FINALISTS for the 2015 Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year award met up for fizz, fun and fabulous chat for the first time last night.

The six women are all contenders for the trophy, which will be presented at a glittering gala dinner in the City Chambers next week.

Last night’s informal get-together, hosted by our event partner St Enoch Centre, was a light-hearted affair which gave this year’s finalists the chance to meet and relax before the big night.

Triple European gold medalwinning wheelchair racer Samantha Kinghorn said she was delighted to be part of Scotswoman of the Year.

She said: “I was shocked to be nominated. I don’t do my sport to get recognised, I do it because I love it and want to achieve great things, but it’s lovely when other people think what you’re doing is great too.”

Samantha broke her back in a freak accident helping to clear snow on her family farm in Berwickshire.

She was left paralysed from the waist down and spent six months at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital after being told she would never walk again.

The 20-year-old has collected an impressive list of accolades since starting racing, including three gold medals at the 2014 European Championships and a bronze at the 2015 World Championships.

Ethiopia Medical Project organisers Maureen Burnett and Jo Middlemiss, who fundraise for a clinic which helps women suffering from prolapse after childbirth, are joint contenders for the award.

Maureen said: “We thought it was April Fool’s Day when someone told us we had been nominated, but we are absolutely thrilled.”

Jo added: “It’s lovely to meet the other finalists – we’re delighted to be nominated alongside such incredible women.”

Professor Debbie Tolson, the inaugural Director of the Alzheimer Scotland Centre for Policy and Practice at the University of the West of Scotland, said: “The women on the shortlist are all inspirational, it’s great to finally meet them. I was surprised and delighted to be nominated but I am still wondering, why me?”

Corinne Hutton, who had her hands and feet amputated after suffering septicaemia in 2013, said she felt ‘humbled’ to be on the shortlist.

“It’s strange because I don’t think I do anything special,” she said. “The other nominees are fantastic.”

Corinne set up the charity Finding Your Feet almost three years ago and since then has raised tens of thousands of pounds to help others. She has broken three world records, including becoming the first female quadruple amputee in history to conquer Ben Nevis.

Adele Patrick, founder of Glasgow Women’s Library, who has helped transform it into a nationally respected and much-loved collection, said she thought her colleagues were joking when they told her she had been nominated.

“I was fortunate to attend SWOTY a few years ago, so it’s inconceivable to me that I might be on the shortlist,” she smiled. “I feel honoured to be part of this group of women.”

Anne Ledgerwood, general manager of St Enoch Centre, said it was a privilege to be involved in SWOTY for the ninth year running.

She said: "After 53 years SWOTY remains as relevant and as important as it was when the award was founded.

"It's brilliant that the Evening Times still gives it such prominence and it should be applauded for continuing to bring Scottish women to the fore.

"We wish all the finalists the best of luck for next week. No matter whose named on the night, they are all winners who should be proud of their achievements."

Evening Times executive editor Rob Bruce thanked the finalists, their guests and the event supporters for coming along to the party.

He added: “The Evening Times is proud to host Scotswoman of the Year which, at more than 50 consecutive years, is believed to be the longest-running female achievement award in the UK.

“All of this year’s finalists deserve to win and next Thursday’s event promises to be a wonderful mix of entertainment, inspiration and fun.”

Entertainment at last night’s party was provided by ‘The Singing Barber’ Ian Ross, a North Lanarkshire singer songwriter who runs a Motherwell barber’s shop.