Paul Curran (cyclist)
Encyclopedia
Paul Curran is a former professional English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 racing cyclist from Thornaby, Cleveland. He rode for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

 in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

, won the national road championship and won several medals at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....

.

Cycling career

Curran began riding for his local cycling club Stockton Wheelers and at the age of 14 completed a ten mile time trial at Crathorne, North Yorkshire
Crathorne, North Yorkshire
Crathorne is a village and civil parish in Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The River Leven flows through the parish. The A19 used to run through the village before a dual carriageway was built in 1975...

 in 24-49. It was obvious he had talent when in 1977 he dominated the English schools national grass and track championship winning all three individual titles in the over-15-years category. He earned his first international selection for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...

 in the San Sebastian Europa Cup match. Although Curran rose to prominence in time trails and track events, he soon established himself as one of Britain’s top road racers. In 1982 he rode for England in the Girvan pro/am three-day and was the highest placed British amateur on overall classification finishing 5th the race was won by Tony Doyle
Tony Doyle (cyclist)
Anthony Doyle MBE is an English former professional cyclist.-Biography:Doyle was world pursuit champion in 1980 and 1986. He was a professional between 1980 and 1995, riding for British teams....

. However his season was still primarily based around track events. Impressive results, winning several national track events led to selection for the 1982 Commonwealth Games
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...

 in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...

, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. He competed on the track in the 10 mile scratch event and team pursuit. He won his first commonwealth medal taking the bronze medal in the team pursuit. Curran continued to perform well on the track and competed at the World Championships in 1983 in the team pursuit and 50 km point’s race. In 1984 he showed his versatility winning the Girvan three-day overall classification was well as the King of the Mountains
King of the Mountains
The King of the Mountains is the title given to the best climber in a cycling road race; usually and officially known as the Mountains classification...

 and sprint competition. Later that season he competed in the 1984 Olympic Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...

 in the team pursuit and points race. In 1985 Curran began focusing more on road racing, retaining his title in the Girvan three-day and was 4th overall in the Milk Race. He was also 3rd in the British Road Race Championship
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...

 behind Jeff Williams
Jeff Williams (cyclist)
Jeffrey "Jeff" Williams is an English former professional road racing cyclist from Manchester. He rode for Great Britain at the Olympic Games, and won several national championship titles.-Cycling career:...

 and Paul Watson
Paul Watson (cyclist)
Paul Watson is a former professional English road racing cyclist from Milton Keynes. He was national road race champion, raced in the Tour de France and made headlines finishing 6th in the Belgium classic La Flèche Wallonne.-Road:19841985...

. However he won the Premier Calendar
Premier Calendar
The British Cycling Premier Calendar Road Race Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. It comprises a series of road bicycle races for the country's top domestic road riders.-Organisation and events:...

 series and competed in his first World road race championships, he finished 29th. In 1986 Curran was offered the chance to turn professional with Raleigh - Weinmann, however he decided to turn it down preferring to stay amateur. In 1986 he won two gold medals on the road at the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....

 in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...

, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

, one in the team time trial and one in the road race. In 1987 he won the British Road Race Championship
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...

 and British National Hill Climb Championships
British National Hill Climb Championships
The British National Hill Climb Championship is a hill climbing competition held annually by Cycling Time Trials with the location varying year on year. The first edition was in 1944.- Results :-References:***...

. He won the British National Hill Climb Championships
British National Hill Climb Championships
The British National Hill Climb Championship is a hill climbing competition held annually by Cycling Time Trials with the location varying year on year. The first edition was in 1944.- Results :-References:***...

 by just one fifth of a second over his Manchester Wheelers
Manchester Wheelers' Club
-Formation and early history:The club was formed on 7 July 1883, as Manchester Athletic Bicycle Club, the name being changed to Manchester Wheelers' Club in 1890.The Manchester Wheelers are the most successful cycling club in Britain having produced countless international riders and several World...

 team mate Chris Boardman
Chris Boardman
Christopher "Chris" Boardman MBE is a former English racing cyclist who won an individual pursuit gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics and broke the world hour record three times, as well as winning three stages and wearing the yellow jersey on three separate occasions at the Tour de France...

