive 3rd place for the 200m breaststroke, racing in the same heats as team GB breaststrokers such as Kara Hanlon and Imogen Clark. Imogen’s 200m time was also a new Club, County and Regional Age Group Record. The Club is also delighted and so proud of Eva Okaro’s selection to the GB Olympic Games team in Paris this Summer. Eva was a member of Sevenoaks club for over six years coached firstly by Vince Norris and then Keiron Piper, and won multiple county, regional and national championships and records, as well as competing and medalling for GB at three European Junior Championships

Sacha Djerfi, Head Coach said ‘I am immensely proud of the successes achieved by Albert and Imogen, and delighted that Eva, whom the club supported for so many years is now

representing GB’ Sevenoaks Swimming Club welcomes new members across all programmes

Contact membersec@sevenoakssc.org to find out more

TONBR IDGE STAR ION A W INNIFR ITH IS A EURO PE AN PAR A C H AMPION !

Tonbridge Swimming Club Paraswimming superstar Iona

Winnifrith is currently overseas representing Great Britain at the European Para-Swimming Championships in Madeira

Iona’s European Para-Swimming debut began with a magnificent swim in the final of the SM7 200m Individual Medley (IM) event

The 200m IM race involves swimming one length/50m each of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle Swimming against swimmers in her own classification, Iona found herself in second place, 7.5 seconds behind the leader at the halfway point after two lengths but in a strong position. The third length was her main stroke and she powered past the event leader to touch 2 5 seconds ahead of her nearest rival going into the final length Iona used her grit and determination to power to a new personal best (PB) time by almost five seconds to win her first European Para Swimming title!

Earlier in April Iona made her British Championships debut at the London Aquatic Centre These championships doubled as both the British Olympic and

Paralympic trials

In this competition, the para swimming events are swum as Multi- Class (MC), this means the swimmers from all different types of para categories race against each other Their swim time is compared against the current World Para Record in their own category and they are allocated points. The eight top point scorers qualify for the finals Iona started off the entire Championships by swimming in the first heat of the first event and smashed out a new PB time in the 50m Butterfly to win the silver medal Next up was the 50m Breaststroke, where she is the current European SB7 record holder, and the 200m IM where she soaked up the loud cheers and spectator vibe

Her final race of the week was the SB7 100m Breaststroke racing alongside Olympians and world record holders, she stormed to a new PB time by four seconds to tie for joint first place and joint winner of the British title. This magnificent new PB swim was also within the British Paralympic consideration time

Making club history, Iona is the club’s first British Championship title winner

The future is very bright for this swimming superstar! A huge congratulations to Iona for truly superb swims and we look forward to watching her again soon

Tonbridge Swimming Club’s other competitor at the British Championships was dual member and former club captain Caitlin Ebbage (18). Now training at the University of Stirling in Scotland, Caitlin relished the chance to race once again in her local 50m pool She raced in two backstroke events at the trials and swam to four new PBs in her events Ranked 32nd before the start of the 100m Backstroke, Caitlin swam to a PB in the heat and qualified for the B final. In the final she set another new PB time to finish 14th In the 200m Backstroke she was ranked 30th before the race and again powered to a new PB time in the heats to qualify fastest for the B final. Having not PB’d in this event for five years she was determined to better her time again and powered to yet another PB to win the B final and swim the 6th fastest time across all the finals. A PB improvement of almost 2 5 secs is an amazing improvement at this level of competition

PUSH IN G BE YOND 2024 W ITH CASHBAC K FOR CLUB S INITI ATI V E FOR W E ST K ENT

West Kent Sport & Wellbeing announced in March the launch of its new Cashback for Clubs programme specifically designed for sports clubs in the local areas of Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, and Tunbridge Wells

This new initiative aims to support local sports communities by providing them with a unique opportunity to earn cashback when local businesses advertise within the magazine, helping them to fund their clubs and achieve their financial goals

Publishing Editor Steve Rowley said:

“Understanding the financial challenges that many of our sports clubs face, especially at the grassroots level, the new Cashback for Clubs programme will

empower clubs to alleviate some of their financial burden and reinvest in their clubs, facilities, and community initiatives ”

