LIZ CAMERON was crowned the Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year last night at the magnificent Banqueting Hall at Glasgow City Chambers.

Cheers erupted as the former Lord Provost, who has done so much for her beloved city, received the specially commissioned bronze trophy from Evening Times editor Donald Martin.

Liz has represented Glasgow all over the world and was hugely influential in the £35million refurbishment of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the £15m renovation of the City Halls.

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR: Julie scores new award for sports SCOTTISH football heroine Julie Fleeting won the inaugural Scots Sportswoman of the Year title. The captain of Scotland's women's side, who has netted 100 goals and been capped 100 times, shared in the hat-trick of awards last night. The 26-year-old, who is also a PE teacher at St Matthew's Academy in Kilwinning, was accompanied by her husband, Livingston goalkeeper Colin Stewart, to pick up the gong. She said: "I'm gobsmacked. You come along to these things and think you're out of your depth when you see what other people do. "This award will take pride of place in my glass cabinet." She paid tribute to the runners-up, Drumchapel gymnastics coach Gina Beck and Aileen McGlynn, who has won a stack of medals in Paralympic cycling events around the world. BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR: Lesley is the best in business DR Lesley Sawers was close to tears as she won the Scots Businesswoman of the Year trophy. "I'm absolutely stunned," said the chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. She paid tribute to the support she received from husband Alan and parents May and John. "My mum brought up a family of three, held down a full-time job and instilled in us all those values of hard work." The other finalists were Fifi & Ally - Fiona Hamilton and Alison Fielding - the women behind the boutiques in Princes Square and Wellington Street, and Arti Poddar, who runs Lambhill Care Homes for the elderly. Tom O'Hara, managing director of award sponsor TSG in Scotland, said: "Lesley Sawers is a fantastic example of the outstanding success that can be achieved through drive and determination."

Her work for Glasgow continues in her role as head of Culture and Sport Glasgow and vice-chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

Liz is the 45th woman of achievement to win Scotswoman of the Year, sponsored by St Enoch Centre.

"I am lost for words. My colleagues will be amazed," laughed Liz.

But as Liz is the first to admit, she's never lost for words for long.

She added: "This is a memory and an evening I will treasure for ever.

"Whatever I have done, it has been one of the greatest honours of my life to represent what I believe is the greatest city in the world, and I hope I will have many years to serve it.

"It's been a fantastic night. I can't tell you how wonderful this is."

She paid tribute to her husband Duncan, who despite a serious illness was so often at her side.

Duncan said later: "I predicted she would win. She has such a high profile in Glasgow and is so popular.

"Lord Macfarlane summed it up when he said whether she was talking to children or to the Queen, she could relate to anyone."

Liz also paid an emotional tribute to the other three finalists - Deputy First Minister, Health Secretary and Govan MSP Nicola Sturgeon; anti-war campaigner Rose Gentle, whose only son Gordon was killed in a bomb blast in Basra; and Louise Martin, who has worked hard to bring the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow and with it thousands of jobs to the East End.

Liz said: "I can't think of three women who have done quite so much and I want to present them with my own personal accolade.

"Nicola - great to have such a young woman working so hard, not just for Scotland but for womanhood.

"Louise - it has been a joy and pleasure working with you on the Commonwealth Games.

"And Rose - in life, one comes across such hurdles one has to get over and you have used your grief to achieve so much."

There were tears of emotion last night but there was a lot of laughter, too, in the marble hall, filled with an awe-inspiring collection of women lawyers, doctors, scientists, entrepreneurs, campaigners, carers and mums.

It was an evening to celebrate all that's good about Scottish women, their achievements, successes and remarkable ability to triumph over adversity.

Donald Martin welcomed 13 previous winners among the 250 guests, including last year's winner, Professor Anna Dominiczak, the research scientist and doctor leading the fight to rid Glasgow of its label as heart disease capital of Europe.

He said the Evening Times had introduced two new categories this year - Scots Businesswoman of the Year and Scots Sportswoman of the Year - to recognise the thriving female talent in the Scottish business community and sporting arena.

At every table, there were astonishing stories to tell and 2005 winner Sandra Brown, who set up the Moira Anderson Foundation to help children who have been sexually abused, summed up everyone's feelings when she said she wished she could clone herself 30 times so she could get round all the tables.

Nicola Sturgeon paid Liz Cameron a generous tribute, saying: "We are from different political parties, but few people have done more for Glasgow than Liz. She really deserves this."

Louise Martin said: "When you see the standard of finalists, anyone could have won it, but Liz really deserves it."

Congratulating Liz, Rose Gentle said: "I'm just really honoured to be here and very proud to be nominated."

The star-studded evening was hosted by XFM Scotland DJ and Evening Times clubs columnist Heather Suttie, who admitted she was so overcome with emotion while recording the video presentations on each finalist she had to record her voiceovers several times.

"I was blown away by the calibre of the women in the room," she said. "All of the nominees were fantastic and a diverse range of people."

River City star Libby McArthur, who plays Gina, said: "For me, Liz completely personifies the saying that we're all Jock Tamson's Bairns.

"She's genuinely friendly, genuinely real and lovely and she's a great ambassador for Scotswoman of the Year."

Linda Nutini, mum of Paisley's boy wonder, singer Paolo, also praised Liz, who fulfilled more than 1000 engagements during her four years as Lord Provost.

"I think Liz Cameron is amazing. To me, she's the embodiment of a fabulous Glasgow woman - she's bright, funny, glamorous, kind and a great listener. She's wonderful."

Lord Advocate Elish Angiolini said: "I think Liz Cameron is a star. She is a tremendous ambassadress for the city and for Scotland and she clearly has so much still to offer the city. We have been privileged to have her as Lord Provost."

She described the awards as a wonderful celebration of women and their achievements.

"I think we don't do enough of this in Scotland. What the Evening Times does is tremendous because it recognises diversity of achievement, and the new awards raise that even further."

Partick girl Roisin Donnelly, head of marketing at Proctor and Gamble, was the speaker brought the house down with a witty and thought-provoking speech.

Tracy McAllister, marketing manager at St Enoch Centre, said: "Any one of this year's nominees would have been an extremely worthy winner of the top award and we'd like to offer all of them our congratulations.

"Learning more about the stories behind the candidates has been really inspiring and we at St Enoch are extremely proud to have been associated with such a fantastic event."

Stars shine at gala night OUR newly-crowned Scotswoman of the Year Liz Cameron said it was a privilege to be a woman - and all 250 guests at last night's glittering bash made it a heart-warming, uplifting occasion. Representatives from the worlds of entertainment, sport, business, politics, community groups and the media shared good food, wine, laughter and tears in the grand setting of the City Chambers' Banqueting Hall. They came to celebrate the triumphs and achievements of remarkable women who make a tremendous difference to the lives of others. Guests included Balamory star Julie Wilson Nimmo, River City actresses Libby McArthur and Barbara Rafferty, artist Avril Paton, million-selling Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson, broadcaster Janice Forsyth, Glasgow's poet laureate Liz Lochhead and Linda Nutini, mother of Paisley singer-songwriter Paolo. Host Heather Suttie said: "The spirit in the room is amazing - there's glamour, sparkle, celebrity, all of those things that make up any awards do, but this is different because it comes from the heart. "It's really moving and there's a strong sense of sisterhood." The Swingcats, a1940s-style vocal harmony trio, charmed guests with renditions of Everybody Wants To Be A Cat and Hold Tight by The Andrews Sisters, while everyone was given a goodie bag courtesy of event sponsor St Enoch Centre. Despite the wintry conditions outside, glamorous frocks were in abundance at the champagne reception and three-course dinner that followed.