Taylor now in contention to scoop a three in a row

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR JUNE AWARD:SHE WAS our 2007 and 2008 Sportswoman of the Year, and by retaining her European Union Championship title in Bulgaria in June Katie Taylor, who collects her fifth monthly award in as many years, is now in contention for a hat-trick.

Such has been the level of success reached by the 22-year-old from Bray, and the unrivalled dominance she enjoys in her sport, Taylor is now in the unenviable position of being expected to triumph, no matter what the competition or who the opponent. That she keeps on doing just that is a measure of her focus.

She went to Pazardjik, Bulgaria, as the defending champion, having won the 60kg title in Liverpool last year, and as the reigning World and European champion and 2008 World female boxer of the year. No pressure. Taylor received a bye in to the quarter-finals, beginning the defence of her title against Italy’s Cordio Giacoma. She won with ease, 14-1.

Next up was the woman she beat in last year’s final, Cindy Orain of France. Again, a comprehensive victory, 11-2.

For the third time in a row in a major international final – after the World Championships in China and the Ahmet Cup in Turkey – Taylor faced an opponent from the host nation, Bulgaria’s Denitza Eliseevan.

“I prefer boxing opponents from the host nation in finals because there is always a better atmosphere,” she said, “but it was difficult because I wasn’t getting my points easy. I felt that I had to land five punches to get one score and I had to maintain my concentration all along.”

That concentration earned Taylor an 8-1 win, her 35th victory in a row. In all she scored 33 points in her three bouts in Bulgaria and conceded just four.

While her chief target for the year is the defence of European Championships’ crown in Ukraine in September, events in Berlin next month might well have a more significant bearing on Taylor’s career. There, the International Olympic Committee’s executive board will meet, with the introduction of women’s boxing in time for London 2012 up for discussion.

“The IOC’s decision was the number one topic of conversation among the boxers all week in Bulgaria and we are hoping that we will get positive news,” she said. “All we are looking for is to be given the opportunity to do what the vast majority of other athletes take for granted – to be able to represent our countries at the Olympic Games.”

Monthly awards so far

January: Jessica Kurten (Equestrian). A string of top-five finishes, including two successive World Cup Qualifier wins, gave Kurten an exceptional start to the year.

February: Mary Cullen (Athletics). The Sligo runner broke Sonia O'Sullivan's 1997 3,000 metres indoor record at Boston University, before going on to win bronze at the same distance at the European Indoor Championships in Turin.

March: Nina Carberry (Horse racing) and Derval O'Rourke (Athletics). Once again Carberry triumphed at Cheltenham, winning the Cross Country Chase on Garde Champetre, while O'Rourke won bronze at the European Indoor Championships in Turin in the 60-metres hurdles.

April: Leona Maguire (Golf). The 14-year-old from Cavan won the French International Under-21 Amateur Championship before leading from start to finish to become the youngest winner of the Scottish Open Amateur Championship at Troon.

May: Lisa Maguire (Golf). A month after her twin took our April award, Lisa made it a two-in-a-row for the Maguires when she retained the Leitrim Cup and succeeded Leona as Irish Close champion.

Each sportswoman is eligible for just one monthly award in 2009 but her achievements through the year will be taken into account by the judges when the decision on the overall winner is made.