A young woman on a mission to change the perception of bowls has become the first Ambassador for Sport Godalming.
From starting bowls at the age of 8 at Godalming & Farncombe Bowls Club, Godalming Resident, Yaz Hasan, is now a Junior International both Indoors and Outdoors, having represented England across the British Isles. The most recent International success for the Women’s Under-25 International Squad was in Aberdeen in February 2025, where Yaz was part of the winning squad, beating Wales, Ireland and Scotland in their path to become Champions.
Yaz is keen to help Sport Godalming, a charitable organisation aiming to support and promote sport in the town and surrounding villages.
“I’m delighted to be teaming up with Sport Godalming so even more young people can benefit from mentoring and support to follow their dreams of playing sport. Their help has proved invaluable as I progressed from complete beginner to the Junior International I am today. I am excited to help others fulfil their potential, with the help of Sport Godalming.”
Yaz has been a part of successful outdoor clubs in both Egham Bowls Club, and more recently at Southey Bowls Club, whilst remaining at Egham Indoor Bowls Club. Her hunger for success, both indoors and outdoors, continues to grow, and the competition becomes fiercer.
Simon Crowther, Chairperson of Sport Godalming, welcomed Yaz to her new role at the organisation’s AGM on Thursday 13th March. “We’re delighted to be working with Yaz to promote the work of Sport Godalming. She will be a great Ambassador due to her focussed and determined nature. But, also her unique understanding of what it is like to be a young athlete striving to be the best.”
More information about Yaz’s sporting achievements is listed below:
From starting bowls at the age of 8 at Godalming & Farncombe Bowls Club, Yaz is now a Junior International both Indoors and Outdoors, having represented England across the British Isles. With bowls having a stereotype of being ‘for the older generation’, it is rare to see young blood come into the sport, let alone where there is no familial links. Yaz fell into the sport by attending a Junior Taster Day in the summer of 2011, as part of Sport Godalming’s Staycation.
Having taken to it naturally, after 6 years of competing at local and club level only, Yaz was called up to represent Surrey in the National Women’s Under-31 Amy Rose Competition, in which teams of 10 girls represent their county at the National Finals. Reaching the Semi-Final in her first year in this, it not only opened Yaz’s eyes to a completely different side of the sport, but she was then noticed. In the years to follow, Yaz trialled for the England Under-18 Youth Academy, set to take place in 2020. As COVID-19 postponed this, her England debut was then long-awaited. So, once the sport resumed to a new kind of normality, Yaz moved clubs to Egham Bowls Club, thus broadening her scope and allowing her to enter more team events.
Since this, Yaz has won numerous county titles outdoors, is a National champion, and has England Caps for both Indoors and Outdoors. Moving to Southey Bowls Club from the start of 2024 for outdoors, whilst remaining at Egham Indoor Bowls Club for the indoors season, Yaz’s goals continue to grow, and the hunger for wins are stronger than ever. Yaz was a part of the England under-25 squad which won the BIIBC international series in Aberdeen, Scotland on 8th and 9th February whereby England won every game they played. This event is a very important one in the bowls calendar. Not only is one representing England but to win the series is a huge achievement.
Alongside bowls, Yaz is a Legal Assistant and TWM Solicitors in their Lending Department, having graduated from University of Surrey in July with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
Image: Bowls England
