Join Abby Hook with a very special round-up of Kent's sporting action as the show celebrates its 100th episode and producer Bartholomew Hall runs through some of the highlights from over the years.
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00:00Hello and welcome along to Invictus Sport, the only show on your TV dedicated to wrapping
00:20up all of Kent's sporting action. I'm Abbey Hooke and here's what to expect on this Monday
00:254th November. Dover delight. Jake LeBell's Whites extend
00:31their Isthmian Premier domination at home. Italy's calling. Norfleet Academy basketballers
00:38shock local support with first European win. And a century scored for Invictus Sport. We're
00:45celebrating our 100th episode. But first, a round-up of the headlines. Dover's
00:52Jake Dixon lost out on third place to his team-mate after he slowed down on the penultimate
00:57lap in Sunday's Moto2 Malaysian Grand Prix. The Aspar team racer started in 12th and did
01:04put in an impressive ride to run in the top three, but slowed down with some believing
01:09he's miscalculated when the race had ended. With the season finale due to be held in Valencia
01:14on the 15th November, that race has now been cancelled due to the ongoing floods disaster
01:19out in Spain. Dixon's team have since launched a fundraiser with more than 90,000 euros raised
01:25so far. Two Kent kit boxing instructors have travelled to Greece to represent Team GB at
01:31the European Championships. Ben Fillingham from Sevenoaks and Hildenborough's Alex Chalk
01:37have earned their spots on the national team after years of hard work, coaching and dedicating
01:41time to the sport, working with Miles Martial Arts in the west of the county. Taking place
01:47at the iconic Olympic Stadium until this Sunday, the championships will see some of
01:51the best European talents going head to head. The pair say it's an absolute honour to represent
01:56their country. The junior triathlon arm of the Sittingbourne Striders has marked its
02:02extraordinary growth of reaching 70 members in just 18 months, with a photo in the sky.
02:09The special drone picture spelling out the club's initials was taken at the Sittingbourne
02:13School, where the club goes for running. Meanwhile, the club also uses the Bayford
02:17Meadows track for cycling, and the private pool at the Kent Science Park for their swimming.
02:22Having opened the group in May 2023, the hope is to continue growing and encouraging more
02:26people to get active. Lovely to see young people staying fit and trying something new
02:31as well. Take a look at this. It's the moment bested FC goalkeeper Frankie Leonard performed
02:40what he described as the weirdest save he's ever made. The moment came as the number one
02:46was faced with what seemed a certain goal from opposing side Fischer, but the talented
02:50keeper flung himself in the way of the ball, despite having his foot trapped in the net.
02:56Bested went on to win 1-0, so it's safe to say that Leonard definitely put his foot in
03:01it to deny his opponents a win. My editor put that joke in there. The video has since
03:05been seen by thousands online and had international sports coverage. Staying with football, let's
03:12take a look back at this weekend's results, where FA Cup fever returned to Kent, as three
03:17of our sides including Maidstone United, Tunbridge Angels and Gillingham all headed into the
03:21first round proper, looking for a magic run. Meanwhile, Dothra Athletic were on a hunt
03:26of their own, extending their highly successful opening to the season as the Whites welcomed
03:31Potters Bar Town. Here's Bartholomew with the highlights. We start this week with a
03:36return to the mega community stadium as top sitters in the Izmian League Premier Division
03:41Dover Athletic looked to build on their recent form, welcoming Potters Bar Town in front
03:45of a crowd of 742. The hosts wasted no time setting the tone though, just four minutes
03:51in George Wilkington came close with a shot just over the bar. But it wasn't until the
03:5615th minute their persistence paid off. Ruben Suarez Jr. expertly connected with a cross
04:01from Luke Baptiste, putting the Whites ahead with a well-taken finish. Dover didn't let
04:08up there though. A swift counter-attack in the 26th minute saw Wilkinson turning provider
04:16setting up Alfie Matthews, who calmly slotted it home to double the lead. Despite a couple
04:26of close calls for Potters Bar, Dover's defence led by captain Mitch Walker held firm, with
04:31the home side taking a two-goal advantage into halftime. The second half saw Dover continuing
04:37to press, with Potters Bar struggling to mount any serious threat. Francis Mampolo had multiple
04:42chances but couldn't find a way past the keeper, whilst Baptiste's close-range shot was blocked
04:48and Suarez Jr. fired just over the bar. Then in added time, Mampolo capped off the performance
04:54in the fifth minute of added time, securing the points with a composed finish and giving
04:58Dover their third. Final score, Dover Athletic 3, Potters Bar 0.
