Coachford racing to honour world champion

The honours keep coming for race walker Olive Loughnane, who was recently awarded a gold medal for the 2009 20km World Championships after the lead athlete was disqualified for a drug offence.

Coachford's Autumn Festival will return for its seventh year next month with a five-mile road race the main attraction and local resident Loughnane's achievements will be recognised in a ceremony at the event.

The village already sports a tribute to the Olympian in the form of a permanent sculpture and will use the occasion to celebrate her upgraded medal achievement.