WARRACKNABEAL bowling sensation Josh Barry is in the running to be crowned male Sportsperson of the Year.
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Barry is one of just three nominated for the Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation (VDSR) award, which will be presented on December 3.
Barry has also been named in the VDSR bowls team of the year.
Barry said he was proud to be nominated after a frustrating year on the bowling green, as COVID-19 interrupted his usual season.
"Everything has been put on hold," he said.
"I've only just started practicing again at Warracknabeal with social bowls.
"I'ts been annoying - all the other states are playing but we can't. That's all you see on Facebook, is people playing bowls in Queensland, New South Wales, but we can't yet."
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Barry usually competes with Deer Park in the Melbourne Premier League.
But with restrictions halting movement between Melbourne and regional Victoria, Barry said he was unsure when he would return to club bowls.
"I thought about playing around here somewhere or in Ballarat. They're not starting pennant in Warracknabeal until after Christmas which makes it hard," he said.
Barry said his first handful of rolls back on the bowling green were "a bit rusty", as he regains form and recovers from a back injury.
He hoped everything would be ready to go by January for the Victorian championships.
"Hopefully the state champs might go ahead in January in Warrnambool because they've been postponed three times already," he said.
"We won the last champs, so hopefully we can try to defend our title."
As for the VDSR award, Barry said: "Hopefully I can get picked. There's two other finalists nominated as well, so hopefully I can get over the line."
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