Catriona Morrison cuts through the rain to win for Scotland

In a triumph as much over the elements and a demanding course as over her opponents, Scotland's Catriona Morrison battled to an emphatic victory in the European Duathlon Championship at Holyrood Park, Edinburgh.

British Triathlon Federation President Dr Sarah Springman had aptly expressed beforehand the wishes of the hosts when she said: "I hope the gods smile on her and everything happens perfectly."

As it turned out, even the stormy weather seemed tofavourthe 30-year-old- who was born in Glasgow and is now based in Broxburn.

"The rain was great for me. You could feel the others' nervousness on the downhill sections," said Morrison after finishing in 2:11:31, four minutes and 28 seconds clear ofthe 23-year-old Czech Radka Vodickova, with the early challenger Alexandra Louisson of France third.

"That was a bigger margin than I expected - it was quite fun, really. But I felt I'd something to prove after Hungary," said Morrison, who could finish only ninth in last month's World Championship in Hungary after winningthe previous year in Denmark.

This time there was no slip-up as Morrison built up a winning four-minute lead after the 40-kilometre bike test on the demanding road route round Arthur's Seat.

"That's as good a performance as I've seen from her in two years," said her coach Gordon Crawford. "Her bike was world class but there's no doubt this is her course."

After the opening 10k run which took them through the historic tunnel of the old Innocent Railway, Morrison was officially fourth in 36:12, though actually in a pack of four and only three seconds behind Louisson, who beat her in Hungary.

Laura Giorini of Italy and Sandra Levenez of France were also there, with Vodickova nearly 40 seconds back.

But Morrison came sharply out of the transition behind Louisson and, after sharing the pace with the tiny Frenchwoman on the opening of the six bike laps, stormed into the lead going up the gruelling ascent of Edinburgh's extinct volcano on lap two, after which her lead was 1:20, an advantage she had stretched to 2:20 after the third -and four minutes after the fourth.

The race, barring any accidents-which could easily happen on this tricky course - was as good as over. The bagpipe music played by the leading marshall's motor-bike led Morrison on to a deserved triumph with the final 5k run a mere formality.

Britain won another medal when Tom Lowe, easily the biggest man in the field, came through strongly to finish third in a men's race that was dominated by the Belgians, Benny Vansteelant winning from histeam-mate Rob Woestenborghs.

There had been an encouraging start for the host country whenKirsty McWilliam took the silver medal in the junior women's race behind British team-mate Sophie Coleman.

It might have been gold for the Glasgow rider had she not fallen heavily on the second of the three laps when in the lead. "I think it was the conditions - there was a camber on the road and it was really slippery," said McWilliam. "It's annoying as I know I'd have won if I'd not come down."

Mary Ferrier was fifth, giving Britain victory in the team contest ahead of Italy, who were third through Alexa Giussani, fourth and seventh.

Another medal stayed in Britain when Mark Threlfaal was second to Portugal's Joao Silva in the junior men's event.