. That season he also won his third record breaking Premier Calendar
Premier Calendar
The British Cycling Premier Calendar Road Race Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. It comprises a series of road bicycle races for the country's top domestic road riders.-Organisation and events:...

 series title in a row. In 1988 Curran was selected for the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

 road race finishing 36th, the race was won by Olaf Ludwig
Olaf Ludwig
Olaf Ludwig is a former German racing cyclist. His career began at the SG Dynamo Gera/ Sportvereinigung Dynamo. As an East German, he raced as an amateur until reunification of Germany allowed him to become professional with Panasonic team...

. After dominating the British amateur scene for several years in 1989 Curran finally turned professional. He joined Percy Bilton riding alongside Bob Downs
Bob Downs
Robert Downs is a former English professional cyclist from Basildon Essex. He won the Tour of Ireland in 1974 and competed at the 1980 Moscow Olympics in the Men's 100 kilometres Team Time Trial. At the 1982 Commonwealth Games he won a gold medal in the 100 km T.T.T...

 and Steve Joughin
Steve Joughin
Steve Joughin is a former professional Manx road racing cyclist. He was the first Manxman ever win the British professional road race title...

. In his first season he won the British National professional Criterium championships and was 6th in the Kellogg's Tour of Britain
Tour of Britain
The Tour of Britain is a cycle race, conducted over several stages, in which participants race from place to place across parts of Great Britain....

, finishing ahead of Sean Kelly
Seán Kelly (cyclist)
John James 'Sean' Kelly is an Irish former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the most successful road cyclists of the 1980s, and one of the finest classics riders of all time. From turning professional in 1977 until his retirement in 1994, he won nine monument classics, and 193...

. In 1990 the British based professional season collapsed and Curran was left without a team. Consequently Curran reverted to amateur status in 1991 but was again struck with misfortune when he went down with double pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...

 and subsequently missed half of the season. He bounced back in 1992 finishing 3rd in the British Road Race Championship
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...

. His career ended when he broke his back in a serious accident during the Tour of the Pennines in 1996.

With wins in top amateur races in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

, Curran could probably have secured a professional contract with a continental cycling team. He preferred to remain in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 however.

Palmarés

1977
3rd RTTC National Junior Best all Rounder


1978
2nd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 3000m Pursuit - Junior
3rd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 kilo - Junior


1981
2nd Porthole Grand Prix
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Madison, 80km (with Stuart Morris)


1982
3rd Team Pursuit
Team pursuit
The team pursuit is a track cycling event similar to the individual pursuit, except that two teams, each of up to four riders, compete, start on opposite sides of the velodrome.- Race format :...

, Commonwealth Games
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...

20th 10 Mile Scratch race, Commonwealth Games
1982 Commonwealth Games
The 1982 Commonwealth Games were held in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 30 September–9 October 1982. The Opening Ceremony was held at the QEII Stadium , in the Brisbane suburb of Nathan. The QEII Stadium was also the venue which was used for the athletics and archery competitions during the...

1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Madison, 80km (with Hugh Cameron
Hugh Cameron (cyclist)
Hugh Cameron is a champion racing cyclist, having won the madison at the British National Track Championships in three consequtive years with Paul Curran. He first became interested in cycling as a schoolboy, it was at Grangefield Grammar School, Stockton-on-Tees in 1968 that he set up a cycling...

)
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 50km Points Race


1983
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Madison (with Hugh Cameron
Hugh Cameron (cyclist)
Hugh Cameron is a champion racing cyclist, having won the madison at the British National Track Championships in three consequtive years with Paul Curran. He first became interested in cycling as a schoolboy, it was at Grangefield Grammar School, Stockton-on-Tees in 1968 that he set up a cycling...

)
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Team Pursuit
2nd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 50km Points Race
2nd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 4000m Pursuit


1984
12th Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

, Team Pursuit (4000m)
22nd Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

, Points Race
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Madison (with Hugh Cameron
Hugh Cameron (cyclist)
Hugh Cameron is a champion racing cyclist, having won the madison at the British National Track Championships in three consequtive years with Paul Curran. He first became interested in cycling as a schoolboy, it was at Grangefield Grammar School, Stockton-on-Tees in 1968 that he set up a cycling...

)
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Team Pursuit
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 50km Points Race
1st   British National Hill Climb Championships
British National Hill Climb Championships
The British National Hill Climb Championship is a hill climbing competition held annually by Cycling Time Trials with the location varying year on year. The first edition was in 1944.- Results :-References:***...