Now open for all new advertisers

West Kent Sport & Wellbeing are offering up to 20% cashback for chosen clubs on any new advertising taken out in 2024 and beyond. All you need to do is quote #cashback and name your nominated sports club when you contact us about advertising in the magazine

Start earning cashback for your chosen club today by contacting the team at West Kent Sport & Wellbeing at advertising@oneteammedia.co.uk

Terms and conditions

1 Open to all new advertisers booking a

campaign with One Team Media Ltd

2. Sports clubs must exist within the boundaries of Sevenoaks District Council, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council, and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

3 20% cashback offered for three months or more of advertising; 10% cashback for one or two months of advertising.

4 Cashback amount taken from Net cost of advertising.

5 All advertising is subject to VAT

6. Any cashback earnt will be paid to the chosen club on receipt of full payment of invoice.

7 Program is run by One Team Media Ltd

8 One Team Media Ltd and/or West Kent Sport & Wellbeing reserve the right to decline advertisers on application

RUGBY

Little Angels Academy

Tonbridge Angels Football Club are offering children in reception, year 1 and 2 who are starting to enjoy football and want to develop their skills, a chance to play at their Little Angels Academy The first session is free and then £5 per session thereafter. For more information contact Becky Newton at the club at rebecca.newton@ tonbridgeangels.co.uk

Would your business benefit from becoming part of the West Kent Sport & Wellbeing community in 2024?

Contact us about advertising your business with us today! Email us at advertising@ oneteammedia.co.uk or use WhatsApp via our website.

Fisher Shield Final

Roselands FC of Tonbridge won their first piece of silverware on St Georges Day lifting the Fisher Shield after they beat Rusthall Development 5-0 at The Jockey Farm Stadium Goals were scored by Jayson Pring (2), Sean Ray, Ellis O’Keefe and Jaden Ashmore Roselands are currently joint top of the Sevenoaks & District Football League Division Two with five more matches to play. They are also in action against Hawkenbury Reserves in the Sevenoaks Junior Charity Cup final on May 6th at 1 30pm at Sutton Athletic FC

Women’s football fiesta

Tunbridge Wells Foresters Football Club still have a few spaces available for their first women’s senior tournament which will be held on Sunday 30th June

If you are interested in registering a team for the even please contact the club at twforestersladies@gmail.com as limited places are available

Sevenoaks Vine Legends Lunch

A current Sevenoaks Vine XI will be taking on a club "legends" side led by none other than John Bowden at the Vine on Tuesday 25th July at 11am Along with a 2 Course Buffet ‘Legends’ Lunch being held in the marquee and available to all members and friends of the club Tickets are available to purchase from the club

WKDBox Schoolboy Champion

Congratulations go to West Kingsdown Boxing Club member Riley, who is the new Southern Counties Cadet Schoolboy Champion. With a hard fought points win over a very tough and capable opponent from Ropes and Glory Boxing Club in Chatham, with a last round standing count sealing the win The club praised Riley on their socials saying: “Well done Riley, no one deserves it more we are all proud of you! #champion”

SE V EN OAKS 7 R E TUR NS FOR 30TH EDITION

By kind permission of Knole Estates, the 30th edition of the Sevenoaks 7 race will take place on Sunday 7th July 2024, starting at 09:00. The race is run over seven miles ( just over 11km) on grass and paths through the stunning hills and scenery of Knole Park Race headquarters is at Sevenoaks Rugby Club where changing rooms, showers and refreshments are available There is also a 3.5k Junior race for nine to 15 year- olds on undulating paths within the park.

The Sevenoaks 7 was first held in 1993 as a replacement for the Sevenoaks Half Marathon This moved the race from the busy Sevenoaks roads to the tranquility of Knole Park and quickly established the Sevenoaks 7 as one of the country’s finest and most challenging off-road races, popular with club and unaffiliated runners alike.