05:04Elsewhere, Dover's next opponents Folkestone and Victor lost out to Carchelton, despite
05:09leading at the break, whilst Chatham Town drew 1-0 with Lewis and Dartford had a goalless
05:13draw hosting Cray Valley. The weekend's results leave Dover on top in the table, with a gap
05:17of two points to Billericay. Folkestone are 13th, Dartford 15th and Chatham 16th.
05:25In the FA Cup, three Kent teams had a chance to extend their run to the second round proper
05:29this weekend. Gillingham welcomed former player Steve Bruce's blackpool to Priestfield, with
05:34the League Two side unable to hold off the League One visitors, being knocked out thanks
05:38to a goal in either half. Despite it being his seventh game winless, manager Mark Bonner
05:43remained positive about his team's performance.
05:45In a funny kind of way, I really hope the lads can take some confidence from some of
05:51what we asked them to do. But it is hard to do that off a defeat and it's hard to do
05:54it when you're in a run of not winning games. But we weren't able to find good enough moments
06:01and turn down some good moments where we could have created a chance or set play opportunities
06:06where we didn't get deliveries right and things like that. Those little snapshots moments
06:11where you need real quality, we didn't find enough of.
06:14Meanwhile, Maidstone travelled to Solihull, where their hopes at replicating last season's
06:18FA Cup epic came to an end, with the Higher League Moors not holding back, 3-0 was the
06:23score there.
06:24And finally, a record crowd of more than 3,100 packed into Longmead to watch Tunbridge as
06:29the National League South side failed to reach the second round for the first time ever against
06:33Harborough. 4-1 was the final score and whilst a stoppage time consolation goal gave the
06:38Angels fans something to cheer about, it was down and out of the cup for this year.
06:42All three sides can now put their focus back to their league journeys, with plenty more
06:46drama expected as their seasons continue.
06:53And now, Maidstone United Football Club have been marking remembrance with a parade on
06:57their grounds. With Royal British Legion Industries, the club organised an inclusive event so those
07:02with disabilities can take part. Organisers say the annual tradition should be accessible
07:07to everyone as it's about paying tribute to a key part of history. Henry Luck was at the
07:12event.
07:19The disability branch of the Maidstone United Football Club Raiders are paying tribute by
07:25bringing remembrance to the players and public.
07:29Straight after training, bugle players and standard bearers marched onto the pitch to
07:35deliver a hearing and a performance of the last post, serving the purpose of teaching
07:41about the tradition.
07:42We have the flag bearers, the bugle player and some of the servicemen march the players
07:50out and obviously give them a life experience and obviously teach them about the reason
07:58we have freedom today and people that gave their lives for that reason. So basically
08:04it's educating our disability players on their history.
08:10As someone on the autistic spectrum, going to remembrance parades like this one here
08:16at Gallagher Stadium is really helpful for me because I only need to take a five minute
08:22train journey to Maidstone Barracks and then only a ten minute walk.
08:28The procession at the football club is now in its second year and has been met with a
08:33similar successful turnout.
08:35There's 21 teams here, all different disabilities and they don't usually attend anything like
08:42a remembrance service because it's not in their comfort zone and it's a bit loud for
08:46some of them. But when Lorraine asked me to do it last year, I thought yeah, come on,
08:51we'll do that. And it turned out to be fantastic. They all appreciate the fact that we've come
08:55special to give them that service which they wouldn't normally attend and I thought well,
09:00let's go and do that and make sure that everyone gets a remembrance service, whatever their
09:04age and disability.
09:05Also included in the march are veterans, members of the Royal British Legion and Kent Fire
09:12Brigade.
09:13Remembrance is for everybody. It don't matter whether you're disabled, able, or anything.
09:19You're all there to remember the people who gave it their all so that we can do a service
09:25like this.
09:26Remembrance Sunday will take place on Sunday 10th November, where Kent will be united in
09:33remembering the glorious dead.
09:35Henry Luck for KMTV in Maidstone.
09:41Now we've reached half time on today's episode but there's just a few added minutes to take
09:45a look back at this week's Action Replay. It's a segment where we take a look at the
09:49clips and pictures that you, the KMTV audience, have sent in of you taking part in sport.
