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Easter Ross primed to welcome baton relay





Inpsector Ian Graham, Cllr Graham Mackenzie, Andy MacLeod from High Life Highland and Cllr Margaret Paterson check all is ready at Dingwall's Jubilee Park for tomorrow's baton celebrations.
Inpsector Ian Graham, Cllr Graham Mackenzie, Andy MacLeod from High Life Highland and Cllr Margaret Paterson check all is ready at Dingwall's Jubilee Park for tomorrow's baton celebrations.

FINAL preparations are being made for the arrival of the Commonwealth Baton Relay in Easter Ross tomorrow (Friday).

The baton is on a 40-day tour of Scotland ahead of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

It first arrived in Ross-shire on Wednesday when Clyde the mascot carried the baton off the Stornoway to Ullapool ferry boat for an official welcome by the Lord Lieutenant for Ross and Cromarty, Janet Bowen. It was then over to baton bearers Jessica Ryan, Tom Evans, Iain McCall, Carla Maclean, Rebecca Nelson, John Urquhart, Hazel Keiro, Ginette Anderson, David Downie and Fiona Johnston to take it on a route around the village.

The tour included a visit to the Macphail Centre where war veterans Donald MacKenzie and Peter Ross the special guests who welcomed the baton.

Ullapool war veterans Donnie MacKenzie (left) and Peter Ross welcome the Commonwealth baton to Ullapool, watched by Lord Lieutenant Janet Bowen (far left). Picture: Ewen Weatherspoon.
Ullapool war veterans Donnie MacKenzie (left) and Peter Ross welcome the Commonwealth baton to Ullapool, watched by Lord Lieutenant Janet Bowen (far left). Picture: Ewen Weatherspoon.

After visiting children attending a special community sporting-themed event organised by High Life Highland, the relay convoy said goodbye to Ullapool and headed north to Lairg.

The baton is due to arrive back in Ross-shire tomorrow at 4.07pm when 10 baton bearers will be ready to take it from the outskirts of the Royal Burgh of Tain along the High Street and to the tennis courts.

Next stop will be Alness where the baton relay is expected at 5.04pm to visit the local academy playing fields where celebrations will take place involving local young people .

Just down the road, hundreds of people will be eagerly waiting for the baton at Dingwall’s Jubilee Park which will be the focus of baton celebrations in the Highlands.

A free family show will be staged at the park featuring live music, dancing, singing and a spectacular performance by the Commonwealth Youth Circus which starts at 5pm.

The baton will be carried on to the stage at 6.45pm.


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