All the photos and comments from the friendship baton's travel in reverse order (Newest at the top of this page, oldest at the bottom). Thanks so much from us all at Montrose Foreshore Park Run in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
EMAIL FROM DAN MARTIN ON 20 JANUARY 2026
Hello Team Friendship Baton!
It's been a brutal new year with snow and ice galore up here! LOTS of parkruns have cancelled but I managed to pass it on to a guy called Kevin at Loch Leven parkrun on 3rd January.
His local parkrun is Montrose, but it was cancelled that day ...and was cancelled again last week. I believe it's on and he'll be there this Saturday and the baton will reach its aphelion before turning to return to you guys in Tassie!
Jamie from Montrose parkrun (Scotland) has been a good shepherder of the baton!
Exciting times,
Dan
Hello Team Friendship Baton!
It's been a brutal new year with snow and ice galore up here! LOTS of parkruns have cancelled but I managed to pass it on to a guy called Kevin at Loch Leven parkrun on 3rd January.
His local parkrun is Montrose, but it was cancelled that day ...and was cancelled again last week. I believe it's on and he'll be there this Saturday and the baton will reach its aphelion before turning to return to you guys in Tassie!
Jamie from Montrose parkrun (Scotland) has been a good shepherder of the baton!
Exciting times,
Dan
EMAIL FROM DAN MARTIN ON 3 JANUARY 2026
Hi team,
My name is Dan, I picked up the baton in Northallerton and have taken it on an Xmas trip round my family at Bedford parkrun (25th Dec), Worcester parkrun (27th Dec), and Jubilee Park parkrun (1st Jan) and will be handing it on to someone at Loch Leven, Scotland tomorrow (3rd Jan)!
I wanted to pass it on at Bo'ness Foreshore (as you guys are a Foreshore too) but it's been cancelled tomorrow because of the ice. I thought about passing it on to my friend in Worcester who is the race director in Bremen in Germany but maybe the baton can have a more exciting return to Tassie, through every parkrun country?
I'll send some photos of me passing it on tomorrow!
Keep on jogging,
Dan
Hi team,
My name is Dan, I picked up the baton in Northallerton and have taken it on an Xmas trip round my family at Bedford parkrun (25th Dec), Worcester parkrun (27th Dec), and Jubilee Park parkrun (1st Jan) and will be handing it on to someone at Loch Leven, Scotland tomorrow (3rd Jan)!
I wanted to pass it on at Bo'ness Foreshore (as you guys are a Foreshore too) but it's been cancelled tomorrow because of the ice. I thought about passing it on to my friend in Worcester who is the race director in Bremen in Germany but maybe the baton can have a more exciting return to Tassie, through every parkrun country?
I'll send some photos of me passing it on tomorrow!
Keep on jogging,
Dan
|
|
Message from Liz Simpson on 21 December 2025
Hi,
I received the baton from my sister Kathryn and took it home to Stockton on Tees. I took it to the now ended Tees Barrage parkrun. Although this event no longer takes place it’s where I fell in love with parkrun and did 263 events.
As you’ll see from the photo with my running club Stockton Striders AC, this is only 4 miles away from Middlesbrough where the baton has already visited.
Unfortunately illness stopped the plan to take it to my new local Parkrun.
Today it was passed onto Dan at Northallerton who plans to take it into Scotland. It created a lot of interest, with lots of people asking where it’s heading. As you’ll see from the photo Hobsie the dog was also very interested.
Thanks for the opportunity to take part. I look forward to following the journey.
Liz
Hi,
I received the baton from my sister Kathryn and took it home to Stockton on Tees. I took it to the now ended Tees Barrage parkrun. Although this event no longer takes place it’s where I fell in love with parkrun and did 263 events.
As you’ll see from the photo with my running club Stockton Striders AC, this is only 4 miles away from Middlesbrough where the baton has already visited.
Unfortunately illness stopped the plan to take it to my new local Parkrun.
Today it was passed onto Dan at Northallerton who plans to take it into Scotland. It created a lot of interest, with lots of people asking where it’s heading. As you’ll see from the photo Hobsie the dog was also very interested.
Thanks for the opportunity to take part. I look forward to following the journey.
