Joint Honours For Taylor And Meadow In Top Sportswoman Award

The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman Award for June has been jointly awarded to Katie Taylor (Boxing) and Stephanie Meadow (Golf).

Katie Taylor won a record-breaking sixth European title in the first week in June to secure her deserved honour as The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Month for June.
Taking her place alongside the boxer, with a remarkable start to her professional golfing career, is Jordanstown native, Stephanie Meadow. Taylor and Meadow's achievements make them equally deserving and so provide the first joint monthly award of the year.

Taylor, a three time winner of our Sportswoman of the Year award, added yet another chapter to her wonderful sporting story with her unanimous victory over Estelle Mossely in Bucharest. This brings her gold medal tally to 15 since 2005, the year she last lost a European fight, and makes her European, World and Olympic champion all at the same time.

Not to be outdone, Stephanie Meadow's dazzling form in June ensured she would collect her second monthly award in two years. Meadow first made the Sportswoman list in June 2012.
Even those most familiar with Meadow's ability must have marvelled at the exceptional beginning she has made to her professional career, not least her third place finish in the US Open at Pinehurst, for which she picked up a cheque for €200,000.

In addition, in her first event on the women's European Tour, she finished third at the European Masters in Buckinghamshire, before setting off for Southport & Ainsdale where she duly qualified for this week's British Open. This will only be her third tournament as a professional.

Established in 2004, The Irish Times/Irish Sports Council Sportswoman of the Year Awards recognise the abilities and achievements of women in Irish sports. The awards run over a 12-month period, with the judges selecting a winner each month for her ability to excel at sport. The overall Sportswoman of the Year is selected from the monthly winners, and announced in December. The prestigious title of 'Sportswoman of the Year' will be presented an awards ceremony in December 2014.