The Queen’s Baton Relay is coming to a watersports centre near Lichfield in Staffordshire this month and – in what’s believed to be a first – the baton will be carried by a wakeboarder riding the cable.

Sebastian Kearns, aka Sebas, will do the honours at the Pier 52 Watersports Activities Centre in Chasewater Country Park, Burntwood, on Wednesday 20th July.

Sebas had his left arm amputated just below the elbow after an accident involving an electricity pylon seven years ago when he was 24. He was able to return to wakeboarding by adapting how he held the cable tow.

“It doesn’t get much better than being able to carry the Queen’s Baton whilst wakeboarding. I’m just afraid of dropping it in the lake,” Sebas said.

The Queen’s Baton relay began in the UK in October 2021. It has since visited all 72 Commonwealth nations and territories before returning to England on Monday 4th July for its final 25-day journey to the Opening Ceremony of Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Thursday 28th July.

Lichfield Council approached Pier 52 a while back to ask if the baton could have a ride on the cable tow.

“Naturally we jumped at the opportunity and just needed to make sure we could make it work logistically,” said Dean ‘Deano’ Russell, owner at Pier 52.

“After some conversations on site with the Lichfield Commonwealth Baton liaison it was a go. Now all we had to do was find a rider to best represent Pier 52 as the official baton bearer. As much as my ego would have loved to put myself forward there is no way I’m good enough to do Pier 52, the Commonwealth Games and most importantly the Queen justice, plus there is a very strong chance of the baton ending up at the bottom of Chasewater reservoir if entrusted to me.

“Fortunately, we have just the man for the job in Sebas - a solid rider, reliable and smooth like butter, he fits the bill perfectly. His riding always impresses spectators, new riders and established riders.”

The team at Pier 52 had to keep the plans a secret until the route of the relay was officially announced. Now they can’t wait until the big day.

“The stage is set for 20th July between 2 and 3pm for the baton to go on a cable wakeboard for what we believe to be the first time,” Deano said. “Time to get the park nice and shiny, scrub the obstacles and get ‘TV ready’.”

To celebrate the event, Pier 52 will run a friendly competition over the kickers from 3pm. It is open to all with three categories for Under 16s, Women and Men. One of Team GB’s leading cable wakeboarders, Kieran Owens, will be attending. The competition is sponsored by British Water Ski & Wakeboard, BRO Clothing and Mystic.

“It should highlight even further on the day the incredible sport that we all love, Cable Wakeboard,” Deano said.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

For more information, please contact:

Dean Russell on dean@pier52.co.uk or 07498 211962

Keir Boissevain, British Water Ski & Wakeboard Business Development Officer on keir@bwsf.co.uk

Pier 52 is an accredited site of British Water Ski & Wakeboard (BWSW) which is the sport’s national governing body and a non-profit making membership organisation. All BWSW income is invested in developing and protecting water skiing and wakeboarding across the UK from the grassroots to our top athletes.

Photos of Sebastian Kearns can be found in the dropbox link below. Please credit the photographer as shown.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4ljx6jvqn2710ij/AABEB38FQ-ZWVmU1h13ob7vUa?dl=0

There is also a BWSW video (filming by Dave Averillo) of Sebas riding and being interviewed which you may embed in your website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kk6-LDb89g

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