Liz
|
|
Message from Helen Chan on 30 November 2025
Hi
I was handed the baton whilst visiting family in Nottingham. We zipped back up the A1 to our home in York and I took it for a quick tourist trip to see our beautiful city - stopping for photos at the famous York Minster, the Shambles and finally a photo in the courtyard of my work - the University of York, Kings Manor campus!
My daughter Emma and I handed it over on Saturday 29th November at a very very wet Heslington parkrun (in York) to Kathryn Carroll who is taking it northwards to her sister near Middlesbrough
Great to be part of the journey and I look forward to seeing where it lands next!
Hi
I was handed the baton whilst visiting family in Nottingham. We zipped back up the A1 to our home in York and I took it for a quick tourist trip to see our beautiful city - stopping for photos at the famous York Minster, the Shambles and finally a photo in the courtyard of my work - the University of York, Kings Manor campus!
My daughter Emma and I handed it over on Saturday 29th November at a very very wet Heslington parkrun (in York) to Kathryn Carroll who is taking it northwards to her sister near Middlesbrough
Great to be part of the journey and I look forward to seeing where it lands next!
|
|
Message from Andy Nicholls on 9 November 2025
Feels fitting that we were passed the friendship baton as I spent a few months in Hobart 20-odd years ago and met some lovely people including Ian Martin and Andrew Martin. Shame parkrun wasn’t there at the time!
We returned from Wales last weekend to Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire with the baton and there were a few nerves over whether parkrun would be cancelled due to Storm Claudia. First choice for today - Belton House - was indeed cancelled but that meant a trip to Nottingham’s beautiful Wollaton Hall parkrun instead with the bonus of picking up our daughter from uni to join us. Passed the baton on to Helen from York to continue the journey further north towards its destination. Safe travels!
Feels fitting that we were passed the friendship baton as I spent a few months in Hobart 20-odd years ago and met some lovely people including Ian Martin and Andrew Martin. Shame parkrun wasn’t there at the time!
We returned from Wales last weekend to Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire with the baton and there were a few nerves over whether parkrun would be cancelled due to Storm Claudia. First choice for today - Belton House - was indeed cancelled but that meant a trip to Nottingham’s beautiful Wollaton Hall parkrun instead with the bonus of picking up our daughter from uni to join us. Passed the baton on to Helen from York to continue the journey further north towards its destination. Safe travels!
|
|
Message from Tomasz Figurski on 9 November 2025 on 2 November 2025
And The Baton is gone somewhere to Leicestershire with few lovely parkrunners Ian, John and Andy. Good luck on your trip to Scotland. Wales will miss you..
And The Baton is gone somewhere to Leicestershire with few lovely parkrunners Ian, John and Andy. Good luck on your trip to Scotland. Wales will miss you..
Message from Tomasz Figurski on 8/9 November 2025 on 2 November 2025
And now quick look to the South - Cardiff, Bristol Channel and England's Devon in a distance. I'd better hurry up - otherwise I will be late for a parkrun! Cheers!
On its way to Coed Cefn-pwll-du parkrun The Baton climbed the highest peak in neighbourhood - Caerphilly Mtn and looked over the town, The Valleys up till Brecon Beacon National Park
And now quick look to the South - Cardiff, Bristol Channel and England's Devon in a distance. I'd better hurry up - otherwise I will be late for a parkrun! Cheers!
On its way to Coed Cefn-pwll-du parkrun The Baton climbed the highest peak in neighbourhood - Caerphilly Mtn and looked over the town, The Valleys up till Brecon Beacon National Park
Message from Tomasz Figurski on 2 November 2025 on 2 November 2025
The Baton update:
Today it visited Castell Caerffili / Caerphilly Castle - the biggest one in Wales, 2nd largest in UK (after Windsor). We must say - The Baton loves to travel and cannot wait its next journey on Saturday!
The Baton update:
Today it visited Castell Caerffili / Caerphilly Castle - the biggest one in Wales, 2nd largest in UK (after Windsor). We must say - The Baton loves to travel and cannot wait its next journey on Saturday!
