THE Gazette Sports Awards event is just two weeks away and today, in the second of our previews of the various category finalists, we look at the club-of-the-year contenders.

All the winners will be revealed on Friday, March 4 at the Apollo Hotel at one of the biggest events in the local sporting calendar.

With many of our clubs continually looking at development and improvement, choosing a winner from these finalists will be extremely difficult.

Basingstoke Bluefins Swimming Club: Basingstoke Amateur Swimming Club and Britannia Swimming Club spent a large part of 2004 in amalgamation talks and the new Bluefins club has an exciting new future. Maintaining the high coaching standard for the 550 Basingstoke members and 200 from Britannia resulted in five swimmers competing at national level. The new club now await governing body accreditation.

Basingstoke Gymnastic Club: In 2004 the club became the first in the southern region to gain British Gymnastics and Sport England accreditation through Gym and Club Mark. While continuing to improve coaching, the less-abled people are not forgotten.

Competition results were again excellent with a number of medals won at national and regional level.

Basingstoke Ice Skating Club: Competition success was led by the synchronized teams, who again dominated the British championships and went on to feature on the inter-national stage, including the world championships. Some of the figure and ice dance skaters qualified for the British championships and the club were winners of the National Team Challenge.

Overton and Basingstoke Tae Kwon-Do Club: Founded in 1997, the club has grown quickly, with 200 students at classes in Basingstoke and Overton. A strong coaching structure is supported by qualified first aiders and awareness of child protection and health and safety issues. There is also a strict code of conduct and a variety of completions.

Totally Tennis: The club coaching structure was rewarded with additional grant funding from the LTA for the schools programme. March secured a sponsorship package and September saw celebrations for Investors in People recognition. A partnership led to Brighton Hill Community College becoming the school-of-the-year in the LTA awards.