insideKENT Magazine Issue 49 - April 2016 | Page 13

NEWS

17-YEAR-OLD KENT-BASED MOTORSPORT STAR TO DRIVE IN BTRDA
CLUBMANS RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP
Engine detox specialist EDT
Automotive has agreed to sponsor
Kent-based motorsport star Fred
Ling in the 2016 Autosport
International British Trials and Rally
Drivers Association (BTRDA)
Clubmans Rallycross
Championship.

Established in 1977, the BTRDA
Clubmans Rallycross Championship
is known as the wildchild of
motorsport. It recently received a
boost from Top Gear when Jeremy
Clarkson, Richard Hammond and
James May competed at Lydden
Hill.

Currently studying A-levels at
Homewood School in Tenterden,
Ling was named best newcomer in
the 2015 series despite missing the
first round because he was four
days too young. He celebrated his
17th birthday the day before this
year's Championship in March, held
at the Blyton circuit in Lincolnshire.

Fred said: "I remember watching
my dad do Rallycross and thinking
I'd like to do that. Now I am, so it
really is a dream come true. I won
an Autograss event in a 1000cc
Mini but it was a big step up last
year. My Saxo has modified
suspension to cope with both dirt
and tarmac, we've got a new engine
and the sponsorship from EDT will

help us to tweak a few other bits. I've also just bought my first road car, a
1.2 Vauxhall Corsa with 85,000 miles on the clock, and I'll definitely be
getting the EDT treatment on that – it certainly needs more power!"
David Holmes, managing director at EDT Automotive, said: "Fred is an
exceptional young driver and we're delighted to be associated with him.”

CANTERBURY FESTIVAL POET OF THE YEAR 2016

The popular and much respected Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year
Competition has been launched for its 10th year and all poets are cordially
invited to submit their work.

is then chosen and the poets invited to read their work at the Awards
Evening on Friday 7 October, when the Poet of the Year is announced.
The Winner receives the University of Kent Prize of £200; second place
receives £100 and third £50. In addition the Best Read Poem (read by the
poet) receives bottle of sparkling wine and the People’s Choice which is
chosen by the audience on the night, receives £25.

Organised by the Friends of Canterbury Festival the competition has grown
over the years into a truly international event attracting entries from every
continent except Antarctica. Among the 279 poems submitted in 2015
were entries from America, Australia, all over Europe and every corner of
Britain and Ireland.

This year the Competition is being launched on 7th March. Entry forms and
Terms and Conditions may be downloaded from the Canterbury Festival
website (www.canterburyfestival.co.uk) or are available from the Canterbury
Festival office. Entries cost £5.00 for each poem and must be received by
the closing date of 17th June. So all poets and potential poets, riddlers and
rhymers send your entries to Tina at the Festival Office for a chance to
receive the accolade of Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year.

This year’s judges are Luigi Marchini of SaveAs Writers Group, Abegail
Morley, Poet