Message from Leigh Cooper on 2 November 2025
The Baton has been passed on to Maks and Tomasz in Bristol. They will be taking it back to Wales. Well done Maks on your first place!
From Tomasz Figurski: I can confirm, The Baton's home for the next week is in Caerphilly, Wales and will be passed to another runner at Coed Cefn-pwll-du parkrun next Saturday. Who knows where it will go next... Greets to Montrose Foreshore parkrun
The Baton has been passed on to Maks and Tomasz in Bristol. They will be taking it back to Wales. Well done Maks on your first place!
From Tomasz Figurski: I can confirm, The Baton's home for the next week is in Caerphilly, Wales and will be passed to another runner at Coed Cefn-pwll-du parkrun next Saturday. Who knows where it will go next... Greets to Montrose Foreshore parkrun
Message from Leigh Cooper on 31 October 2025
The Baton joined me at our local running club's Halloween event - Hanwood Runners. Thanks for all the adventure for our friendship baton Leigh. We are all following the journey with interest.
The Baton joined me at our local running club's Halloween event - Hanwood Runners. Thanks for all the adventure for our friendship baton Leigh. We are all following the journey with interest.
Message from Leigh Cooper on 29 October 2025
A little tour of Anfield before we head south on Saturday (Much to the appreciation of our creator and often run director at Montrose Foreshore Park Run, Ben Thomsett). Thanks Leigh. Everyone from our park run are travelling vicariously with the friendship baton and saving countless tonnes of CO2 emissions.
On average a medium sized airplane burns around 300L of fuel per 100km. This translates to about 6000L of fuel or around 1800kg of CO2 saved for one Montrose Foreshore park runner doing the same 19000km as our friendship baton! If we all did the trip the CO2 savings would be immense. And we aren't even at Montrose Scotland Park Run yet!
A little tour of Anfield before we head south on Saturday (Much to the appreciation of our creator and often run director at Montrose Foreshore Park Run, Ben Thomsett). Thanks Leigh. Everyone from our park run are travelling vicariously with the friendship baton and saving countless tonnes of CO2 emissions.
On average a medium sized airplane burns around 300L of fuel per 100km. This translates to about 6000L of fuel or around 1800kg of CO2 saved for one Montrose Foreshore park runner doing the same 19000km as our friendship baton! If we all did the trip the CO2 savings would be immense. And we aren't even at Montrose Scotland Park Run yet!
Message from Leigh Cooper on 27 October 2025
Just to let you know it's currently in Kettering and is part of our Halloween baby gender Reveal. We are going to take it down south on Saturday to Bristol
Just to let you know it's currently in Kettering and is part of our Halloween baby gender Reveal. We are going to take it down south on Saturday to Bristol
|
|
Our new park run friends Leigh Cooper and partner are having a GIRL!!!! CONGRATULTIONS. A new park runner in the making.
Message from Karen Larkin
Passed on to Leigh Cooper for it's onwards journey.
Passed on to Leigh Cooper for it's onwards journey.
Message from Karen Larkin on 24 October 2025
Hi, I got the Baton from Pauline at Albert and will be taking it on trip down to Vicars Water parkrun in Mansfield on Saturday. A bit of a detour from it's journey north but thought it deserved to see a bit more of our lovely country. It came to Scarborough and Whitby with me at the weekend and will be travelling down to Chesterfield tomorrow.
Hi, I got the Baton from Pauline at Albert and will be taking it on trip down to Vicars Water parkrun in Mansfield on Saturday. A bit of a detour from it's journey north but thought it deserved to see a bit more of our lovely country. It came to Scarborough and Whitby with me at the weekend and will be travelling down to Chesterfield tomorrow.
THE FRIENDSHIP BATON TAKES A GUIDED TOUR TEESSIDE AT MIDDLESBOROUGH
Email from Pauline Johnson on 23 October 2025 @ 6:58pm Tasmania time
Email from Pauline Johnson on 23 October 2025 @ 6:58pm Tasmania time
- Jamie has passed the Montrose baton on to me and it’s had a tour of Teesside .
