Turnbull came to prominence as a 12-year-old, when winning the 1957 Scottish Schools' Swimming Association 50 yards breaststroke title, while a pupil at Galashiels Academy.[1] In September 1957, now aged 13, she was selected for the Scottish national team.[2]
She represented the 1958 Scottish swimming team[3] at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Cardiff, Wales,[4] participating in the 220 yards breaststroke event, where she reached the final[5] and the 4 x 110 yards medley relay, finishing seventh, with Frances Hogben, Jean Taylor and Sheila Watt.[6]
She was a member of the Galashiels Swimming Club and in 1959 won the Scottish title and broke the Scottish record for the 200 yards breaststroke,[7] in addition to claiming a bronze at the 1960 British Swimming Championships.[8]
