Kirklees Active Leisure Sports centre staff celebrated a great year at a special awards ceremony at the Galpharm Stadium.

Almost three hundred members of staff and sponsors attended Kirklees Active Leisure's Celebration Event, which had a glamorous Las Vegas theme.

Guests enjoyed a three-course meal at the black tie event and entertainment included dancing girls from the Natasha Parson's School of Dance and compere Steve Black, a motivational speaker who has worked with Jonny Wilkinson and Newcastle United and who currently has the role of performance coach with Huddersfield Town AFC.

Ten awards were presented to individuals and centres, followed by dancing to a live band and DJ.

Stadium Health & Fitness Complex won the coveted Centre of the Year award for consistently delivering on its targets in all areas. It narrowly beat off stiff competition from Colne Valley Leisure Centre and Holmfirth Pool.

The Stadium's Sally Wilkinson received the Star of the Future award for her energy and enthusiasm. Her colleague duty manager Richard Kempley collected the Member of Staff of the Year award for being a high-performing superstar.

Kathryn Woodfield, operations manager of the Stadium Health & Fitness Complex, said: "All staff at the Stadium were ecstatic at winning these three amazing awards.

"To be consistent in all areas is a true reflection of all the hard work and commitment my staff have shown this year, and they should all be proud of what they have achieved."

Huddersfield Sports Centre produced three winners, including Manager of the Year Hazel Francis, described as an inspiring leader. Cleaner Brigid Walsh was named the KAL Customer Champion by customers themselves for making sure customer expectations are met and fitness instructor Joanne Hartley shared the Best Newcomer award for hitting the ground running.

General manager of Huddersfield Sports Centre Hazel Francis said: "Staff at Huddersfield Sports Centre were delighted with the awards they received. The three awards received reflected the team efforts, hard work and dedication from all the staff at the sports centre.''

Three support services staff, based at KAL's head office at the Stadium, won prizes. Sales and retention manager Helene Riley shared the Best Newcomer award for quickly being part of the team; Karen Doyle, membership sales assistant, got the Spirit of KAL gong for inspiring and motivating those around her and George Smith for always offering energy-saving advice and support to colleagues.

Dewsbury Sports Centre staff collected the new award for Energy Efficiency for having the greatest impact on reducing the organisation's energy use and making environmental improvements.

The Most Improved Centre of the Year was named as Deighton Sports Arena for the greatest overall improvement during the year. Staff there beat newly-refurbished Batley Sports & Tennis Centre and Batley Baths.

Alasdair Brown, KAL Chief Executive, said: "We are very proud of the hard work and achievements of all the KAL staff over the past year. This event and awards ceremony is a key way for KAL to recognise success and performance and to reward it.

"As far as I am concerned, every member of staff should receive an award for the fantastic effort, dedication and commitment that they show every day while working for KAL. It's fantastic that every site was so well represented at this year's event and the atmosphere was wonderful. I'm sure those who didn't manage to actually win in 2010 will be all the more determined to win in 2011.

"Thank you to everyone involved in organising it and well done to all our staff for their efforts and energy which has helped us to continue to move forward and provide high quality leisure services to the people of Kirklees."

The Celebration Event was organised by a committee of staff members Linda Johnson, Karen Doyle, Kathryn Woodfield, Barry Turnbull and Helene Riley. It was entirely funded by ticket sales and sponsors.