Irish Times/Vhi Healthcare Sportswoman Award for March: Nina Carberry (Racing):We're in to the fourth year of our awards and so far we've had the opportunity to honour 30 sportswomen, including rowers Sinéad Jennings and Niamh Ní Cheilleachair, the only "pair" to win a monthly award.

Included in that group have been the likes of Chloe Magee (badminton), Niamh Fahey (Gaelic football) and Nicole Morgan (surfing), new names and faces for most of us.

But a select band of six sportswomen have been multiple award winners since we got under way in January 2004, their consistency in their chosen fields making them the highest of achievers in Irish women's sport.

Katie Taylor, the boxing world champion and senior international soccer player, Briege Corkery, star of both camogie and Gaelic football with Cork, and golfer Claire Coughlan have so far won two awards apiece, while Madeleine Perry, one of the world's leading squash players, has won three.

Joining Perry on three awards this month, one behind another of our great horsewomen, Jessica Kürten (who won two of her awards in 2005, before we changed the format so that contenders are eligible for just one monthly award each year), is jockey Nina Carberry.

Two years ago we were on the phone to her after she became the first woman rider since 1987 to win a professional race at the Cheltenham Festival - and only the fourth ever - when she triumphed on the 20 to 1 outsider Dabiroun.

Last year we were dialling her number again after she was crowned champion amateur for the first time, was one of only nine finishers in the English Grand National and won her first Grade One race at Punchestown (one of three winners she had at the meeting).

The hat-trick was complete yesterday when we were in touch to pass on the news that the 22-year-old is our March winner, after she experienced more success at Cheltenham, winning the Sporting Index Handicap Chase on the Enda Bolger-trained Heads Onthe Ground.

"It's always special to have a winner at Cheltenham," she said, "and even though he was the favourite you just get up on the horse and treat it like any other race, there's no pressure - you just ride your race. Luckily enough it worked out well."

Carberry's success, of course, completed a memorable day for the family, coming as it did just 90 minutes after her brother Philip had partnered Sublimity to victory in the Champion Hurdle.

"She showed her own prowess in the saddle by coming out on top in the marathon over the cross country course," read The Irish Times report on the race.

"Shuffled back at the top of the hill a mile from home, Carberry rousted Heads Onthe Ground back into contention and sneaked up on the inside to take the lead on the turn for home. Jumping the last in front, the 5 to 2 favourite kept on gamely up the hill to beat Silver Birch by three and a half lengths, with Le Duc another 12 lengths away in third place."

"Nina rode a brilliant race," said Bolger.

"I thought the ground was too soft for him, but she gave him a great ride. She got squeezed at the top of the hill. It made a difference as it brought the horse back to life again. He grabbed hold of the bit again and she rode him for home. That was the turning point of the race."

She might not have endeared herself to the bookies that day, but Carberry received a predictably warm welcome in to the winner's enclosure from the crowd, most of whom, need it be said, were of Irish stock.

Three awards it is, then. We now have Carberry on speed dial, so it'll be easier to get in touch this time next year.

January - Marie Breen (basketball):

The 21-year-old captained Glanmire to victory in the Superleague National Cup final against defending champions University of Limerick, scoring 29 points and being named the final's Most Valuable Player.

February - Chloe Magee (badminton):

The Swedish-based Donegal teenager has had an excellent start to the year, helping Ireland to the final of the Helvetia Cup, and winning the singles and doubles titles at the national championships.

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