The main race starts with a steady ascent of Broad Walk before heading down The Gallops, then alongside Knole House, then onwards to Chestnut Walk

The half-way point is reached near the top of Chestnut Walk before a second descent of The Gallops, another pass by the house and the climb back up The Gallops before a spectacular final straight back down Broad Walk to the finish

The event is organised by Sevenoaks Athletics Club and entries for runners of all standards are now open at bit.ly/7oaks7 or by scanning the QR code to the right, including for the junior race which is free to enter.

About Sevenoaks Athletics Club

SAC has a thriving Young Athletes section, currently at capacity with a waiting list, which includes coaching in Track and Field events, indoor and outdoor training and offers participation in competitive inter- club events Events include full cross country and track and field seasons

The adult section caters for all abilities and offers social running as well as competitive road running, cross country

and track and field Competitions within the club include the monthly handicap round Knole Park and club “grands prix” in both road running and track and field

There is no cap to the adult membership and we welcome new members of all abilities and everyone gets a friendly and supportive welcome. For competitive runners, the sky’s the limit and for those who enjoy social running, SAC has plenty to offer Visit the clubs website at 7oaks-ac.org.uk for more information

require insight, analysis and data for key decision making

Committed sponsor of local sports clubs, promoting the important role sport plays in keeping our community active, healthy and focussed. Amherst Accountancy Ltd 7

Sevenoaks Rugby Club’s 2nd XV were crowned league champions after beating Dartford Valley at home at the start of April, and amazingly, the 2nd XV are now promoted to the same league that their 1st XV started in 10 years ago!

It is no mean feat to win 19 of your 22 league fixtures in rugby, and to do this in the Counties 2 Kent division as well, means even more to the club that established a senior section under the ‘One Club’ ethos just some six years ago Sevenoaks will now start the 2024/25 season in the Counties 1 Kent division and will play the 1st XV of Beccehmian, Bromley, Crowborough, Dover and near neighbours Cranbrook, who just survived a fraught relegation battle by three points.

National League 2 East

Both Tonbridge Juddians and Sevenoaks will go head-to -head once again as they made sure of their place for another season in the National League 2 East.

Survival is a strong word, but at one point this year, Sevenoaks were struggling towards the bottom of the division, however notable wins in the last few weeks of the season secured they path for another season at national level Juddians byt contrast really excelled themselves in the second part of the year, putting together s tring of fantastic results which will see them finish in a wonderful fourth or fifth place

Regional 1 South Central

Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club have enjoyed many a successful Saturday at St Mark’s in 2023/24 that will see them stay in the Regional 1 South Central for another season.

However, the club will decide this summer if they are to remain at their current home of St Mark’s or look for a new venue as they expand the club for the Tunbridge Wells community

Kent B Rural

Meanwhile, Tunbridge Wells’ 3rd XV secured the title in the Kent B Rural league having lost just three games all season. They are promoted alongside local rivals Edenbridge RFC, although Leigh RFC were not so fortunate and are relegated to the Kent C Rural

IS YOUR BU SINE S S A S

Make y our busine s s par t of the loc al communit y w ith We s t K ent Spor t & Wellbeing!

West Kent Sport & Wellbeing magazine is an independent publication, dedicated to the local West Kent community. The publication provides a platform to thousands of local sporting individuals, clubs, societies, schools and charities every month, bringing to the community their news, their stories, raising awareness and highlighting their profiles.

As a free to pick up publication, the magazine is funded by advertisers, therefore as an advertiser with West Kent Sport & Wellbeing, you are directly supporting the platform that helps promote the community’s grassroots sports and local wellbeing charities.

You are demonstrating to the local community that you are passionate about their stories being heard and you are impassioned and care about the future success of our local clubs and societies.

Community is at the heart of every club and it has never been so vital for their future, and loyalty in supporting one another has never been so valued. So if you think your business would benefit from becoming part of the West Kent Sport & Wellbeing community, please contact us about advertising today at advertising@oneteammedia.co.uk.

DOING

HEIR

Steve Rowley takes a look at the local authorities within West Kent that transform our leisure landscape, and tries to decifer what they ’ve promised us, and what they are actually doing about it. Unfor tunately the future does not look bright!

