Both the 2014 Norwich (Olympic Distance) Triathlon champions retained their titles at Whitlingham Park.

Sam Proctor of Tri Harder set a new men’s swim record for the 1,500m of 20 minutes and 26 seconds, but his lead was taken on the bike by GB athlete Jay Lingwood from Lowestoft, and Trowse-based Iain Robertson. While Proctor was able to retake Lingwood on the run for second, Robertson extended his lead to win his third Norwich Tri title in a time of 1-57:49.

In the standard distance ladies’ race, it was a dominant show by GB athlete and reigning champion Kimberley Morrison of Gunthorpe, near Fakenham, who won by a clear 12 minutes over her nearest rival, Verity Smith from Stowmarket.

Morrison’s time was beaten by only 10 of the competing men and she set a ladies’ run record and a ladies’ overall record of 2-10:57 for the 1,500m swim, 15km bike and 10km run.

She went into this year’s event in high spirits after winning her age group at Ironman 70.3 Haugesund in Norway.

The 27-year-old’s victory in the 25-29 category was achieved in impressive fashion – placing her eighth overall and as the second British woman to finish.

“I would describe it as my perfect race,” said Morrison of her Scandinavian success.

“I completed the 1.9km swim in first place and extended my lead to 12 minutes after 90km on the bike around the stunning countryside on the west coast of Norway.

“On to the half marathon run I went and I extended my lead further, running in a time of one hour, 30 minutes. I crossed the line in four hours and 30 minutes.”

The Tri-Anglia member has now qualified for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships for the first time, which will be held in Zell am See in Austria at the end of August.