Pride as baton is waved through
HUNDREDS of people gathered to watch the Queen’s Baton Relay as it made its way through the region ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
The relay kicked off in Marsden yesterday morning before it made its way through Whitley Bay, Blyth, Alnwick, Gateshead and finally Newcastle.
Starting at Souter Lighthouse, the baton was later carried through Blyth town centre and a celebration was held at Market Square.
The relay later kicked off from the Angel of the North, and the baton made its way through Low Fell at 4.20pm to Saltwell Park, where people enjoyed sports taster activities.
Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay and the mascot, Perry, made a rare appearance at the park.
The baton completed its journey through Gateshead before crossing the River Tyne by boat. It was then carried up to Grey’s Monument before descending back to the Quayside.
To welcome the baton into the city, Newcastle City Council organised an end-of-day celebration at Wesley Square. Katie
Barker, captain of Newcastle United Women carried the baton on behalf of the city on its final leg of the day along the Quayside.
Katie said: “It’s absolutely amazing to be here today and it’s so nice to see so many people turn up. I’m so proud to be here.”
Representatives of Newcastle Eagles, Tyne Bridge Harriers and Hat Trick, the Elswick-based community sports development programme, were on hand to allow people to try versions of Commonwealth games sports. These included basketball shootouts and free throws, running bleep tests, foam javelin throwing and standing long jumps, with prizes for those achieving the best scores.
One baton bearer, Marianne Dudds, from Blaydon who is training to become a mental health nurse, said: “It’s been absolutely amazing, what a fantastic experience it’s been and I’m absolutely honoured to be nominated. I still don’t know who nominated me so I still feel really overwhelmed but it’s just been fantastic.”
Dennis Hewitt, baton bearer and All Runs club member, from Birtley, said: “It was great fun, we thought the weather was going to be terrible, at Gateshead stadium, when we were getting the briefing, the rain just came down but luckily the sun came back out again and there was quite a crowd out there.”
Another baton bearer, Heather Solan, said being nominated to carry the baton was “surreal”. She said: “I felt really proud today carrying the baton, it’s a little bit surreal, I was a little bit nervous but I couldn’t stop smiling.” She added: “The Huntington’s Disease Association nominated me because I do charity work and raise money for them. We’ve got Huntington in our family and it’s not a very wellknown disease so we’re trying to raise money and raise a bit more awareness so we can hopefully find a cure.”
The Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Pat Hay added: “It was an incredibly proud moment for us, and for our baton bearers – a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I’m sure they will treasure forever.”
I still don’t know who nominated me so I still feel really overwhelmed but it’s just been fantastic Marianne Dudds