The 32-year-old Scot used all her experience to secure victory in the GE Edinburgh ITU Duathlon World Championships.

Gwen Jorgensen of the United States made the early running in the women’s race as expected, but dropped back to the leaders before starting the tough seven lap bike course around Arthur’s Seat.

Morrison, who won this event in 2006 and also took gold in the long distance versions in 2007 and 2008,  was quick to form a lead in a pack that gradually whittled down to just two riders, herself and Sandra Levenez of France.

It was Morrison who did all the work until she slowed to walking pace, forcing Levenez ahead of her with two laps remaining.

On the final 5 kilometres run Morrison broke away and was never caught, having time to celebrate as she crossed the line in 2 hours :02min 48sec.

Levenez held on for silver, to repeat her finishing position from last year, and Felicity Sheedy-Ryan of Australia was third.

"I just made her (Levenez) do some work and I was hoping that her legs were more trashed than mine,” said Morrison.

"It feels pretty good to be world champion."

The senior men’s race was dominated by the Belgians, who finished 1-2-3 with Bart Aernouts claiming the gold.

The appearance of the Belgian men’s team was greatly anticipated by the crowd.

The late Benny Vansteelant had won here last time duathlon came to Edinburgh for the 2007 ETU European Championships, and his brother, Joerie, rode straight to the front of the bike leg and formed an impressive Belgian team with Aernouts and Rob Woestenborghs.

On to the final run Aernouts and Woestenborghs broke away from Vansteelant.

Sportingly Aernouts stayed with Woestenborghs as he faded on the final lap, but Woestenborghs pushed him forward as they approached the finish line and Aernouts took the win.

Vansteelant held on for bronze with a 36 second cushion to Spain’s Victor Morales in fourth.

Despite looking like a well drilled team, the Belgian’s had never trained together prior to this event, but had planned to make a decisive move on the bike leg.

Aernouts said: "I knew the course because I raced in 2007 when I was the under-23 European Champion.

"To come back and win in the elites is a great moment for me."

Adam Bowden was the first of the eight GE Great Britain Team men racing.

He finished seventh, with Richard Hobby tenth.

The British had further success in the team events, winning women’s gold and men’s bronze.

Morrison, Katie Ingram - who finished sixth - and Sophie Colman combined for the women’s overall title and Bowden, Hobby and Gunby made up the men’s medal winning squad.

In the under-23 events there was more success for Britain with a win for Coleman in the women’s race.

Coleman was the World Junior Champion in both 2008 and 2009 and demonstrated that she is just as good over the longer distance under-23 event.

It was team mate, Lois Rosindale who had set the early pace, but a dropped water bottle on the bike leg caused her to dehydrate on the run.

However, she held on for an excellent silver medal.  Alice Capone of Italy was third.

Coleman said: "I just couldn’t really believe it, after such a mixed year.

"To be able to come back and win this title in a new age group is cool."

n the men’s under-23 event it was France’s Etienne Diemunsch who claimed gold, actually crossing the line in eight place overall as the elite and under-23 competitors raced together over the tough course.

Britain’s Matt Gunby was second, winning an excellent silver medal in 1:54.27 and Oscar Vicente of Spain was third.

Gunby said: “I was just hanging on on the bike.

"I was surprised how quickly I got going on the run. I got the silver which is fantastic."

In the junior events there were wins for Sofie Hooghe of Belgium and Uxio Abuin ares of Spain.

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