ON Sunday morning over 250 hardy athletes braved the cold water of Fritton Lake as they took part in the second triathlon to be held at the popular visitor attraction.

ON Sunday morning over 250 hardy athletes braved the cold water of Fritton Lake as they took part in the second triathlon to be held at the popular visitor attraction.

Competitors from all around the UK made the most of the stunning natural landscape with a swim in the beautiful lake, a cycle along the country lanes around Somerleyton, followed by a run on footpaths around the 5,000 acre estate.

With double the number of athletes taking part compared to last year's event, the Fritton Lake Triathlon has been hailed a great success.

Mike Auger from Norwich took first place in the standard distance triathlon and Gill Edmondson from London was the first woman to finish.

Winners over the sprint distance were Will Dorsett from Roughton and Rachel Rowan from Hampton. Junior aquathon winners were Adam Tapley from Cambridge and Sky Draper from London.

Many of the athletes who took part this year were raising funds for CLIC Sargent, the children's cancer charity.

The Hon Hugh Crossley, who manages the Somerleyton Estate and also took part in the event, said: “It is a great sport for Fritton Lake with great camaraderie and we are very keen to expand into adventure racing and cross country run events as well as, for the serious hard men, half iron man's for 2009 - and I feel confident we can achieve this after such a success this year. Thank you to those that supported the event by taking part and all those that assisted by being marshals on the day.”

Results. Men, Standard distance: 1 Mike Auger (Poringland), 2 Graham Perks (Chelmsford), 3 Guy Bellamy (London).

U23 winner: Daniel Coughlan (Ipswich). Senior winner: Nathan Miller (Ipswich). Masters winner: Matthew Spillman (Norwich).Veteran winner: Melvyn Wilkie (East Harling).

Sprint Distance: 1 Will Dorsett (Roughton), 2 Phil Jarvis (East Bergholt), 3 Mark Nowell (Halesworth).

U23 winner: James Maycock (Bungay). Senior winner: Simon Brierley (Attleborough). Masters winner: Matt Kirby (Chesham). Veteran winner: Frank Nichols (Mattishall).

Women, 1 Gill Edmondson (London), 2 Rose Waterman (Hetherset), 3 Sandra Levett (Hertfordshire).

Senior winner: Sara Rogger (Royston). Masters winner: Clare Thompson (Saffron Walden). Team relay winners: Team Los Toros.

Sprint Distance: 1 Rachel Rowan (Hampton), 2 Sian Loveless (Norwich), 3 Lynn Emmett (Norwich). U23 winner: Rachael Pearson (Norwich). Senior winner: Siobhan Bay (Woodford Green). Masters winner: Julie Tapley (Cambridge). Veteran winner: Susan Leveritt (Leatherhead).

Junior Aquathlon

Male Winner: Adam Tapley (Cambridge). Female Winner: Sky Draper (London).