Talented Morris heads the field in duathlon at Cirencester Park (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Talented Morris heads the field in duathlon at Cirencester Park

SWINDON Road Club's Tim Morris braved cold and blustery conditions to finish ahead of the rest of the field in the Tomac Duathlon held in Ciren-cester Park on Sunday.

Morris, who lives in South Cerney, was competing in a seniors' event - consisting of a one-mile run, a five-mile mountain bike race and followed by another one-mile run - for only the second time.

Conditions were demanding and, although the sun was at least out, a bitter wind ensured that temperatures stayed close to freezing.

However, the previous week's rains had turned this two-lap mountain bike course into a true technical challenge.

Morris, a former Kingshill School pupil who started cycle racing only last year after having been selected for the British Cycling Talent Team, reached the transition area after the first run in fifth position.

The 16-year-old, who is being sponsored by Noah's Ark Cycles in Chalford, near Stroud, coped extremely well with the slippery MTB track.

In fact, he was one of the few riders who managed to ride up the steep hill near the finish.

Leading the field after the first lap, Morris, who is now studying AS-levels at Balcarras School in Charlton Kings, was still clear at the end of the MTB phase of the race.

Keeping his head, Morris took his lead into the last run, finishing the second run well clear of the field in a time of 43 minutes and 39 seconds.

He recently competed in the Winter Salisbury Plain Chal-lenge 50k where he finished as third junior.