YOUNG Brit Darryl Ritchings has admitted it would be a dream come true if he was drafted by Swindon Robins today.

Elite League bosses meet this afternoon for what is the first draft in Elite League history, where two young British riders will be chosen by each team to fill their reserve positions for 2014.

The Purton teenager, who the Advertiser last Friday revealed as one of the young British riders eligible to be drafted today, is keen to make the jump up to the top tier despite not yet having ridden full-time in the Premier League.

Ritchings knows the step up in standard will be a tough one, and while he would love the chance to ride for any of the 10 Elite League club it’s the Robins who hold a special place in his heart.

“There are no two ways about it, it’s going to be difficult, but it is a good thing for everyone and it’s great they’ve finally done it,” he said.

“It will bring some young riders along, I know it, and being around some of the top riders will be great. Even little things like being in the pits with them will be really helpful.

“We can look at set-ups and get some advice which will really teach us a few things, and we wouldn’t get all that if we just carried on in the National League.

“If you are riding National League as well you are going to be getting plenty of time on the bike so it’s all good. If you can do Elite, Premier and National then that would be perfect.

“If I was asked to be in the league it would have to be Swindon because I have been going up there weekly since I was two, so to ride for them would be a dream for me.”

Ritchings spent last season with Isle of Wight in the third tier and would love to return to Smallbrook if the island club can sort out their money issues.

“I had a really good time there last year and I would love to go back if given the chance,” he said.

“The National League hasn’t had their AGM yet so I will have to wait for that really, but I would like to be at the Isle of Wight. If I can’t go there I will have to go somewhere else.

“I’ve not had any contact from the Premier League either but it’s still quite early.”

Swindon’s Ben Reade is also eligible for the two-round draft, which will see the Elite League teams pick in reverse order depending on their final league positions in 2013. The club with the lowest graded rider from round one will pick first in the second round.

Four riders, Kyle Newman (Poole) Adam Ellis (Lakeside) Lewis Kerr (King’s Lynn) and Ashley Morris (Wolverhampton) are protected picks, meaning only their parent clubs can select them in the first round.

RIDERS ELIGIBLE TO DRAFT (listed in ranking order): Lewis Kerr, Jason Garrity, Kyle Newman, Lewis Blackbird, Stefan Nielsen, Adam Ellis, Ashley Morris, Paul Starke, Joe Jacobs, Tom Perry, Simon Lambert, Steve Worrall, Lee Smart, Ben Reade, Josh Bates, Daniel Halsey, James Sarjeant, Ben Morley, Ben Hopwood, Lewis Rose, Max Clegg, Darryl Ritchings, Dan Greenwood.