With team building for their forthcoming National Development Trophy campaign nearing completion, the Kent Eagles management team now welcome Nathan Hargrave to the fold to become their sixth signing.
A powerful looking heat leader trio that includes Ben Morley, Vinnie Foord and Nathan Ablitt having already been assembled and Jamie Etherington and Charlie Wood seeming set to form a potentially potent reserve duo the Iwade club bosses remain aware that a strong middle order is equally as important and to those ends, they regard 32-year-old Hargrave as a perfect fit.
Having contested the 2024 season at Iwade in the NORA League with the Kent Kings Hargrave’s recruitment is sure to be popular with the more local patrons.
As with each of the other’s so far named, Hargrave found a love of bikes and started competing at an early age. He first cut his teeth at junior grass track level at the tender age of five and over the next five years he was a committed participant alongside attending Speedway meetings.
At 10-years old he and his family took a hiatus from both the grass and shale disciplines of the sport, but his interest was reawakened in no small way some 19-years later.
This moment saw him attend a practice day and he enjoyed it so much it compelled him to begin contesting amateur meetings once more in 2021.
The progress and renewed enthusiasm were rapid, so much so that the 2022 season proved a busy one with amateur meetings undertaken at Scunthorpe and Lydd as well as Iwade and during this time Hargrave also represented the Mildenhall Fen Tigers as a number eight.
2023 saw him contest second half championships in successful and winning fashion at Iwade while continuing to compete in other meetings.
The 2024 campaign proved something of a breakthrough year with regular appearances both as a part of the Kent King’s NORA League side and also on the Isle of Wight. The continuing promise and progress that Hargrave demonstrated throughout this time certainly did not go unnoticed with him being recognised as ‘most improved rider’ at both venues.
Looking forward to the coming season as a Kent Eagle, Hargrave commented “I’m happy that the Eagles picked me to be a part of their team, both for bike time and to represent Kent / Sussex again’
‘With the strong team we have, I feel like it will be a brilliant season”, he concluded.
Words and Images by Kent Eagles