- It’s quite appropriate really as we have a couple of links to Australia. It’s been to the birthplace of Captain James Cook who mapped more of the world than Google ever could - without Wi-Fi, just a ship, a sextant and geometry
|
|
- . It’s also been to our famous transporter bridge . Our town was a centre of iron steel and bridge building ; the Sydney harbour bridge was built here by Dorman Long and my grandfather helped build it !
- We finished off with the riverside stadium home of the Boro , a bit of a tenacious link - but we do have an Aussie team member Riley Mcgree .
- I’ll be passing on the baton at Albert Parkrun on Saturday to continue its friendship adventure , maybe it’ll stop at Albert park Melbourne on the way back to you
- Regards Pauline
FRIENDSHIP BATON PARK RUN #4 - Albert Park Run, England
From Jacqui Keeley:
Hi , just to let you know that your friendship baton is seeing the sights of Middlesbrough, Teesside, home of Captain James Cook. Pictures and report to follow This is my friend Pauline receiving it last week
From Jacqui Keeley:
Hi , just to let you know that your friendship baton is seeing the sights of Middlesbrough, Teesside, home of Captain James Cook. Pictures and report to follow This is my friend Pauline receiving it last week
FRIENDSHIP BATON PARK RUN #3 - London to Bushy Park Run - The original home of Park Run
The baton has moved on! It is now with our new Montrose Foreshore Parkrun friend, Jamie West and on the move!
email 27/9/2025 @9:04pm
Hello,
The baton is on the move again. We were approached by a lovely lady at the home of parkrun, bushy parkrun today (27/09). We ourselves were visiting bushy parkrun from the north east of England and are members of billingham running club. We had 2 families down who are attending oasis and the women's rugby world cup final and decided to make a stop off at bushy park for parkrun. We'll be taking the baton back to the club and to the north east to see which member can help it's on a journey
Jamie
The baton has moved on! It is now with our new Montrose Foreshore Parkrun friend, Jamie West and on the move!
email 27/9/2025 @9:04pm
Hello,
The baton is on the move again. We were approached by a lovely lady at the home of parkrun, bushy parkrun today (27/09). We ourselves were visiting bushy parkrun from the north east of England and are members of billingham running club. We had 2 families down who are attending oasis and the women's rugby world cup final and decided to make a stop off at bushy park for parkrun. We'll be taking the baton back to the club and to the north east to see which member can help it's on a journey
Jamie
The Montrose Foreshore Parkrun friendship baton arrives at London. Thanks so much Eliane
The Montrose Foreshore friendship baton passes through Hong Kong Airport
FRIENDSHIP BATON PARK RUN #2 - Brisbane (South Bank Park Run) via Hong Kong to London
The baton has moved on! It is now with our new Montrose Foreshore Parkrun friend, Eliane Gendreau and on the move!
email 22/9/2025 @10:21pm
Hello,
I am lucky to have been given the Montrose Foreshore parkrun baton.
It was given to me on Saturday 20th Sept at the South Bank parkrun, Brisbane, Australia. I have attached a picture.
After a (very quick) stop at Hong Kong airport (see other picture), the baton is currently doing some tourism in London (see picture - Big Ben, the Parliament and London eye in the background) while waiting for its next parkrun on Saturday.
Best regards,
Eliane
The baton has moved on! It is now with our new Montrose Foreshore Parkrun friend, Eliane Gendreau and on the move!
email 22/9/2025 @10:21pm
Hello,
I am lucky to have been given the Montrose Foreshore parkrun baton.
It was given to me on Saturday 20th Sept at the South Bank parkrun, Brisbane, Australia. I have attached a picture.
After a (very quick) stop at Hong Kong airport (see other picture), the baton is currently doing some tourism in London (see picture - Big Ben, the Parliament and London eye in the background) while waiting for its next parkrun on Saturday.
Best regards,
Eliane
FRIENDSHIP BATON PARK RUN #1 - Montrose Foreshore Park Run, Hobart, Tasmania 16 August 2025
Many thanks to Nikki Craig for taking the baton on its way to Sandgate Park Run at Morton Bay, Queensland. The friendship baton journey begins.
Many thanks to Nikki Craig for taking the baton on its way to Sandgate Park Run at Morton Bay, Queensland. The friendship baton journey begins.
|
|