09:54Let's see what we've got in store on this week's Action Replay.
09:58First up on tonight's Action Replay, the Kennington Juniors under 8s have raised more than £2,500
10:03for East Kent Hospital's charity. Players aged between 6 to 8 were shooting non-stop
10:10for three hours and, according to coach Craig Normal, they all showcased skill and incredible
10:15levels of dedication, despite getting a little tired towards the end. The money raised will
10:21go to the Celia Blakey chemotherapy unit after it cared for one of the team members' grandmother.
10:28Next up, meet the Otford-based St Michael's Prep School under-11 girls hockey team, who
10:33have become champions of the IAPS regional hockey tournament, qualifying themselves for
10:38the Nationals. Taking on Kent College Canterbury in the regional final, the team finished on
10:43a high with a 2-0 victory, but it didn't come easy. The team flew through the tournament
10:48scoring 27 goals in 7 matches and not conceding at all.
10:54All eyes to the National Finals in Repton now, where the team will be looking to retain
10:58their title for the third year running, and we wish them a big good luck.
11:03And finally, local midwife Dana Jensen has been training to take on the London Marathon
11:08next year. Both Dana and her fiancé Charlie put in for the ballot. He wasn't chosen, but
11:13she was. Now with a goal of completing in five and a half hours, she's looking to raise
11:20for the East Kent Hospital charities. Despite not running since school, with help from her
11:25fiancé, Jensen planned on completing 10k before Christmas, but has already succeeded
11:30in this goal. Her next step is a half marathon. Already making fantastic progress, we wish
11:36Dana the best of luck.
11:38That is it for this week's Action Replay. Don't forget, it could be you in next week's
11:42edition. Just send your pictures and videos on social media or to sport at kmtv.co.uk.
11:50Now we've reached half time, which means it's time for a break, but coming up, more sports
11:54news from right across Kent.
14:50Hello and welcome back to Invicta Sport live on KMTV. Now, students at Northfleet Technology
15:17College's Basketball Academy have been shining, not just for the county, but for the whole
15:21country as they've travelled to Italy for their first European Championships. Finishing
15:26with three group wins and one loss, they even beat the undefeated CAB, Stamura and Kona
15:32in front of their hometown crowd in Rosseto. Well, I caught up with two of the team members
15:37earlier today to discuss their success and more about the sport they love so much.
15:44Feeling very excited. Going into it, it was a new competition, playing against teams in
15:48Europe, we didn't know what to really expect. And I think we smashed it, we did a good,
15:52good and amazing job.
15:54Yeah, I feel like we always came with the mental of like, having it, being in the landing
15:58experience, being this is going to be the first time, you know, we've played any European
16:02teams. So it really just came in with the mental mentality to come in and just learn,
16:07even if we win or lose, always trying to learn from this. Yeah, it's a great experience.
16:12Sounds like you've got a great mentality as young basketball players as well. Joel,
16:16we'll start with you. Tell us about your experience and where you found your love of basketball.
16:23I started playing basketball in Year 11. It was mainly because of my best friend, he got
16:29me into basketball and used to play. And then one of my other friends, Adrian, he invited
16:33me to come to the academy. And since then, my love for basketball just kept going up
16:38and up. And with the help from the coaches, having access to amazing facilities, there's
16:42nothing more I can ask for.
16:44And Seko, did you have anyone in particular that inspired you?
16:48Yeah, in Year 11, I started playing basketball. It was actually my friend, Edward. We became
16:54very close in Year 11 by playing basketball. And he founded this academy at North York
17:00and then the rest of the district.
17:03And what's the rest of the team like? You're all part of the basketball academy. So you're
17:08playing with each other day in, day out. What's that like, I suppose, as young athletes, all
17:12trying to find your own personality within the game, but also working as a team, of course?
17:19I feel like at the academy, we're just like a big family. We see each other literally
17:24every day for hours. I literally see these guys more than I see my parents. It's crazy.
17:30So I would say it's really like a big family. If you need to lean on anyone, you really
17:35can. The coaches are basically like your father. It's just a really big family.
17:39Well, as any family, then, do you ever fall out?
17:41Um...
17:43Yeah, that happens.
17:45On the court, off the court, who knows?