Sevenoaks District Council promises to:

• Retain all indoor sports facilities including swimming pools.

• Retain all sports pitches and golf courses

• Retain multi-use games areas, outdoor gyms, and playing fields

• Create a world class cluster of sporting facilities in the north of the District

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council promises to:

• Improve the Council’s leisure centres

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council promises to:

• Protect green spaces such as the Racecourse Sports Ground and easy accessibility to the surrounding landscape

• Keep leisure facilities which include Tonbridge Swimming Pool, the Angel Centre and Longmead Sports Ground

• Work with clubs to invest in and improve sports facilities and playing fields.

• Support parish and town councils to develop their own community facilities.

• Work to ensure that the Borough remains one of the safest places to live

• Support the provision of modern healthcare facilities

Did you know that there is no statutory requirement for local authorities to provide leisure services, but they do so on a discretionary basis because they apparently recognise the immense value of these services and infrastructure to their communities. However, with local elections on the horizon in May 2024, are you really getting the most from your local authority when it comes to leisure?

Paragraph 96 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)1 - which was last updated in December 2023 - states that local authorities should provide the social, recreational, and cultural facilities and services the community needs. Whilst planning policies and decisions should include the retention and development of accessible local services and community facilities, such as sports venues

However, local authorities are using schools within their areas to bump up their figures, claiming that they do provide enough facilities for the growing number of people wanting to take up recreational activities This includes private schools who make their grounds and pitches available for hire

Leisure services within a local authority’s jurisdiction can include facilities like parks, community centres,

sports complexes, swimming pools, libraries, and cultural venues The plans for leisure can vary widely depending on the priorities and resources of each local authority.

Parks and Green Spaces: Many local authorities prioritise the maintenance and improvement of parks and green spaces, recognising their importance for recreational activities, community events, and environmental wellbeing. Plans may include initiatives to enhance biodiversity, create new walking or cycling trails, and provide more recreational facilities

Sports Facilities: Local authorities often invest in sports facilities such as gyms, sports centres, and playing fields to encourage physical activity and sports participation among its residents Plans may involve upgrading existing facilities, building new ones in underserved areas, and offering subsidised access for low-income families

Sports Think Tank

And Sports Think Tank2 , who are a fully independent think tank dedicated to thorough and insightful thinking around sporting policy in the UK, state on their website that “Local authorities have a

There will be no more Count y Cricket held at the Nevill Ground for future generations ; children have been locked out of changing and storage facilities, where essential equipment is stored; and clubs are lef t wondering where they are going to play next season.

central role to play in the provision of community sport and recreation facilities. From the local parks to leisure centres, local councils enable a huge range of leisure activities and sport to happen ”

But, and although common themes that are used by local authorities include promoting physical and mental wellbeing, fostering community cohesion, and enhancing the quality of life for residents, they really aren’t getting the job done

Looking closer to home

Let’s start with Sevenoaks District Council (SDC) where a lot has been said over the last few years from the collapse of its leisure centre provider (Sencio) to ongoing planning issues for new build stadiums (The Wasps Nest) and small provisions for local sports clubs and

their members (£2,500 awarded per annum to the Sports Council)

Unfortunately, nothing has changed, except for Everyone Active who are doing their best to keep the leisure centres in Sevenoaks and Edenbridge afloat, pun intended, SDC maintain that mere ownership of three leisure centres, a golf course, and an indoor bowls facility is their sports strategy for the district There is no actual plan to do or say anything that will change the sporting landscape in a way to make the area befitting of the wonderful clubs that grace the pitches across the district

Aging leisure centres

Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) are a little better, however they too maintain that ownership of buildings and grass pitches is also their strategy for the future of sports in the area

Last year, a report by TMBC councillors said that an aging leisure centre (the Angel Centre) will need to undergo a major refurbishment or be replaced with a new facility Simply replacing one building for another is not a strategy for the growing number of people wanting to take up recreational activities.

