KURT Fearnley may have no more major races planned before the 2008 Paralympic Games but come Thursday, June 12 in Glasgow and the Carcoar wheelchair racing champion will be vying for success in a very prestigious contest.

Fearnley has been nominated for a Commonwealth Sports Award and is one of three men on the short list for the Outstanding Male Elite Athlete with a Disability Award. The others are English archer Steve Prowse and athletics star Antonis Arestis from Cyprus.

With 71 Commonwealth member nations nominating their athletes and officials, just making the final three is a big achievement for Fearnley.

The award takes into account performances between January 1 and December 31, 2007, a period in which Fearnley dominated wheelchair marathons. The only man to beat him in this time was Englishman David Weir.

Eight categories will be awarded at the ceremony with fellow Australians Nathan Deakes, Libby Trickett (nee Lenton) and Kelsey Cottrell plus the national women’s netball team joining Fearnley as finalists.

The event is being held in Glasgow as a follow on from the city’s successful bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014.