There is still time to send in your suggestions for nominations for the 2009 Scotswoman Of The Year awards, which are again sponsored by the Evening Times and the St Enoch Centre.

Today, we are printing a few of the latest nominations, but we know there are many more inspirational women out there in the three categories of Scotswoman Of The Year, Scots Businesswoman Of The Year and Scots Sportswoman

Of The Year. Tell us about those who have inspired you with their courage and strength, their passion and commitment.

You can write, e-mail or log on to our website or fill in the form in the print edition.

SCOTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE: ELAINE DAVIDSON

Before she died, Elaine Davidson, 18, had been told by her mum, Maureen, she had been nominated for Scotswoman Of The Year for her charity work.

“She was chuffed to be recognised,” says Maureen,“but Elaine didn’t make a big thing of anything. She didn’t realise how much she did.”

Right up to the end, Elaine, a former pupil at Bannerman High, Baillieston, who had been first diagnosed with a brain tumour five years ago, was thinking of others.

Over the years, despite gruelling treatment, Elaine had raised more than £20,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust’s new £350,000 unit at Yorkhill.

Maureen, 45, is heartbroken, but justifiably proud of Elaine’s selflessness and bravery and her commitment to fundraising.

As recently as Hallowe’en, the teenager had organised a fancy dress party in Baillieston attended by Real Radio DJ Paul Harper.

“The charity she chose to help was not something that would help her,” says Maureen. “The new unit is at Yorkhill and she was treated at the Beatson. But she wanted to help make sure other teenagers did not feel the way she felt when she was first in Yorkhill.

“The older ones were at the back of the queue because the ward was so busy and the unit will give teenagers their own space for keeping in touch with friends.”

Earlier this year, Elaine won the nationwide Nivea Inner Beauty Award for her charity work.

Elaine died on November 24 and a few days days later Maureen received a call to say her daughter had won a Young People Of The Year award as a good role model for young people.

Maureen pays tribute to how Elaine handled the news that her illness was terminal, news that would be hard to take at any age.

“She was never up or down. Always the same. Always put others first. She amazed us.”

SPORTS NOMINEE: CATRIONA MATTHEW

Scotland’s No 1 woman golfer Catriona Matthew will never forget 2009 – she celebrated her 40th birthday and won the Ricoh Women’s British Open, one of the world’s four Major championships.

She captured the country’s imagination by winning the Open at Royal Lytham just 11 weeks after she gave birth to Sophie, her second daughter.

Catriona, who also won the HSBC LPGA Brazil Cup this year, is seen as personifying the exciting, fast-paced professional image of golf in 2009 and putting sporting mothers firmly on the map.

She is popular in the world of golf, respected for her ability to juggle motherhood with touring worldwide and is seen as unflappable and focused with class and style.

Catriona, who lives with husband Graeme, Sophie and two-year-old Katie in North Berwick, East Lothian, has been one of the leading golfers on the world stage for more than a decade and has competed at the highest level around the globe.

She has played and won for Europe in the Solheim Cup, and has gained top 10 places in all four of the women’s Majors, including a tie for second in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2007.

Following this year’s successes she has been signed to the world’s leading sports management company, IMG, which has stars such as fellow Scot Colin Montgomerie and tennis players Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on its books.

Catriona heads for the Middle East this week for the Dubai Ladies Masters.

BUSINESS NOMINEES: CLARE THOMMEN & FIONA McLEAN

Thousands of women who are more comfortable in their underwear owe it all – if they but knew – to a couple of lemongrass martinis.

For one evening five years ago, accountants Clare Thommen and Fiona McLean got together for a drink . By the time they had stopped complaining about how difficult it was to get underwear to fit properly, Boudiche was born.

Despite no experience in buying, merchandising, fashion sales, marketing, public relations and e-commerce, the pair worked hard to realise their goal.

Today, they have two Boudiche luxury lingerie shops, one in Glasgow and one in Edinburgh, selling designer items from all over Scotland and the world.

Managing director Clare, 31, and Fiona, 34, are passionate about underwear … and they know what women want.

“We found there was nowhere for women to have a nice experience and find the right sizes for them,” says Clare.

The Edinburgh shop opened four-and-a-half years ago and 18 months ago they opened their Glasgow branch in Ingram Street.

The company also has an online shop, which ships orders internationally to places such as America, Australia, Dubai and Japan.

Boudiche has already won several awards and this year beat retailers such as Harrods and Debenhams to win the Lingerie Retailer Of The Year title at the Drapers Awards.

It was a major coup for Clare and Fiona, who are both single and live in Edinburgh.

With turnover up on last year during a difficult trading spell, they have cause to celebrate.