Norma Shaw

Norma Shaw (1937-2009), born near Wakefield, was an English international indoor and lawn bowler.

Bowls career World Championship Norma won twelve World Outdoor Bowls Championship medals. The success started with two gold medals and a bronze medal at the 1981 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Toronto. Four years later she won a silver medal and another bronze at the 1985 World Outdoor Bowls Championship followed by two more silvers at the 1988 World Outdoor Bowls Championship. Norma then competed in her fourth and fifth successive championships at the 1992 World Outdoor Bowls Championship and 1996 World Outdoor Bowls Championship securing a bronze in both. Her final appearance was at the 2000 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Moama where she won a bronze in the triples and finished with a gold medal in the team event.

Commonwealth Games Norma represented England at four Commonwealth Games winning four medals from 1982 until 1998.

World Indoor Bowls Championship Norma also won the 1997 World Indoor Bowls Championship held in Llanelli.

Atlantic Championships Norma won five medals Atlantic Bowls Championships including a singles gold medal at the 1993 inaugural tournament in Florida.

National Norma won eight National Championships bowling for Durham. Theyincluded the singles in 1998, the pairs in 1980 and 1989, the triples in 1982 and the fours in 1977.

Norma was the first woman to break into the male dominated televised tournaments. She died in June 2009.

Recognition Shaw was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1985 Birthday Honours for services to bowls.