Loss of facilities

We then move on to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council (TWBC) who, by the admission of some of their own councillors, really haven’t got a clue when it comes to sport and recreation. In their Draft Strategic Plan for 20242029, the leader of TWBC, Cllr Ben Chapelard, personally states that: “I believe Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is a force for good” with further references to “supporting our urban and rural communities to flourish and fulfil their potential to be caring, healthy, connected and inclusive”.

However, these statements are not really meaningful, as there will be no more County Cricket held at the Nevill Ground for future generations; children have been locked out of changing and storage facilities, where essential equipment is stored; and clubs are left wondering where they are going to play next season due to insufficient planning by the council themselves, with direct reference to Tunbridge Wells Rugby Club and their pitch at St Marks, and

Tunbridge Wells Foresters use of the pitches at Bayham.

Kent Cricket’s chief executive Simon Storey said it is unlikely Tunbridge Wells will host any more County Championship matches and "whilst a return to the Nevill Ground in 2024 for men's first XI is not scheduled, we want to support the excellent work that is going on locally which ensures cricket continues to be a thriving sport.” This is a direct appreciation of Tunbridge Wells Cricket Club and not that of the council

Was it even worth a response?

West Kent Sport & Wellbeing contacted TWBC specifically to ask them about these recent events, however they simply responded with a standard comment: “The Council is committed to the ongoing provision of sport and leisure including pitches We appreciate the social value attached to sports clubs and try to foster positive relationships with local clubs for the benefit of all” So, if they can’t be bothered to address highlighted cases, what hope is there for the wider community ?

Following up your concerns

If you have any concerns or queries over what your local authority is doing then please contact them directly in the

first instance Searching for the relevant department or person will give you a head start Should you not get the answers you are looking for, then we suggest you contact your local MP for further clarification, we have listed these below for you:

Sevenoaks & District Council

Laura Trott MP

laura.trott.mp@parliament.uk

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

Tom Tugendhat MP

tom.tugendhat.mp@parliament.uk

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Greg Clarke MP

gregclarkmp@parliament.uk

• If you are part of a sports club or local community group that would like to have your say, then please do get in touch with us via our email address at editorial@oneteammedia.co.uk We will be more than happy to publish your content.

1

q The Nevill Ground, the home of Tunbridge Wells Cricket Cub, will not host Count y cricket for the foreseeable future.

Fashion journalism student Bridget Devine gives us the lowdown on hiking fashion for spring and summer.

So far this April, we’ve had a mixture of sunshine and showers – meaning it's the perfect time to get your walking boots on and go hiking We are incredibly lucky to have some beautiful hills and trails across the country

Whether you are bagging Munros in Scotland, roaming the Yorkshire Dales or traversing the Surrey Hills, hiking is a sport for everyone. Keep reading to find out the hottest styles this season for all your outdoor adventures.

Pastel shades, 90’s silhouettes and effortless layering is the blueprint this spring All the best hiking brands have dusty blues and sage greens in their new collections, from Arc’teryx and Rab to Patagonia and The North Face One of the brands that stood out this season was Acai Outdoor A hiking label with Scottish heritage that was founded in 2017 is quickly gaining traction as one of the best brands for ladies hiking attire

The focus is on providing performancewear with all the ‘feeling of cut, flattery and style as couture fashion,’ founder Kasia Bromley said via Instagram The brand's new summer collection features their iconic, quilted Cloud Jacket as well as leggings, shorts and t-shirts in shades of Bluebell Blue, Lily Pad Green and Oatmeal Cream If you are looking for warm outer layers that are moisturewicking and breathable while being incredibly chic and affordable, Acai Outdoor is the place to look Free People is an American label founded in the early 70s in Pennsylvania that is known for women's everyday apparel, however they now offer stylish sportswear for all occasions Their hiking gear is designed for spring weather, offering packable rain jackets, flared walking trousers, all-in-one Runsie’s,

skorts, capri leggings and protective pullovers Their hiking gear is nothing like the stereotypical walking trouser or t-shirt you would find in Cotswold Outdoor or Mountain Warehouse, instead, the styles combine practicality with trendy 70s and 90s design A favourite of mine are the Cascade Flares, walking trousers with a flared silhouette that is not only flattering but also comes in a range of spring colours like Lilac, Moss Green and Sky Blue. Talking of 90s style, one item that has had a resurgence on the runways is capri trousers, which means only one thing - capri leggings are back Lots of brands have three quarter length leggings in store, but some of the best can be found at Adidas, Lululemon and Nike.

