Photos: Queen’s Baton receives a warm Bermuda welcome

Saturday, 6PM: Bermuda’s sports champions showcased at Exhibition

This afternoon, the Main Show Ring at the Annual Agricultural Exhibition was the place to be with the Queen's Baton being the special feature of the event. 

It was led into the Show Ring by the Bermuda Regiment Band and carried by 2014 Carifta Games double Medalist Kyra Scraders (Silver 1,500 metres, Gold 800 metres).

The baton was then carried by Bermuda’s Commonwealth Games medalists: Brian Wellman, Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist (Triple Jump) 1994, John Morbey, Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist (Long Jump) 1966, Antoine Jones, Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist (Tenpin Bowling, Men’s Doubles) 1998, Conrad Lister, Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist (Tenpin Bowling, Men’s Doubles) 1998 and Clarence ‘Nicky’ Saunders, Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist (High Jump) 1982 and Gold Medalist (High Jump) 1990.

The Minister of Community, Culture and Sport, the Hon. R. Wayne Scott, JP, MP, was on hand to receive the Queen’s Baton on behalf of the Government.

The Queen’s Baton Relay tour closed out the day with a visit to Warwick Long Bay and WindReach Recreational Village. The Baton leaves to Island tomorrow and heads to Canada – the 61^st stop on its 71 Commonwealth nation tour.

It was a full morning with the Queen’s Baton Relay making several stops throughout the Island with several more still to go.

Starting in St. George’s the Baton was welcomed and received by the Mayor of St. George’s Mr. Garth Rothwell, former Premier Dame Jennifer Smith and Commonwealth Games medalist Brian Wellman.

Then after a brief stop at Palm Grove Gardens, the Queen’s Baton Relay travelled to Government House where it was received by Governor George Fergusson and Commonwealth Games Silver medalists Antoine Jones and Conrad Lister. The Governor added a special touch to the relay by cycling the Queen’s Baton out of Government House and leading it to its next destination, the National Aquatic Centre where it was received by Diver Katura Horton-Perinchief and local swimmers.

Following the Aquatic Centre, the Queen’s Baton Relay travelled from the Birdcage on Front Street where it was run to the Cabinet Office by Shaquille Dill. Once it made its way to the Cabinet Grounds, it was received by the Premier, the Hon. Craig Cannonier, JP, MP, Commonwealth Games medalist Clarence ‘Nicky’ Saunders, and the Warner Gombey Troupe. 

Later this afternoon, the Queen’s Baton Relay will make a stop at the Agricultural Exhibition, before heading to Warwick Long Bay and to WindReach Recreational Village.

Bermuda is stop number 60 in the Queen’s Baton Relay tour of 71 Commonwealth nations. The relay is in the lead up to the XX Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow in July.

Background: The Queen’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on 9^th October 2013 with Her Majesty the Queen placing her secret message of goodwill to the people of the Commonwealth in the Baton for it to be read at the Games’ opening ceremonies on 23 July. Bermuda, which is the 60^th stop on the baton journey, is expected to have some 35 athletes competing in this summer’s Commonwealth Games in such sports as athletics, cycling, gymnastics, swimming, squash and triathlon.

Saturday, 1PM: The Queen’s Baton continues to be on the move, and after a stop in St. George’s the Baton made its way to Palm Grove Gardens in Devonshire, where it was received by Bermuda’s 1976 Olympic Bronze Medalist, Clarence Hill.

He was joined by some of Bermuda’s most notable athletes both past and present.

After a brief stop at the Cabinet Office, the Baton will continue its journey to the Agricultural Exhibition.

Also joining the Minister this evening were members of the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) including the BOA President, BOA Secretary General, the Chef de Mission, Commonwealth Games 2014 and John Morbey, Commonwealth Games Silver Medalist 1966.

The Queen’s Baton contingent was greeted by the Bermuda Regiment and was carried off the plane by Mr. Juman Yassin, Regional Vice President of America for the Commonwealth Games Federation. It was then presented to the Minister by Mr. Morbey. 

Tomorrow (Saturday April 26) starting at 8.45 a.m. in King’s Square St. George’s, the Queen’s Baton Relay will begin its day-long journey across the Island, making stops in Hamilton, at the Annual Exhibition and at the picturesque Warwick Long Bay.

Throughout the day, the Baton will be received by His Excellency the Governor, George Fergusson, the Premier, the Hon. Craig Cannonier, the Minister of Community, Culture and Sports, the Hon. R. Wayne Scott and former Premier, Dame Jennifer Smith.

Members of the public are encouraged to come out and view the Baton as it makes its way across Bermuda being carried by our five Commonwealth Games medalists, Clarence ‘Nicky’ Saunders, Brian Wellman John Morbey, Conrad Lister, and Antoine Jones, and a wide cross-section of Bermuda’s population, young and old.

Bermuda is stop number 60 in the Queen’s Baton Relay tour of 71 Commonwealth nations. The relay is in the lead up to the XX Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow in July.