Sycerika McMahon and Madeline Perry share Sportswoman of the Month Award

Two County Down women have today been named as joint winners of The Irish Times / Irish Sports Council 'Sportswoman of the Month' for the month of July. The Portaferry Swimmer Sycerika McMahon and Banbridge's squash player Madeline Perry have shared a memorable month for their respective sports, providing the judges with a hugely difficult decision due to the duo's winning performances, and July being named a Down Double.

Perry now seeded in the top three after her Singapore Masters title, can boast her second 'gold' level tour title and ninth in all, seeing off the challenge of Britain's champion Laura Massaro and France's Camille Serme. Perry beat Serme in straight games before sealing the title - and a cheque for US$8,550 - and with an 11-7, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9 win over Massaro; the world number five who had beaten the Irish champion in their previous meeting. Augusts' world rankings only see Malaysia's Nicol Ann David and England's Jenny Duncalf above her.

Meanwhile her fellow county woman McMahon follows in the footsteps of another multi medallist Grainne Murphy, winning gold in the 400m freestyle and 50m breaststroke, setting new Irish records in both, whilst also picking up silver for 200m freestyle at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Belgrade. Since then McMahon gave another glimpse of her potential at the World Championships in China where she lowered her 50m breaststroke record again.