A SPORTS club is celebrating being shortlisted for a prestigious industry award.

Members of staff from Weymouth Sports Club in Dorchester Road will attend an awards ceremony next month with the hope of scooping the titles of Sports Club of the Year and Community Club of the Year.

Club administrator Vicky Goodwin said colleagues were excited about entering the event for the second time.

She said: "We're really pleased to get this far - especially as we were finalists last year as well.

"This year we're hoping to win one of the categories."

The annual awards ceremony is run by trade magazine Club Mirror to recognise the importance of the sports, social and private members club world.

Mrs Goodwin said: "I think we would prefer to win the community category because we consider ourselves to be close-knit but part of a big community.

"We are only a small workforce of about 40 and our management team is very small.

"We do a lot within the community but it can be difficult to convey that to an assessor."

The ceremony will be hosted by television comedian Jim Bowen at the Palace Hotel, Manchester, on November 1.

Other categories will include Catering Club of the Year and Most Improved Club of the Year.

Mrs Goodwin added: "It's always a nice evening and is well supported, with a lot of prestige. But there's a lot of competition."

Weymouth Sports Club is a private members club offering a range of fitness activities including football coaching, aerobic classes and children's gymnastics. It has a licensed clubroom and conference suite.