SUPER-FIT athlete Simon Hassell is set to take on the rest of the world this weekend -- in one of the toughest sporting events.

Simon, 39, who lives at Stanbury, near Haworth, will be taking on the challenge of the Swiss Ironman Triathlon in Zurich, a race which only the toughest survive.

The competition starts with a 2-mile swim across Lake Zurich after which the competitors go straight into a 113-mile cycle race and without pausing for breath they will finish off with a full marathon of 26-miles 385 yards.

He warmed up for the event by taking part in the London Marathon earlier this year and has been in training throughout the year to build up an astonishing staying power.

Usually his training sessions start early in the day, with him pulling on his wet suit to swim in the cool waters of Ponden Reservoir at 6am. His wife and children provide back-up, either keeping a close eye on him through binoculars from the bank or by paddling alongside in canoes.

He either runs or cycles to work in Bingley at the company he runs with his brother, Bingley Textile Supplies, one of the few companies providing chord for the bedding and furniture trade.

Last year he took part in his first Ironman competition, finishing the event at Frankfurt in Germany, in 11 hours 10 minutes.

With the experience of the earlier event behind him Simon hopes to improve on that time, but in Zurich he will be competing against 1,400 other competitors from 39 countries.

n Picture shows Simon on the cycle leg of the German Ironman in Frankfurt last year.