17:49Talk about facing some difficult things as well. You come back from 11 points down
17:55after beating the local favourites. Incredible stuff. One that you're, I imagine, really
17:59proud of. But how do you face those moments where you are 11 points down? And for those
18:04that might not know basketball, is that quite a big difference in points? Or is that easy
18:08to come around because the game can change so quickly?
18:12I mean, when you're 11 points down, depending on the point in the game, you never give up.
18:17Like, for me personally, when I was playing in that game, even when we were 11 points
18:22down, like, honestly, you know that you're 11 points, but you're not really thinking
18:26about it. You're not thinking like, oh, we're 11 points down, oh, we're losing, we're losing.
18:30You're thinking next play, next play, next play. Because it's the plays after that is
18:34what determines whether you win the game or not. And obviously, you have many big players
18:37which ended up bringing us back to tie game and then eventually beating them by seven
18:42or eight points. So basketball is a game of runs. They could have been up one time,
18:46then next time up for the rest of the game. And that's how we win.
18:49And Seki, when you do walk away with a loss, whether it's in training or whether it's
18:53out on the court within a game, how do you stay resilient? What sort of keeps you going
18:57and keeps that never give up attitude bouncing between you as well?
19:02Really, I feel like it's like reflecting on the game. Like, really, the coaches really
19:08be helping us through it. Like, we've got our coach, Kieran. He's really been helping
19:14me, especially when it comes to difficulties in the game or my performances in the game.
19:18And even as a collective, as a team, whenever we lose, he's always there to pick us back
19:22up and each other.
19:24And finally, this is just a small part of the competition we're talking about, of your
19:30journeys overall and hopefully taking your professional career all the way. How old
19:36are you both as well?
19:38I'm 18. I'm 17.
19:41So you're so young starting off this journey as well. Is this the goal? Is this the dream?
19:45Do you want to take it all the way? How does that journey look like as well, especially
19:49here in Kent? What's the accessibility like to the sport for young people?
19:54I mean, normally it's like one of the best academies in Kent, I would say, along with
20:00our partners, Canterbury. So what I've been reiterating by my coaches is that this portion
20:09is just the beginning. It's a small bit of your journey, whether it's to become a pro
20:14or in your life. So you really have to cherish this, because what you learn in basketball
20:20doesn't only help you become a better athlete, but it also helps you become a better person
20:24in general, like your personality and things like that. So our time in Norfleet on our
20:29journey to becoming a pro is maybe like 10% of the journey. After here, wherever you go
20:35next, there's still so much more to work on.
20:38And Sekou, outside of the academy you're part of, is there enough out there to influence
20:44and encourage young people to get into basketball, to get into sport in general, but in particular
20:50sport? It doesn't seem spoken enough, I suppose, here in the UK. It's something that's really
20:55common over in the US, but perhaps we don't see enough of it. Would you agree with that?
21:00Yeah, I feel like I do agree. I think it's gotten better in the past years. But with
21:05me, when I got into basketball, it was more of like the secondary school that I was going
21:10to. They used to do after-school clubs. So that's where I really met Edward, and that's
21:16how I became friends. So I feel like they could do better when it comes to getting children
21:22to try and play basketball, try and enjoy the sport. Yeah, I definitely do agree with
21:26that.
21:28I'm not going to try and compete with you both and say I'm on your level in any which
21:31way, but I did start basketball at an after-school and before-school club as well. And I will
21:36just add, I did get MVP. So perhaps I'll join you on the court for a game. What do you reckon?
21:42Maybe we'll see. We'll see. Yeah, maybe, yeah.
21:44I've got a good lay-up in me, trust me.
21:49I'll let you shoot. I'll let you shoot, yeah.
21:52Congratulations to you both. Thank you so much for joining us for Invicta Sport today.
21:55Thank you, thank you.
21:57I don't think I'll be joining Norfleet Academy any time soon.
22:01Well, finally, this evening, every Monday evening, we bring you a brand new episode
22:04of KMTV's sports show, Invicta Sport. Well, today is a very special episode because it
22:10is, in fact, the show's 100th. With news, interviews and features from across Kent's
22:14sporting landscape, the show has brought us a close-up view on Maidstone United's historic
22:19FA Cup run, Kent's vital role in Team GB's Olympic gold success, to giving a platform
22:27to the unknown sporting heroes right across our county. Well, to look back over it all,
22:31the show's producer, Bartholomew, joins me in the studio now. I can't believe it, 100 episodes.
