LOCAL rider Darryl Ritchings is eager for one more memorable night at the Abbey Stadium before Swindon Robins begin racing at their new home next season.

Ritchings, who hails from Purton, has a life-long affiliation with the town’s speedway club, from watching as a fan from the banks at Blunsdon as a child to being signed up to ride for the team while still in his teens.

A horror crash at the Abbey back in April 2014 left Ritchings in an induced coma and forced him into a long spell on the sidelines, and although it cut short his place on the roster of his hometown team, he has been a dependable guest booking for boss Alun Rossiter ever since he returned to racing.

With more laps at the track under his belt than he cares to remember, Ritchings hopes that they can pay dividends when he gets what could be a final chance to race competitively at the venue this evening.

He will captain a Swindon Sprockets side in a National League challenge match against Coventry Storm – a meeting that the club are using to test the response ahead of the 2017 season when they may enter a second team in the third tier of the sport “I can’t wait and it’s going to be even more special the fact that I am captain. I know it’s just a challenge meeting but it really does mean a lot,” said 21-year-old Ritchings.

“I will probably put more pressure on myself to do well than if I was just guesting for the Robins in a normal fixture. No one is really expecting anything of me then so it makes it a bit easier, whereas here I want to score some good points, do a good job and lead from the front for the team.

“I think Rosco has said a few times now that the Abbey is looking a bit out of date. It will be a shame to see it go but I’m looking forward to seeing what the new stadium is like. It will be nice to ride in one of the last meetings here.

“I did a guest meeting for the Robins last August at home to King’s Lynn. That was the last time I rode there in a competitive meeting so it has been quite a while but I have ridden there so much over the years that I know what to expect.

“I know it’s just a challenge meeting but hopefully people can come out and support us.”

Season tickets are not valid this evening and admission costs £10 for adults and concessions, £5 for children over 11 and under 11s are free.