Nwicker60
12-Jul-11, 17:46
Pentland Firth first for swimmer Colleen
A 33-year-old woman has become the first person to swim across the notorious Pentland Firth.
Colleen Blair took just four hours and 41 minutes to complete the nine-maile stretch between the Orkney island of Hoy and the Caithness mainland.
An experienced open-water swimmer, Aberfeldy-based Miss Blair swam the English Channel in 1998 and made a solo crossing of the Irish Sea in 2008.
She said she was “really pleased” to have conquered the Pentland Firth because no-one knew whether or not it was possible.
Miss Blair is a duty leisure centre manage and swim teach for Live Active Leisure in Perthshire. She first became interested in the Pentland Firth swim after witnessing Frank Chalmers’ attempt, two years ago.
A 33-year-old woman has become the first person to swim across the notorious Pentland Firth.
Colleen Blair took just four hours and 41 minutes to complete the nine-maile stretch between the Orkney island of Hoy and the Caithness mainland.
An experienced open-water swimmer, Aberfeldy-based Miss Blair swam the English Channel in 1998 and made a solo crossing of the Irish Sea in 2008.
She said she was “really pleased” to have conquered the Pentland Firth because no-one knew whether or not it was possible.
Miss Blair is a duty leisure centre manage and swim teach for Live Active Leisure in Perthshire. She first became interested in the Pentland Firth swim after witnessing Frank Chalmers’ attempt, two years ago.