When it comes to tough sports David Cole of Cardigan has few equals as he recently proved by clinching his selection for Great Britain in next year’s European Duathlon Championships in Spain.

There was a time when 26-year-old Cole was a more than useful midfielder with local football clubs Maesglas and Newcastle Emlyn, but on his introduction to Duathlon, Triathlon and Ironman events he was bitten and from then on it was purely endurance sports for him.

Although regularly taking part in various endurance events it is in the Duathlon that he will represent Britain in Madrid next April. The main difference between Duathlon and Triathlon is that the former does not include a swimming leg.

The Duathlon qualifying event in which the powerful athlete, who is a solicitor with George Davies & Evans in Cardigan, clinched his place in the national side, was held at Oulton Park in Cheshire. It involved a 10k run followed by a 40k bike ride and culminated in a five kilometre run.

Last year Cole was one of the top performers in an Ironman event in Tenby and has since made quite a name for himself at Duathlon and Triathlon events throughout the UK.

On hearing of his selection for the GB team the hugely amicable Cole, who has pursued endurance sports for the past 18 months, said “I really enjoy taking part and I consider being selected for Great Britain as a great honour. I am absolutely over the moon”.