BLAIRMORE TWINS CLIONA & NUALA TO OPEN “NEW LOOK” KIRN GALA
Written by Archie Fergusson on 19/08/2017
From Ben Lomond to Glencoe’s Buachaille Etive Mor, to Skye’s Am Basteir, which translates, grimly, as the Executioner, Scotland’s Munros are one of the Scotlands great attractions and Munro-bagging as it is known, the sport of ascending all 282 Munros – remains hugely popular attracting many thousands to Scotland each year
It was the 24th August 2008 that 6years old Blairmore twins Cliona and Nuala McCheyne came into the DCR studio with thier parents to tell of their intention to climb Ben Lomond which would be their 50thMunro (for the uninitiated a Munro is a mountain over 3000 feet). If that what not enough they set out to raise lots of money for the Schiehallion Ward at Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow which cares for children with cancer.
This feat was even more remarkable when you realise that the twins where only 6 years old at the time and had started climbing Munro’s 2 years previous ,
Four years later in 2012 Cliona and Nuala, became the youngest ever to complete all 282 Munros . In the company of their parents, the Twins from Blairmore Dunoon had ticked them off one by one in the space of just six years.
Since then the twins have never stopped running and competing and their achievements are well documented, it is well fitting that the Kirn Gala committee give credit to the Twins and honour the youngsters for their outstanding achievements and good example representing the youth of Dunoon by asking them to open this “New Look” 22ND Kirn Gala
DCR97.4fm asked Mum Diane to sum up what has developed with her daughters since 24th August 2008
“Cliona and Nuala have always been very active. They started climbing Scotland’s 3000′ mountains at the age of four; completing the last of the 282 peaks at the age of ten they are the youngest girls to have.
Their love of running started while competing for Strone primary school at the Cowal Police Sports and this lead them to join Inverclyde Athletic Club in 2012. A few months later Nuala became Scottish Primary Schools Cross Country Champion which preluded much district, national and international success over the following years. Cliona is also a talented runner with a wealth of experience winning medals at district and national level. Her favourite events are In cross country and hill running”