Noeleen Scott
{{Short description|New Zealand lawn bowler}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Noeleen Scott
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Noeleen Mollison Thomson
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1926|10|31|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|10|05|1926|10|31|df=y}}
| death_place = Cromwell, New Zealand
| occupation =
| yearsactive =
| country = New Zealand
| sport = Lawn bowls
| club = Cromwell Bowling Club
| worlds =
| regionals =
| nationals = Singles champion (1977)
| highestranking =
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Women's lawn bowls}}
{{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Outdoor Championships}}
{{MedalGold| 1973 Wellington|Triples}}
{{MedalGold| 1973 Wellington|Fours}}
{{MedalGold | 1973 Wellington|Team}}
}}
Noeleen Mollison Scott (née Thomson; 31 October 1926 – 5 October 2023) was a New Zealand lawn bowls player.{{cite book|last=Newby|first=Donald|title=Daily Telegraph Bowls Yearbook 91|year=1990|publisher=Telegraph Publications|isbn=0-330-31664-8}} She won world triples and fours titles in 1973, and was inducted into the Bowls New Zealand Hall of Fame in 2013.
Early life and family
Scott was born Noeleen Mollison Thomson on 31 October 1926, the daughter of Georgina Elsie and Harry Cuthbert Thomson.{{cite web |url=https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/search?path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Dbirths |title=Birth search: registration number 1926/28442 |website=Births, deaths & marriages online |publisher=Department of Internal Affairs |access-date=5 February 2024}} The family lived in Mosgiel, and her mother died in January 1930.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19300121.2.47 |title=Deaths |date=21 January 1930 |work=Evening Star |issue=20388 |page=8 |access-date=5 February 2024 |via=PapersPast}} She married Bill Scott, who was a member of the Cromwell Bowling Club and won the nation pairs title in 1964.{{cite web |url=https://bowlsnewzealand.co.nz/noeleen-scott-new-zealands-oldest-living-blackjack-ever/ |title=Noeleen Scott: New Zealand’s oldest living Blackjack? Ever? |publisher=Bowls New Zealand |access-date=5 February 2024}}
Bowls career
Having seen her husband play bowls, Scott decided to take up the sport. She quickly rose through the playing ranks, and finished second in the singles at the 1965 national bowls championship. She went on to win the national singles title in 1977, and was again runner-up in 1981.
Scott won the triples and fours gold medals at the 1973 World Outdoor Bowls Championship in Wellington.{{cite web |url=https://bowlstawa.nz/titles/players/titles/1066 |title=Noeleen Scott |publisher=Bowls Tawa |access-date=17 September 2022}} She also won the gold medal in the team event (Taylor Trophy).{{cite book |last1=Hawkes |last2=Lindley |first1=Ken |first2=Gerard |title=The Encyclopaedia of Bowls |year=1974 |publisher=Robert Hale and Company |isbn=0-7091-3658-7}}
Scott was a member of the Cromwell Bowling Club for almost 50 years, until failing eyesight forced her retirement from the sport. During her playing career, she won 41 club titles and 17 Central Otago titles. In 2013, she was an inaugural inductee into the Bowls New Zealand Hall of Fame.{{cite news |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/bowls/bowls-pride-hall-fame-honour |title=Pride in hall of fame honour |date=13 September 2013 |first=Sarah |last=Marquet |work=Otago Daily Times |access-date=17 September 2022}}
Scott died in Cromwell on 5 October 2023, having been predeceased by her husband.{{cite web |url=https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/search?path=%2FqueryEntry.m%3Ftype%3Ddeaths |title=Death search: registration number 2023/31049 |website=Births, deaths & marriages online |publisher=Department of Internal Affairs |access-date=5 February 2024}}