LEIGH athlete Jonathan Stedman has bounced back from an injury hit winter to win the British Junior (U21) Duathlon championships on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Chase sixth former surprised himself with this success as his training has been hampered by a niggling groin strain injury.

Jonathan said: "Any racing has been a bonus with the injury I had this winter and to win this title was just amazing."

The championship, held in Pontadawe in South Wales was held over a testing 10 kilometre run course, followed by 40 kilometres of cycling and then back on foot for a final five kilometre run and was a qualifier for the World Championships to be held in Rimini, Italy in September.

Jonathan, who was the National Triathlon Youth Series winner in 1999, found himself two minutes behind after the opening run but powered his way to the front on the cycle stage and held on in the final run to win by 30 secs in a time of 1hr 56 mins.

Concentrating on his A-level exams for the next few weeks, Jonathan then looks forward to the European Championships in July in Portugal and then the World Championships in September.