Oar-some! Kerrera woman wins Rafting Gold for GB

The 46-year-old joined a GB team of three women in Bosnia and Herzegovina to win the Gold Masters Rafting title earlier this month following an action-packed week of racing.

Gill, who  previously worked as an outdoors instructor in North Wales, moved back to live on Kerrera in 2011 to run her family farm at Balliemore and more recently took on Kerrera Marina with her husband Tim.

Winning gold coincided with her 17th wedding anniversary as well as 17 years since she last took part in the
competitive sport. She had last won a bronze medal for Slalom Rafting in South Korea 10 days
after getting married in June 2007.

Gill said: "It was logistically and geographically challenging to meet the team who were spread out in
Portugal, Nottingham and the Lake District before the race. So my training was getting fit for the lambing season, some SUP practice at the marina with the help of my son, and a bit of bootcamp fitness alongside the team at the marina.

"The competition this year was a technical slalom, sprint, head-to-head and a 25km endurance race which required brute force to complete.

“It felt amazing to be back in the raft with these three incredibly strong, beautiful and fun women. And also get to meet and compete with some wonderful women who rock a bit of grey hair and mum tums, but also paddle hard, work hard and have the biggest hearts.”

For others thinking about taking on a challenge she said: “Don’t say no to having an adventure, say Yes! It’ll all be fine.”