This 90s style is channelled in the colourblocked jackets that 66oNorth offer online An Icelandic brand that began dressing fishermen of the North Atlantic in the early 20th century now provides us with some of the best unisex technical wear for hiking, mountaineering and much more The brand's new SS24 Kría capsule collection combines bright spring colours in their 90s colourblocked jackets, bucket hats and t-shirts, all perfect for your hiking adventures this season The brand has prospered since the rise of the ‘Gorpcore’ aesthetic that young people have adopted as a way of styling hiking gear as everyday streetwear The main three items that seem to be all over the streets are lightweight, moisture-wicking fleeces, shell rain jackets and technical walking trousers worn by both men and women This means any hiking gear you invest in this season can be worn in the great outdoors, as well as when going about your day to day errands. So, if you

consciously purchase your outdoor gear this season, you can wear it everyday, not just when exploring the English countryside.

The question you might be asking though is... where are the best hiking trails in the South East? While the South might not be home to mountains or Munros, we have lots of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty From the South Downs and Surrey Hills to the Kent Downs National Landscape, there are coastal hikes along the Seven Sisters and forest trails in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. There’s a range of hikes for hikers of different abilities, plenty in Kent and many only a short drive away, so if you have a quiet weekend coming up, why not put on your new gear and head out into the sunshine But don’t forget your packable parka to cater for the lovely albeit unpredictable English weather.

p Bridget Devine is a Fashion Journalism student in her first year at Central Saint Mar tins - Universit y of the Ar ts London.

The question most prominently asked in the fitness industry is, ‘how do I lose fat?’ This article will aim to explain this, fully equipping you with the knowledge to achieve your goals by emphasising the importance of movement! Firstly, we need to understand the meaning of a calorie deficit and how to use it to your advantage This may be a familiar term, and the good news is that it is scientifically impossible to NOT lose weight while you are in one. Simply, being in a calorie deficit means that your body is consuming LESS calories than it's burning during the day Now while this in itself is a topic for another time, it’s useful because once you know how much you’re consuming, you can optimise your energy expenditure to ensure you’re burning more than you’re taking in That’s the secret to fat loss, and what this article will unpack!

Resting Energy Expenditure: To most effectively use the fat loss tools at your disposal, you have to understand how your body spends its energy during the course of your day. TDEE, or your Total Daily Energy Expenditure, consists of two parts. The first, taking up a massive 70% of your body’s TDEE, is your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) These are the calories your body expends completing basic life-sustaining functions at rest, such as breathing, circulation, cell production and the like What amazing bodies we have!

Non-resting energy expenditure: While 70% of our energy is used for our most basic functions, there is another 30% to account for This is the other 30% of your body’s TDEE, and includes the Thermic Effect of Food, or TEF, using another 10%. This is the energy it takes for your body to digest, absorb and metabolise your food. As a rough example, if you burn 2000 calories a day, around 200 of those will be burnt just from digesting! We’re about to get to the fun part, where we look at the parts of our TDEE that we can really utilise! Namely, EAT, or Exercise Activity Thermogenesis. This is the basic exercise we do in a day, accounting for our hour spent in the gym, at a spin class or anything of the sort Sadly, this only accounts for 5% of your daily expenditure, which leads us to the next point

Non-resting energy expenditure: Have you ever wondered why your trainer keeps telling you to MOVE? Or why your fitness watch is automatically set to a 10,000 step target? This is due to NEAT, or Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, making up a whopping 15% of your total energy expenditure. That’s higher than both your EAT and TEF! Essentially, NEAT is the movement you do OUTSIDE of your normal training. Namely, it ranges from walking the dogs, playing with your kids, cooking a meal or even fidgeting! So unfortunately for fat loss, a really tough training session is just not enough to burn all the calories you need burnt to be in that calorie deficit While 15% may not seem like much, it adds up! And why not make the most of the tools available to you and get out there and increase the calories you expend in a day!

