SPEEDWAY legend Barry Briggs believes every rider played their part for the history making Swindon Robins side of 1967.

Swindon’s recent SGB Premiership success could not have been better timed, with the team’s heroics coming on the 50th anniversary of the club’s maiden British title victory.

Four-time world champion Briggs was the spearhead of that side, carding a hefty final league average of 11.05.

However, he was ably supported by captain Mike Broadbank, Martin Ashby and Bob Kilby, who all averaged over eight points across the season, and New Zealander Briggs says it was down to a whole team effort that enabled Swindon to be crowned national champions for the very first time.

“It was a good team and we were all good mates, which helped us to win,” said Briggs.

“We weren’t a team of stars, we were a team of really good racers who knew what we wanted to do and circumstances meant we were able to do it that year.

“To be honest, I think we could have done it a couple of times but we did it once, which was the main thing.

“That team was a well-grounded team with guys who I always thought were under-rated riders – people like Martin Ashby, Mike Broadbank and Bob Kilby.

“It produced when we needed to produce, which is difficult in speedway.

“Sometimes it does feel that long ago and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s my past life, I do a lot of different things these days so speedway is not my main focus but when I look back at my years at Swindon, it was a special time.”

Briggs was a guest of honour during the first leg of the Premiership Grand Final against Wolverhampton Wolves earlier this month and the visit to teh Abbey Stadium brought back fond memories for the Kiwi.

“I got out of my car and I remembered just how cold it was in Swindon,” said Briggs.

“When I was riding here I used to have my biggest jacket at the beginning of the season and the end of the season because if you get cold, you get more nervous. It’s not good to be nervous on a speedway bike.

“It was good to see everybody. There is a decreasing number of you when you get old, people are falling off their perch, but it was great to come back and see everyone again.”