SWINDON said farewell to the Abbey Stadium - their home since way back in 1949 - on an emotional Sunday afternoon of racing.

There were nods to the past, present and future of speedway in a highly successful event which culminated in a spectacular fireworks and pyrotechnics show.

Proceedings began with the sport’s rising stars contesting the British 150cc Final on a perfectly-prepared inner training track.

The seven competitors put on a terrific show and the pace increased throughout the seven races, so much so that the fastest time was recorded in the Final itself.

That means eventual winner Leon Flint goes into the record books not only as the Champion but also the track record holder from the one and only official meeting on the circuit, which is officially homologated by the Speedway Control Bureau. Flint headed home Jason Edwards, Sam Stead and Jordan Palin to take the national title.

The club then paid tribute to its legends, with a parade and interviews taking place involving several members of past Robins teams - as well as recognition for those who were unable to be present.

The main meeting itself saw Swindon defeat an Elite League Select team 43-35 in a match which provided plenty of competitive action.

Sam Masters stood in for the unavailable Peter Kildemand and impressed greatly with an 11-point score, a total matched by Chris Harris for the Select as both dropped their only points to each other.

Grzegorz Zengota had received great acclaim from the crowd as the Robins’ Rider of the Year and
celebrated with a paid-11 haul, dropping his only point to Harris in Heat 7 as he snatched second place from Danny King off the last bend.

The Select held a narrow 10-8 lead after three races but Swindon went in front for the first time in Heat 5 although they had to wait until the last race to officially confirm victory with a 5-1.

The remaining races took place on specially provided machines with new Jawa engines developed by 1993 World Champion Sam Ermolenko - and that standard kit, with the riders racing them for the first time, produced winning times only 2-3 seconds outside those from the main meeting.

Harris won the first race with Masters taking the second, and it was Masters who then had the honour of the last-ever race win at the Abbey Stadium as he defeated Harris, who overhauled his Coventry team-mate Danny King for second place.

The final laps of the circuit, though, were taken by current Robins boss Alun Rossiter before the fireworks ended an unforgettable occasion - and brought a glorious era to a close.

ABBEY FAREWELL RESULT
SWINDON 43: Sam Masters 11, Grzegorz Zengota 10+1, Troy Batchelor 10+1, Nicolai Klindt 5+1, Kyle Howarth 3, Lewis Rose 3, Peter Karger 1+1.
ELITE LEAGUE SELECT 35: Chris Harris 11, Ricky Wells 6, Kyle Newman 6, Justin Sedgmen 5+2, Danny King 3+1, Adam Ellis 3, Robert Branford 1.

BRITISH 150cc FINAL RESULT
Scores: Leon Flint 11, Jason Edwards 11, Sam Stead 9, Jordan Palin 5, Nathan Ablitt 2, James Laker 2, Jacob Clayton 1.
FINAL: Flint, Edwards, Stead, Palin.