Conclusion: Fat loss can be tricky and daunting, but having the right tools and knowledge will help you get to your goals that much faster Now that you know your stuff, it should make sense why movement is so important So get up, go for a walk and watch your calorie deficit increase! Piece of cake

q Danae van den Berg is Exercise Specialist at the Bet ter Body Group

For more information or any questions , please call the friendly and exper t team on 01732 451979 or email them at info@bet terbodygroup co uk

Danae van den Berg, a strength and conditioning coach at the Bet ter Body Group, answers the most prominently asked question in the fitness industr y.

Mag dalena Mar vell explores the common nutrients and their significance in maintaining overall wellbeing.

As s p r i n g blo s s o ms , s o do e s t h e o ns e t of h ay feve r s e as o n , s c i e nt i f i c a l ly k n ow n as a l le rg i c rhi nit i s ( A R ) It ' s a c o m m o n a f f l i c t i o n , a f fe c t i n g a ro u n d 1 0 -1 5 % of chi ld re n a n d 2 6 % of a d u l t s i n t h e U K , as re p o r te d by Al le rgy U K D i d yo u k n ow t h at t h e N H S s p e n d s a h e f ty £ 1 3 6 mi l l i o n a n n u a l ly o n p re s c r i b i n g m e d i c at i o ns fo r h ay feve r ?

Wo rld He a l t h O rga ni s at i o n ' s l i s t of a l le rg i c d i s e as e s e n c o m p as s e s a w i de r a n g e of c o n d it i o ns , i n cl u d i n g as t h m a , rhi nit i s , c o n ju n c t iv it i s , a n d m o re

T h e s e a l le rg i e s c a n b e t r i g g e re d by va r i o us fa c to r s , s u ch as fo o d s , d r u gs , o r i ns e c t b ite s

C u r re nt ly, a ro u n d 1 b i l l i o n p e o ple wo rldw i de a re g r a p pl i n g w it h a l le rg i e s . Ex p e r t s e s t i m ate t h at t hi s n u m b e r c o u ld sky ro cke t to a s ta g g e r i n g 4 b i l l i o n w it hi n t h e n ex t

3 0 to 4 0 ye a r s

B ut h e re ' s a n i nte re s t i n g t w i s t : e m e rg i n g re s e a rch s u g g e s t s t h at o u r g ut h e a l t h m ay pl ay a c r u c i a l role i n h ay feve r a n d a l le rg i e s . S c i e nt i s t s a re d iv i n g i nto t h e fas c i n at i n g wo rld of l ive c u l t u re s , ex plo r i n g h ow t h e s e b e n e f i c i a l b a c te r i a c o u ld p ote nt i a l ly a l lev i ate h ay feve r s y m pto ms

R e s e a rch h as reve a le d a fas c i n at i n g c o n n e c t i o n b e t we e n b i rch p ol le n a l le rgy a n d ch a n g e s i n t h e c o m p o s it i o n of fe c a l mi c rob i ota 1

I n a n ota ble s t u dy, a s p e c i f i c c o m b i n at i o n of p rob i ot i c s was fo u n d to b e p a r t i c u l a rly e f fe c t ive . Not o n ly d i d t hi s c o m b i n at i o n p reve nt t h e i n f i l t r at i o n of e o s i n o phi l s i nto t h e n as a l m u c o s a t r i g g e re d by p ol le n ex p o s u re , b ut it a l s o sh owe d p ro mi s i n g t re n d s i n re d u c i n g n as a l s y m pto ms as s o c i ate d w it h t h e a l le rgy

