FORMER Joseph Rowntree student David Benton has become a world champion just months after entering his first duathlon competition.

Benton ran and pedalled his way to victory in Geel, Belgium, winning the age 35-39 category and beating off the challenge of 90 rivals selected from a range of 35 countries.

He was one of only two British men to clinch world titles and his heroics were also captured on Belgian TV as the French Open tennis at Roland Garros was washed out.

Remarkably, the World Championships represented only the fourth duathlon Benton had competed in - his first was earlier this year in Derbyshire.

He finished second in that competition behind Great Britain's top elite duathlete and, in the process, booked his place for Belgium.

GB's elite squad, who are categorised separately from age group competitors, had already been selected by that stage but Benton still clocked up a quicker time than five of the supposed superior duathletes in the World Championships.

Benton starred for Nestl Rowntree Athletics Club as a junior 800m and 1500m runner and after he returned to York as a civil engineering Cambridge University graduate.

His previous honours include a third-place 1500m finish in the Yorkshire Championships and, after moving south, he also clinched the Surrey 10K title.

Benton, who is now based in Paris, decided to take up duathlon when he grew tired of the cut-throat nature of traithlon's swimming element after an off-putting experience on the Barcelona coast.

The duathlon involves a 40km cycle race, sandwiched between 10k and 5k road races.

Benton was the fastest runner from his field at both distances, clocking 32 minutes, 43 seconds and 14 minutes, 22 seconds.

He was the 12th quickest cyclist, covering the 40 kilometre course in one hour, 22 minutes and 55 seconds.

His overall time of one hour, 51 minutes and 27 seconds saw him finish 38 seconds ahead of his compatriot and nearest rival Alan Rowe, who he succeeded as world champion.

Benton's skills and endurance in the saddle appear to have been inherited from his parents.

Keith and Ann Benton are both members of Audax UK Cycling Club, which specialises in long-distance cycling, and the Wigginton couple have recently returned from a 750-mile marathon in France.

That race had to be completed in less than 90 hours, allowing only enough time for quick naps en route.

Updated: 11:10 Wednesday, June 09, 2004