A SOLICITOR from Cardigan was ‘over the moon’ to clinch a gold medal at the 2016 Kalkar Duathlon European Championships, which was held earlier this month.

David Cole, 28, a director with George Davies and Evans Solicitors in Cardigan, he competed for Great Britain in the ETU Duathlon European Championships held in Kalkar, in the district of Kleve, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

Delighted Cole posted on his twitter account the day he won on April 16: “Very proud to have won the Gold medal at the European Duathlon Sprint Champs (25-29) in Kalkar @BritTri. What a day!”

Duathlon consists of running and cycling, and David successfully took part in the 25-29 Male AG Sprint, and he was thrilled to bring home a fantastic gold medal for his whole hearted efforts.

Cole’s impressive overall winning time was 58.48 including transitions, just under the hour mark, he completed the 5km run in 17:01; cycled 20km in 30:47, and finished with a two and a half km run in 9:24; to secure his top spot on the podium.

“I was so happy to win the gold. Most of my training was spent running up hills at home, but in Germany the course was flat and it suited me,” added Cole.

Cole was brought up in Cardigan and in his younger days he regularly competed in athletics for his school and Carmarthen Harriers, in the past he has represented Wales at Under 18 and Under 20 levels, running middle distance events.

He qualified to compete for GB Duathlon team by finishing in the top three in a national qualifier event held in the Vale of Glamorgan last year, now a year later his dream to win in Europe has been fulfilled.

Team GB did brilliantly to finish on top in the Sprint Medal Table securing 16 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze medals with hosts Germany in second and Austria third.