22:37I know, it's come around so quick. Obviously, I get the joy of putting together this show
22:42every week and I get to see that number rising and rising. I think about all the people that
22:46we've spoken to on this programme, all the exciting things that we've gone off and done
22:51and tried out. Because Kent has such a broad sporting landscape, it's just been so fun
22:57to explore.
22:59And what are some of the really key moments, I suppose, the inspiration that come before this?
23:05Yeah, I mean, Invicta Sport isn't KMTV's first sports show, but when we came to making a
23:10new one, we wanted to build something from the ground up that reflects what Kent has
23:14to offer. Invicta, obviously, being the Kent motto. It's Italian, no, Italian, it's Latin
23:20for, it's Latin, it's because we were talking to North Fleet who went to Italy. No, it's
23:26Latin for undefeated and it really, it's a word that you find again and again in many
23:31of our sports clubs, focusing on Invicta to name one. Many of our sports clubs have it
23:36in their name and it's that fighting spirit that you see in Kent.
23:40And what are some of those really key moments from those 100 episodes?
23:43Well, of course, you mentioned one of them that really stands out to me was following
23:46Maidstone United, following what would maybe on a national scale be seen as quite a small
23:51football club, making it on the national scale, making it to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
23:56Because for us here in the county, Maidstone United is a big club. It's one of our biggest
24:01in the county and it's got such a huge following, pulls in thousands of people to come along
24:05and see their league matches every week. And that's really reflective of what we can offer
24:10here. And we actually have a bit of a montage of some of those best parts of Invicta over
24:13the last 100 episodes to show you now.
24:16Hello and welcome to KMTV's brand new show, Invicta Sport.
24:20The season hasn't quite started yet, so I'm not here to catch a match. Instead, I'm meeting
24:24the man who in a few weeks' time is going to get quite used to the sight of these.
24:29Whilst I didn't have a bike of my own, Danny made sure to include me in his training nonetheless.
24:34I think this will probably be one of the last years of my career. I'm getting a bit old
24:38now, but the body's starting to feel it. This is less about just making a team, but fulfilling
24:43my potential, whatever that may be, and giving it my all.
24:47Well, Kenny joins me now. Thank you very much for taking the time today and welcome on to
24:51the show.
24:52The club's disappeared. It's trying to come back, trying to come back in the championship.
24:57The Seven Oaks have been very welcome to us and Kent, so we just felt this was the best
25:02place. It's got a great rugby heritage down there. There's a lot of clubs.
25:07It was the most tough tournament we ever had. It was a heatwave in Brazil, so it was 37
25:14degrees.
25:16In fact, he only actually picked up shooting after going through rehab for a life-changing
25:20injury six years ago.
25:23Your world's changed. Yeah, this is my biggest enemy and also my best friend.
25:30I'm here today, though, to check out one of the setups for one of the nation's first eSports
25:34qualifications.
25:35I want to go to university and there I want to study team management, where I can hopefully
25:40one day in the future be able to be in charge of my own eSports team.
25:43If you weren't shooting at the Olympics, what do you think you'd be doing back here in the
25:47county?
25:49I'm not entirely sure. My dad was a car dealer, so maybe I would have followed his footsteps
25:55a bit more.
25:56We might not be Mercedes or McLaren, but the KMTV Racing team is ready to give it our best
26:00shot. What do we think, guys?
26:01Yeah, we got it.
26:02We're ready.
26:03Totally got it.
26:04For centuries, Invicta has been the Kent motto. Translated from Latin, it means undefeated,
26:08and it's that unrelenting spirit of our county that echoes through all our sporting stars
26:13at all levels. From our professional players to our grassroots heroes, this is your show.
26:18So get in touch, and you might just be sat here with me in the studio in the coming weeks
26:22to tell your story. But for now, this is Invicta Sport. Are you ready?
26:29So lots to pick from there, but Abby, what was your favourite moment?
26:32I really did enjoy KMTV's racing team. I think round two's on the cards, and I'll definitely
26:37beat you and Gabriel. Again. Again, my IAD.
26:40That's all we've got time for for Invicta Sport's 100th episode. I'll see you again
26:44next week. Bye-bye.
26:47Bye-bye.