It ' s a l l a b o ut b a c te r i a l d ive r s ity i n o u r g ut , i n f l u e n c e d by fa c to r s l i ke o u r e nv i ro n m e nt , d i e t , a n d eve n o u r cle a n l i n e s s h a b it s By n u r t u r i n g a d ive r s e a r r ay of g ut b a c te r i a , we mi g ht jus t g ive o u r i m m u n e s y s te m t h e b o o s t it n e e d s to ta ck le h ay feve r a n d ot h e r a l le rg i e s h e a d - o n 2 . L a c tob a c i l l us a c i do phi l us N C F M ® a n d B i f i dob a c te r i u m l a c t i s B l - 0 4 ® a re t wo p owe r f u l s t r ai ns of l ive c u l t u re s t h at h ave b e e n p ut to t h e te s t i n cl i ni c a l t r i a l s rel ate d to h ay feve r

Emerging research suggests that our gut health may play a crucial role in hay fever and allergies. Scientists are diving into the fascinating world of live cultures, exploring how these beneficial bacteria could potentially alleviate hay fever symptoms.

The results?

They've shown a remarkable ability to reduce the presence of eosinophils in the nasal area

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell associated with allergic reactions, including hay fever So, by targeting and reducing their presence in the nasal passages, these beneficial bacteria could potentially offer relief from the symptoms of hay fever3

It's exciting news for hay fever sufferers, as it highlights the promising role that specific strains of live cultures may play in managing allergic conditions.

Research indicates that a probiotic formulation containing Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria could hold the key to alleviating symptoms associated with seasonal allergies A fusion protein of probiotics presents a promising and innovative avenue for enhancing the

effectiveness of allergic rhinitis treatment4 However, further studies are needed to fully understand the clinical efficacy of probiotics in this context

These studies should focus on refining the selection and design of appropriate study populations, as well as ensuring the safety of probiotic use.

References

1 ncbi nlm nih gov/pmc/articles/ PMC2710782

2 ncbi nlm nih gov/pmc/articles/ PMC7 753943

3 ncbi nlm nih gov/pmc/articles/ PMC5829361

4. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ PMC3784923

Magdalena Mar vell is a Nutritional Therapist and founder of the Persea Clinic which helps suppor t clients who want to optimise their health in areas such as gut health, weight management , hormonal balance and skin conditions Magdalena also consults from the Children's Wellness Centre in Tunbridge Wells where she offers baby, child and adolescent nutritional suppor t To find out more about Magdalena’s work please visit www.persea.clinic and childrenswellnesscentre co uk/kent/ nutritional- therapy

Healthy recipes with Magdalena -Sauerkraut salad

Refreshing, crunchy, with a balance of tanginess and sweetness, this simple Sauerkraut Salad is not just healthy it's incredibly tasty too! Packed with probiotics, it makes a fantastic addition to your lunch, helping to support gut health and potentially alleviate hay fever symptoms

Ingredients:

• 510 g (approximately 3 cups) drained sauerkraut (opt for raw/fermented sauerkraut for probiotics and a fresher, crisper taste)

• 2 medium sweet apples, diced

• 80 g finely chopped onion

• 4.5 g chopped chives and coriander

• 28 g sunflower oil (important for flavour; do not substitute with another oil)

• 4 g honey

• Salt to taste

How to make it:

Mix sauerkraut, apples, onion, chives and coriander in a large bowl Whisk oil, honey, and salt, then pour over the salad and stir. Adjust salt to taste. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving Enjoy cold or at room temperature

Make y our busine s s par t of the loc al communit y w ith We s t K ent Spor t & Wellbeing!

West Kent Sport & Wellbeing magazine is an independent publication, dedicated to the local West Kent community The publication provides a platform to thousands of local sporting individuals, clubs, societies, schools and charities every month, bringing to the community their news, their stories, raising awareness and highlighting their profiles

As a free to pick up publication, the magazine is funded by advertisers, therefore as an advertiser with West Kent Sport & Wellbeing, you are directly supporting the platform that helps promote the community’s grassroots sports and local wellbeing charities

You are demonstrating to the local community that you are passionate about their stories being heard and you are impassioned and care about the future success of our local clubs and societies

Community is at the heart of every club and it has never been so vital for their future, and loyalty in supporting one another has never been so valued So if you think your business would benefit from becoming part of the West Kent Sport & Wellbeing community, please contact us about advertising today at advertising@oneteammedia.co.uk.