Pearson emerged from sporting oblivion on Sunday to win the national duathlon title.

In an astonishing comeback, Pearson beat off the challenge of Jonathan Herring, a man half his age, to record a one-minute victory in the Coldwell Banker Senior Duathlon Championships at Clearwater Beach.

Back in 1983, Pearson set a new record of 1:12:22 for the May 24 race when he won as an 18-year-old and then collapsed through heat exhaustion at the finishing line.

A medical problem forced Pearson to give up competitive running a year later and he has since lived in Britain, the United States and Australia before moving back to the Island two years ago.

Over the past year, the 35-year-old got into training again and he made his competitive comeback on Sunday in his first ever attempt at the duathlon and with no great expectations.

"All I was really looking to do was the best time I could -- I was not concerned about where I came in the field,'' said Pearson.

"But once I was in front in the race I realised I actually had a chance to win and I was trying hard to stay ahead.'' Pearson's running ability was the key to his victory. He took the lead with a blistering first 5K run, but Herring made the most of his cycling superiority to overtake him on the 30K ride.

But Pearson overtook the teenager over the last 5K run to win by a 60-second margin. Neil de Ste Croix finished a further minute behind Herring to claim third place and the 30-39 title.

Pearson revealed he would not be looking to build on his comeback triumph.

"This was a one-off,'' said Pearson. "I'm not looking to get back into anything competitive.

"For me, this was just a fun race. I'd never done a duathlon before. I'll maybe do the odd duathlon in future, but I don't see me making any kind of return to running.'' Pearson still suffers from the reflex problem partly responsible for forcing him to give up serious running in 1984 and which can lead to bad heartburn when he runs.

"I still have to be somewhat careful about it,'' said Pearson.

"I'm taking medication for it and I've found that it's not so bad when I train in the morning before I've eaten anything.

"I've been doing quite a lot of cycling because that's not quite so strenuous as running.'' Pearson had vivid memories of his sensational Marathon Derby win, when his nearest challenger was Jeff Payne, 1:20 behind.

"It was obviously a huge occasion for an 18-year-old and it was all so overwhelming,'' said Pearson. "When you know you have performed the best you can and you've won as well, it's a great feeling.

"I don't usually run well in the heat and I remember that the last few miles were very painful.

"For a long while afterwards people would recognise me in the street and it even happened a few times when we came back on holiday after we moved away.'' Other strong performances on Sunday came from fourth-placed Ted Temple who recorded the fastest bike split of the day and Leon Bascome, who led both running legs to take fifth.

Steven Petty took the masters (40-plus) title and Michael Rickards was the top senior master (50-plus).

Karen Smith won the women's title, carrying on where she left off in her superb 1999 triathlon season.

Smith opened up a two-minute lead after the first run, but was then overtaken by Laurie Orchard on the bike. Smith pulled back Orchard on the final run to claim victory.

Kim Mason took third place and the masters title, while fourth-placed Lea Butterfield won the 30-39 age group.

Runner Peter Lever and cyclist Richard Mason took the team event honours, while husband and wife team Jo and Jeff Payne won the open team category.

Veteran Kent Richardson reaped the benefits of winter training in Mallorca when he produced one of his best duathlon performances at Powerman Alabama on Sunday.

Now based in Florida, Richardson placed fourth in the 40-44 age group with a time of 2:40.07 for the 10K run-38 mile bike-5K run event.

Richardson led the 82 competitors in his division after the first run, but said he lost ground during the transition and was unable to make it up during the cycle.

As a US qualifier for the World Duathlon Champions, the race attracted a number of top professionals.

Kevin Pearson: on his way to victory in Sunday's national duathlon championships, 17 years after winning the Marathon Derby.