BRADLEY Sutton started the defence of his World Tour Biathle title in emphatic style as he won the Italian leg by a clear 15 seconds.

The 15-year-old from Hatch Warren left the rest of the field, which consisted of athletes from Italy, Germany and Austria, in his wake in an event which included a 1,000m run followed by a 200m swim and then another 1,000m run.

The Brighton Hill Community School pupil, who had to compete in temperatures touching 35 degrees, was one of the early leaders, breaking clear during the swim and going on to record an excellent victory.

Sutton will compete at the full National Pentathlon Final in Solihull before returning to the World Biathle Tour in Germany in early July.

The third week of July will see him in action at the European Biathle Championships in Portugal.

Sutton’s younger sister Jessica had a great start to her run in Italy, but suffered a fall when in third position at the turning point, with all the athletes bunched together.

After this, she managed to claw her way back to finish in sixth place.

She will also compete at the full National Pentathlon Final later this month and in Germany in July.