Matthew Sharpe won the event - which consists of a one-kilometre swim and then a 5km run - in front of compatriots John Rasmussen and Aiden Longcroft-Harris respectively. 

It was Longcroft-Harris who exited Okanagan Lake first following the swim, but he was pursued by Sharpe, Rasmussen, another Canadian in Brennen Smith and Ukraine's Denys Fedorchenko.

Sharpe pushed through to lead by the halfway stage of the run and continued to build his advantage before winning in 29min 55sec.

Rasmussen finished in 30:09 for silver with Longcroft-Harris timed at 30:11. 

Smith finished fourth in 30:25 to ensure that the top four all came from Canada.

"I feel pretty good, it has a nice little ring to it I think," said Sharpe, who is from British Colombia. 

"For it was very special just being here, I am from this Province, I have raced in the Okanagon here ever since I was a little kid. 

"So it is very special to be world champion here in Canada, to have the support from everyone here was what kept me going out there."

In the women's race Britain won gold and bronze thanks to Emma Pallant and Jacqueline Slack respectively.

Another Briton exited the swim first as Chloe Pollard built an advantage of more than a minute.

Pallant was only eighth out of the water, nearly three minutes back, but she was among a strong group of runners who hunted Pollard down.

By the second lap the eventual winner had already caught up and she came home to clock 34:30.

Switzerland's Delia Sclabas split the British medallists by finishing in 34:35, as Slack was timed at 35:28.

Pollard had to settle for fourth on 35:34.

Pallant has now won two medals in Penticton after bagging duathlon bronze earlier this week.

"I am used to chasing and she went ahead in the swim in the front, but I am really happy to come away with a win," she said.

 The Aquabike and Long Distance World Championships will now take place in Penticton on Sunday (August 27).