Simon Coughlan struck gold for Ireland at the European Masters Track Championships held at the Velodrome in Manchester yesterday. He was competing in the 3 kilometers individual pursuit in the 30/35 age bracket. He posted the fastest time of the 38 competitors in the preliminary heats of the competition. In the run off for gold he went six seconds faster than his rival Stuart Dodd of England.

Joel Stewart also from England won the bronze medal. Next rung on the ladder for Coughlan who races with the Donamon Dynamos in Roscommon is a tilt at the World Masters in Australia later in the year.

Coughlan is a former winner of the Junior Tour back in 1992, but in recent years has turned his attention to track racing. "It was a wonderful feeling to have struck gold in the Velodrome where in March, David O'Loughlin finished sixth in the World Track Championships. He certainly spurred me on into doing well and hopefully in Beijing later in the month he'll do Ireland proud," said Simon.

Chairman of the Track Commission, Liam Walker, "it is a marvelous achievement for Simon. He has worked hard and he got his just rewards winning his particular category. Last weekend he won silver at the National Track Championships. So! It has been a good week both for Simon and the track," said Liam.

The big event on the road this weekend is the Suir Valley Three Day which starts in Clonmel this afternoon.

Simon Coughlan 3min.34 Stuart Dodd silver 3.40, Joel Stewart caught his opponent for 3kms pursuit