GOUROCK'S new fitness gym has seen off strong competition to reach the final of a prestigious competition.

The National Fitness Award trophies will be handed out at a glittering ceremony on Friday at The Athena in Leicester - and the gym is one of six facilities shortlisted for the local authority/leisure trust category from hundreds of nominations all over Britain.

This comes only a year after the Waterfront Leisure Centre was named the UK's Best Local Authority Fitness Gym in the same event.

A delegation from Inverclyde Leisure will travel to Leicester for the awards bash - and they hope to return with a trophy.

The gym is part of Gourock's outdoor swimming pool complex, which re-opened in June this year after a �1.8 million makeover.

Inverclyde Leisure general manager, David McCorkindale, said being shortlisted was justified recognition for the gym.

He said: "This is a great reflection on the high standards that Inverclyde Leisure is setting.

"Credit must go to the staff in Gourock who deliver a fantastic service for our loyal customers.

"The Waterfront Fitness Gym won last year, so to be shortlisted again from hundreds of nominations is a great honour."

Gourock's gym, which overlooks the pool and the River Clyde, was visited by the National Fitness Awards judging team - who met staff, toured the facilities and then presented a detailed report to an expert panel of judges.

National Fitness Awards event director Judith Halkerston said: "All our shortlisted gyms have beaten off stiff competition to make it through to the finals.

"The quality of entries was exceptionally high this year, and it was a daunting task to choose the top six.

"But we believe we have made the right choices and we congratulate all the gyms for getting this far."

Mr McCorkindale believes the gym's outstanding views have helped make it such a success.

He added: "The new gym has been a great success, with membership levels increasing every month, proving that it was a good decision for the council and Inverclyde Leisure to invest in the facility."