Golf sensation Michael Sims and women?s elite triathlete Flora Duffy will be among the favourites to win the coveted Male and Female Athlete of the Year Awards at tonight?s annual ceremony at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel.

Sims qualified for the lucrative Nationwide Tour at last December?s Q-School qualifying tournament in California, and only two weeks ago collected his biggest paycheque ($11,375) after placing third at the Colombia Masters in Bogota, Colombia.

The 28-year-old pro golfer tops a shortlist that also includes national cricket team skipper Irving Romaine ? who captained Bermuda to a maiden Americas Championship title and scored the Island?s first ODI century against Canada in Toronto last August.

Others in contention for the men?s award are professional cyclist Tyler Butterfield who continues to impress with his Vendee U team mates in France and pro squash player Nick Kyme who called it quits last year after three gruelling years on the world tour.

Duffy, meanwhile, is practically a shoe-in to receive top honours in the women?s category following a magical 2006 campaign abroad.

The gifted 19-year athlete finished eighth at last year?s Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, placed ninth and sixth at World Cup events in Germany and Cancun respectively, before grabbing a silver medal at the World Junior Triathlon Championships in Switzerland.

Also in the running for top women?s honours are tennis star Ashley Brookes who swept all local major tournaments last year, gymnasts Caitlyn Mellow who became the first local to reach a gymnastics final at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Last year?s awards recipient Arantxa King and rival track and field athlete Ashley Cooper have also been nominated for the top award.

Surprisingly, however, local female pugilist Teresa Perozzi and swimmer Kiera Aitken were not nominated for an award. Last year saw Perozzi defend her North American Boxing Council (NABC) belt and Aitken establish two national records on her way to the final of the 50 metre backstroke at the Melbourne Games.