Three bowls stars shortlisted for 2025 Scottish Women in Sport Awards
As the 2025 outdoor season closes, Bowls Scotland are delighted to celebrate the three bowlers who have been shortlisted as nominees for this years’ Scottish Women in Sport Awards. The awards night takes place annually at the Radisson Blu in Glasgow, with this years’ event to be held on Friday 21st November.
Each year Bowls Scotland submit a number of nominations across categories, pulling inspiration from our own National Volunteer Award nominations as well as from the performance side of our sport. We are delighted to share that three of our nominations have made this years’ shortlist. Mary Wilson, Julie Forrest and Sarah Gourlay will be representing the sport of bowls on the night across three categories, and we are sure the Scottish bowling community will join us in congratulating these bowlers for being shortlisted amongst a number of inspirational women in sport from across the country.
Mary Wilson is one of four athletes shortlisted for the Contribution to Para Sport award. Mary is Bowls Scotland’s ambassador for our partnership with Erskine Veterans Charity having served 20 years in the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps as a duel qualified Mental Health Specialist and Adult General Nurse. The Dudley Bowling Club member previously competed for Scotland internationally in badminton but following her triumph in the 2025 Bowls Scotland Para Physically Disabled Open Pairs alongside Pauline Wilson, she now has her eyes set on representing her country in bowls at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
“I am stunned at being shortlisted for this prestigious event. Raising awareness of opportunities available in Para Bowls for disabled women is, I believe, essential and long overdue. It does not matter their Race, Sexual Orientation or where they come from, bowls is the most inclusive sport I know and as such can be embraced by all.”
Pathway Lead for Bowls Scotland’s U18 international squads and three-time World Indoor Ladies Matchplay Singles champion, Julie Forrest is in the category for Sportswoman of the Year and was nominated not only due to her success in the game but also for being such a positive role model to youngsters within the bowling community. On being shortlisted for the award, Julie said:
“I was surprised and pleased to receive this nomination. It has been a pleasure to work with the under 18s national squad and hopefully I can help develop their potential. I believe that we have champions in the making.”
Finally, Sarah Gourlay, one of Scotland’s most successful ever female bowlers is nominated for the Pioneer in Sport award. Sarah, who with Francis Whyte in 1994, became the first women to win Commonwealth Gold for Scotland also won the 1985 World Bowls Championships women’s fours and the 1992 Women’s World Indoor Singles but also remained dedicated to both Annbank Bowling Club and Prestwick Indoor Bowling Club throughout her career. Sarah met her husband David Gourlay Snr, also a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, through the sport and raised their two children alongside her bowling success. Sarah told us how she felt to have been nominated for the awards:
“I am truly honoured to be shortlisted for this award, not just for myself but to see our sport recognised in this way, there have been so many inspiring women in Scottish Sport and I’m very proud to be included in this.”
Delighted to see women from bowls being recognised in these national awards, Malcolm Dingwall-Smith, Bowls Scotland CEO, said:
“It is wonderful to see, Mary, Julie and Sarah’s contribution to bowls recognised by Scottish Women in Sport. We are committed to providing more opportunities for women and girls to play, coach, volunteer and lead. I hope that seeing everything that these three ambassadors for our game have achieved can only inspire any young woman to think that bowls should be the sport of choice for them.”
Bowls Scotland will share updates from the awards night so keep an eye on our social media channels as well as the Scottish Women in Sport pages.