Wellington Sports Centre hosted the sixth Taunton Deane Aquathlon, sponsored by Foot Anstey, on Sunday.

More than 200 athletes and teams took part in the event, organised by Somerset RC Tri Club and Tone Leisure.

Nick Loewendahl, a trainee solicitor with Foot Anstey, beat his previous year’s time by over six minutes to win the 1000m/10k event in the senior male category.

Among the competitors in the Mixed Team 500m/5k event were husband and wife team ‘Gas and Air’ from Somerset Tri-Club - Sue and Adam Masters, completed the challenge, even though Sue is eight months pregnant.

The competition caters for differing levels of fitness and stamina with competitors able to enter either the short or longer distance race.

The short distance involves swimming 500m and running 5k and the longer race is a 1,000m swim followed by a 10k run.

Individuals compete against others in the same age category, which range from 14-15yrs to 60+years.

Particularly popular is the team event, introduced two years ago to open up the event to novices and for those that enjoyed one element of the Aquathlon, but not the other. In each team one person swims and the other runs using a relay style handover after the swim.

A record breaking 30 teams took part, some of whom had also entered the corporate challenge which encourages participation from South-West businesses, schools, clubs and other organisations.

Foot Anstey Solicitors, sponsors of the day really got behind the event entering 27 members of staff both in the individual and team entries.

Nick Loewendahl, a trainee solicitor at the firm, beat his previous year’s time by over 6 minutes to win the 1000m/10k event in the senior male category.

Both the short and long Corporate Challenge trophies were won by the teams of Queens College for the third year running, with Foot Anstey a close second.

Andrew Hannam, partner at Foot Anstey and regular competitor, said: “Every year it seems that the enthusiasm for this event surpasses the last.

“This year I was overwhelmed once again by the grit and determination and the spirit and sportsmanship of the competitors, particularly with such bad weather forecast for the day.

“There was a great atmosphere at the sports centre and I would like to congratulate all those who took part.”

Paul Lester, one of the organisers of the event said “Our sponsors, Foot Anstey, really got behind the event, not only with their generous support but by entering so many of their own staff.

“Many thanks go to all the marshals who gave up their time to help, to all the guys and gals in Somerset RC Tri who marshalled as well as raced and to the staff at Wellington Sports Centre for making us so welcome again.”

Prizes were presented by Foot Anstey’s Andrew Hannam with Paul Lester of RC Tri Club, Caroline Lewis from Queens College and Clare Bill of Tone Leisure.

A full rundown of the results at the Foot Anstey Taunton Deane Aquathlon 2010 can be viewed by clicking on the related link.