On the ball

Queen’s Baton Relay

NEARLY three decades after its foundation, the Isle of Jura Rugby Club finally held its first game this summer.

THE ISLAND pulled out all the stops on August 23 when it welcomed the Queen’s Baton Relay on the second day of its tour through Scotland en route to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Pipers greeted the baton bearer team at the airport as they stepped off the morning flight from Glasgow. They immediately headed for Bowmore primary school where the pupils, joined by their counterparts from the island’s other primary schools, entertained the visitors with song and dance which included a vigorous ‘Strip the Willow’, where the baton was much in evidence.

Students from the high school formed a sportsthemed guard of honour as the children accompanied the baton parade down to the nearby Bowmore Distillery before official bearer Colin Gregor, the former Scotland Rugby Sevens captain, led the participants to the village’s Morrison Square where the crowds enjoyed the warm sunshine and all that took place around them, including further piping, choral music from the Bowmore and Port Ellen primary schools combined Gaelic choirs and lively performances from the Ella Edgar dancers.

This gave the onlookers the opportunity of having a closer look at the baton which the organisers even managed to incorporate into a sword dance performance.

Colin and baton then climbed into a vintage lorry, owned by former hotelier Duffie MacNeill, for the next stop at Ionad Chaluim Chille Ìle, the St Columba Gaelic Centre before returning to the airport and a flight to Glasgow.

Team Scotland member Adrienne Sutherland described the Islay visit and the support received from the Ilich as ‘the very best’, and this was reiterated by Colin Gregor who added: ‘It has been fantastic to come to this awesome wee island and share the experience with them.’