Being home to a number of World, European and Olympic champions, it feels fitting that the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay will be swapping land for water when it heads to Stone later this month.
As part of its amazing global journey, the Baton has already been carried along beaches, on horseback, among treetops in Guyana and underwater in Grenada.
And that incredible journey is set to continue when it comes to Stafford Borough – with the highlight being a Baton slalom on the water at the famous Stafford and Stone Canoe Club in the town’s Westbridge Park.
A special course will be laid out at the club which has been the home to World, European and Olympic champions through the years with the likes of Lizzie Neave, Adam Burgess and Rio 2016 gold medalist, Joe Clarke.
It will be the finale to the Baton’s journey in Stone where it will start at the Leisure Centre and make its way through the High Street before returning to the Canoe Club. It will be taken in a kayak by one of the selected baton bearers on a slalom course, accompanied by junior paddlers, before it makes its way on the next leg of the journey.
The Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) is coming to Stafford and Stone on the afternoon of Tuesday the 19th July with a total of 19 baton bearers taking part across both towns. It will start at Stafford Castle and head to Victoria Park – then be taken by vehicle to Stone.
Stafford Borough Councillor, for St. Michael’s and Stonefield, Rob Kenney told A Little Bit of Stone:
“I’m really looking forward to seeing the baton come to Stone. It’s a great honour and privilege for Stone to be taking part in Her majesty’s Commonwealth baton relay, and it’s typical of Stone residents to be able to go that one step further by taking the Baton out on to the water.
It will be great day for Stone and Stafford Borough and I hope that residents take the opportunity to see this historic event.”
Councillor Carolyn Trowbridge, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Stafford Borough Council, said she was delighted the authority and their partners Freedom Leisure had been able to persuade the QBR organising committee to allow the baton to be taken on the water.
“We wanted to do something different with the Baton when it came to us. And if you are going to take it to one of the most successful sporting clubs in the borough’s history, then it is obvious the Baton needs to have a proper taste of where so many great paddlers have learnt and honed their trade – that is, on the water.
“And thank you to the Canoe Club for helping turn this wonderful opportunity into reality. A key focus for the Birmingham 2022 games is on youth, and the legacy it will bring, and we are really excited that the club’s junior paddlers will have a chance to join the Baton on the water”
She continued: “These events are always very carefully regulated – for example regarding timings and what you can and cannot do – so I am grateful to our team for being able to secure this spot on the Baton relay which is another highlight on its long and interesting journey.”
“I hope that people will be able to come out and cheer our batonbearers on in Stafford and Stone. It is great that they have been nominated by the public because of what they do to make our communities better places to live.”
Details of timings, routes and road closures will be updated at www.staffordbc.gov.uk/queens-baton-relay The Birmingham 2022 QBR visits all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth.
