Aviemore Paralympian lines up another special delivery
Paralympian gold medallist Dave Smith (pictured), who already has a post box in honour of his London 2012 exploits will be helping with a delivery of another kind on The Queen’s behalf!
Smith has been chosen along with GB record-breaking Winter Olympic former biathlete Mike Dixon, of Dalnavert, to carry the Queen’s Baton on its journey to the Glasgow XX Commonwealth Games.
The pair were included in first batch of baton bearers to be named to take part in the relay which will visit around 400 communities across Scotland in 40 days ahead of the opening of the games on July 23.
Smith, (35), said: "I am massively proud and keeping my fingers crossed that I will get to carry the baton in Aviemore. I am gutted that I can not be part of these games as an athlete but carrying the baton is the next best thing.
"I have been following its progress across the world and just to be part of something so big is very special. I really do think the Glasgow Games will be great for Scotland and it is wonderful to be playing a small part in this."
Community baton bearers are being selected by independent panels taking into account people’s achievements against the odds, their mentoring of young people, contributions to community and youth sport, and those who make a difference through volunteering and community work.
There are expected to be around 100 batonbearers to cover the Highland leg of the tour.
Meanwhile, Smith hopes to hit another road soon – the one to Rio. He has been selected as part of the GB cycling development team for the Rio Paralympics in 2016.
He told the "Strathy": "The plan is to target Rio and also to look even further ahead to the Tokyo Paralympics. I’m loving it.
"It will be even harder to medal at Rio than in London but I’m in a great place and getting fantastic advice from Craig MacLean – in fact I’m on the phone to him all the time for cycling tips!
"He has been one of my big inspirations in switching to the bike from the rowing boat."
Mike Dixon competed six times in Winter Olympics for GB and is now coach of the Cairngorm Biathlon and Nordic Ski Club.
Since retiring in 2002 he has been a driving force in the CBNSC, the only civilian biathlon club in Scotland.
A club spokesman said they were delighted for Dixon: "He has put countless time effort and money into the club and has provided a pathway for several youngsters, to achieve success in biathlon, a pathway which would not be there without him."
