Paisley bowler receives a share of £210,000 funding

Mary Stevenson is one of 43 athletes across eight sports to receive a grant through the sportscotland Athlete Personal Award (SAPA) programme, supported by National Lottery funding.

The award comes as part of preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Mary, who will make her Commonwealth debut at the Games, will compete in the Mixed Pairs B2-B3 bowls event alongside director Jim Aitken.

Kareena Cuthbert, head of high performance at Bowls Scotland, welcomed the continued support for bowlers ahead of the 2026 Games.

She said: "The investment through sportscotland SAPA funding is massively beneficial for our bowlers, giving them the best possible support and preparation for the 2026 Games.

"This backing allows our athletes to train, compete and perform with confidence and reflects a shared ambition to deliver continued success on the biggest stage."

The SAPA programme is designed to support athletes by easing financial pressures, giving them more time to focus on training, recovery, and competition in the lead-up to Glasgow 2026.

The cohort of funded athletes includes both those still aiming for Team Scotland selection and others who have already secured their spot.

Past gold medallists from Glasgow 2014 - Sarah Adlington, Alex Marshall MBE, Paul Foster MBE, and Neil Fachie OBE - are also among the recipients.

Forbes Dunlop, chief executive of sportscotland, said: "Scotland is set for a truly memorable summer of sport.

"Hosting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow once again is a huge moment for Scottish sport and our athletes.

"This National Lottery investment from the SAPA programme will ensure our athletes can focus fully on their training and performance as they prepare for one of the biggest events of their careers."

Since its launch ahead of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, the SAPA scheme has distributed more than £2.2m to nearly 350 high-performance athletes and coaches.