AS IS often true in sport, to assess the real class of those on top it is often more important to look at those who, on this occasion at least, did not quite make the cut.

For while the seven names on the shortlist for outstanding sports performer of 2010 are daunting enough, the true indication of just how strong island sport is at present comes from those who, for one reason or another, did not get selected.

His heroics in Gosport in November probably came too late in the day but there is, for example, no place in the shortlist for runner Steve Dawes, who finished second in a field of 1,463 half-marathon runners.

Snooker star Adam Shorto was also, for once, slightly off with his timing as he waited until this month to produce an incredible record break of 134.

Timing was never a problem for swimmer Ian Powell as he broke record after record in the pool both in Delhi and the UK, while golfers Jan Chamberlain and Danny Blondel and table tennis champion Garry Dodd swept all before them in the Channel Islands.

But they, like perennial winner Andy Priaulx, who stormed back into contention for another world touring car championship before being cruelly robbed by an off-track ruling, must also miss out this year.

For the list of excellence, as anyone following the fortnight of Guernsey Press Sporting Highlights series will know, is a long one.

And if the range and quality of achievement of islanders on the sporting stage are cause for celebration at next month’s awards how much better could it get in future years given the potential of our young stars?

Swimmer Kristina Neves, table tennis’s Alice Loveridge, golfer Aimee Ponte and runner Katie Rowe are just four among a clutch of youngsters who have the capability of emulating Heather Watson, Priaulx and Alison Merrien to make not just Channel Islanders but sports fans across the world take notice.

For now, though, the spotlight will fall on the main award and how judges will choose between seven fine nominees.