Local craftsman Paul Brant has made a baton for a unique relay event which is due to take place this Sunday. Teams of longboat rowers, cyclists and runners will pass the baton around the Milford Haven waterway, starting at Dale at 7 am and finishing at Angle at around 6.30 pm, and calling at towns and communities which have events in the 2005 Experience Pembrokeshire's Waterway brochure. Paul has crafted the baton out of hickory onto which he has carved the Experience Pembrokeshire's Waterway logo. This logo also appears on banners which have been made for participating communities, and which will be presented to representatives at each port of call. The banners will be displayed before and during events that take place throughout the year to let local people and visitors know that an event is taking place in the locality. Paul will also take part in the relay as a rower in one of two longboats from Dale Rowing Club. They will be passing the baton to a rowing team from Pembrokeshire Yacht Club at Gelliswick, but aim to accompany them and other teams from Neyland and Llangwm rowing clubs as far as Llangwm; cyclists from Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club take over at Llangwm, and hand over to runners from Pembrokeshire Harriers at Carew. The relay will pass through the following communities, and local people are encouraged to join the welcoming party to cheer them on: Dale 7 am (Griffin Inn), Gelliswick 8.15 am (Yacht Club), Milford 8.20 am (Mackerel stage), Hazelbeach 9.25 am (Ferry House Inn), Neyland 9.35 am (Yacht Club), Llangwm 11 am (Black Tar), Haverfordwest 11.30 am (Picton Centre), Landshipping 12.30 pm (Stanley Arms), Lawrenny Quay 1.15 pm, Cresswell Quay 1.45 pm, Carew 2.15 pm (picnic site), Pembroke Dock 3.30 pm (Front St), Pembroke 4.30 pm (South Quay), Angle 6.30 pm (the Old Point House). All times are approximate; for latest information contact Helen Thomas, tel. 07900 243668. The idea for the banners and relay came from the newly-formed steering group of Experience Pembrokeshire's Waterway, which promotes events that take place on or near the water, with the water as a backdrop, or with a water theme. The aim of the banners and relay is to create a link between events and communities around the Milford Haven Waterway. The Milford Haven Waterway festival is funded through PLANED's LEADER+ festivals and events programme which is part-funded by the Welsh Development Agency, the Welsh Assembly Government, ELWa and Milford Haven Port Authority. The project is sponsored by Texaco with support from Pembrokeshire Tourism and South West Wales Tourism Partnership.
