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Local girl’s achievement makes Commonwealth Games special        9/7/14

 

At the Queen’s Baton relay event on South Uist people were enthused over the forthcoming summer games as local girl Kerry Macphee of Kilphedar has made history by becoming the only ever female from the Outer Hebrides to represent Scotland in the Commonwealth Games.

 

She is also the only native islander to be selected for the games for half a century.

 

The determined 28-year-old Gaelic speaker has been confirmed as a mountain bike competitor in the games taking place in Glasgow this summer.

 

In recent months, she has been a games’ ambassador, touring Uist schools and encouraging children to get involved in sport and healthy living.

 

A large crowd turned up at her former school in Daliburgh to see the baton in their own community.

 

They applauded and waved flags made out of the official Glasgow 2014 Harris Tweed fabric as Ronnie Macphee jogged down the road holding the baton high.

 

The 45-year-old staff member at the South Uist rocket range was nominated for his volunteering work with a local youth club.

 

An “excited and nervous” Ronnie was delighted Uist was included in the baton tour, saying they usually get overlooked for such events.

 

A group of bagpipers played tunes as the baton entered the school grounds and local bearers undertook a circuit round the playing fields.

 

 ►   Kerry Macphee - First Hebridean female at Commonwealth Games