THIS year's Clash of the Tritons aquathlon attracted more than 120 competitors with ages ranging from 12 to 61 years old.

Held at the Eric Liddell Leisure Centre, Mottingham Lane, the race consisted of a 500m swim and a 5k run around Eltham College.

The race attracted people from Hertfordshire, Wokingham, Worcester and even the US as a visiting American found out about the race on the internet.

In the men's category Andre Van Der Merwe took first place in a new record time of 22mins 41secs.

Christopher Mullington from Worcester Tri took second in 23mins 18secs while Blackheath Harrier Anthony Draper was third in 24mins 6secs.

In the women's category Vanessa Parry and Maddie Gleave took joint first place in 28mins 44secs. Eight seconds behind was Lara Hawkings from Dartford Road Runners.

The male over-40s was won by Anthony Towers of Tuff Fitty Tri Club in 25mins 47secs while Peter Manning of Sevenoaks Tri Club took second place in 28mins 13secs. Keith Murphy from Trent Park Running Club took third in 30mins 26secs.

Kim Rowe from Thames Turbo took the womens' over-40s title in 29mins 23secs followed by Vicki McCarthy in 30mins and Marion Lambert in 30mins 59secs, both from Trent Park Running Club.

The under-16s completed a shorter race of a 250m swim and a 2.5k run. Josh Snow of Bexley Swimming Club took first-place in 26mins 50secs while Josh Grant was second in 28mins 12secs.

Sophie Corbidge of the Dartford Harriers won the under-16 girls event in 27mins 14secs and Georgina Frost was second in 30mins 4secs.

Race organiser Keren Fallwell said: "The aquathlon is becoming a must-do competition for many athletes.

"A large number have already said they will be back in 2006."