 (Team)
3rd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 4000m Pursuit


1985
8th Lincoln Grand Prix
1st Premier Calendar
Premier Calendar
The British Cycling Premier Calendar Road Race Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. It comprises a series of road bicycle races for the country's top domestic road riders.-Organisation and events:...

1st Tour of Normandy
1st Grafton to Inverell Classic
1st   British National 100km Team Time Trial Championship
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 50km Points Race
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Team Pursuit
3rd British National Road Race Championships
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...

 - Amateur


1986
6th Milk Race
Tour of Britain
The Tour of Britain is a cycle race, conducted over several stages, in which participants race from place to place across parts of Great Britain....

1st Premier Calendar
Premier Calendar
The British Cycling Premier Calendar Road Race Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. It comprises a series of road bicycle races for the country's top domestic road riders.-Organisation and events:...

1st Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...

 Team Time Trial
Team time trial
A team time trial is a road-based bicycle race in which teams of cyclists race against the clock .Teams start at equal intervals, usually two, three or four minutes apart...

 (with Deno Davie, Alan Gornall, Keith Reynolds)
1st Commonwealth Games
1986 Commonwealth Games
The 1986 Commonwealth Games were held in Edinburgh, Scotland for the second time. The Games were held from 24 July-2 August 1986.-Organisation and Controversy:...

 Road Race
1st Circuit des Mines
1st Lincoln Grand Prix
1st British National Hill Climb Championships
British National Hill Climb Championships
The British National Hill Climb Championship is a hill climbing competition held annually by Cycling Time Trials with the location varying year on year. The first edition was in 1944.- Results :-References:***...

 (Team)


1987
1st Premier Calendar
Premier Calendar
The British Cycling Premier Calendar Road Race Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. It comprises a series of road bicycle races for the country's top domestic road riders.-Organisation and events:...

1st Winner of the British National Road Race Championships
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...

 (Amateur)
1st Lincoln Grand Prix
1st British National 100km Team Time Trial Championships (with Deno Davie, Peter Longbottom, Rob Holden
Rob Holden
Rob Holden CBE is a British accountant, born in Manchester. He holds a degree in Economics from Lancaster University.Holden initially worked at the Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, working on Trident....

)
1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Team Pursuit
1st British National Hill Climb Championships
British National Hill Climb Championships
The British National Hill Climb Championship is a hill climbing competition held annually by Cycling Time Trials with the location varying year on year. The first edition was in 1944.- Results :-References:***...

1st British National Hill Climb Championships
British National Hill Climb Championships
The British National Hill Climb Championship is a hill climbing competition held annually by Cycling Time Trials with the location varying year on year. The first edition was in 1944.- Results :-References:***...

 (Team)
2nd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 50km Points Race


1988
36th Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

, Road race
1st Premier Calendar
Premier Calendar
The British Cycling Premier Calendar Road Race Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. It comprises a series of road bicycle races for the country's top domestic road riders.-Organisation and events:...

1st   British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Team Pursuit
1st British National Hill Climb Championships
British National Hill Climb Championships
The British National Hill Climb Championship is a hill climbing competition held annually by Cycling Time Trials with the location varying year on year. The first edition was in 1944.- Results :-References:***...

 (Team)
1st Lincoln Grand Prix
2nd British National Team Time Trial Championship
3rd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 50km Points Race
3rd British National Hill Climb Championships
British National Hill Climb Championships
The British National Hill Climb Championship is a hill climbing competition held annually by Cycling Time Trials with the location varying year on year. The first edition was in 1944.- Results :-References:***...



1989
1st Porthole Grand Prix
1st   British National Circuit Race Championships
British National Circuit Race Championships
The British National Circuit Race Championships cover several different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually. The first championships were held in 1979 for professional cyclists only. Amateur championships were introduced in 1993 but only 3 of these were held as...

, Professional
2nd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

, Professional 5,000m Pursuit


1991
1st Lincoln Grand Prix
1st British National Track 100km Team Time Trial Championships (with Chris Boardman
Chris Boardman
Christopher "Chris" Boardman MBE is a former English racing cyclist who won an individual pursuit gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics and broke the world hour record three times, as well as winning three stages and wearing the yellow jersey on three separate occasions at the Tour de France...

, Peter Longbottom, Scott O'Brien)


1992
3rd British National Road Race Championships
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...

 - Amateur
2nd British National 100km Team Time Trial Championships (with Wayne Randle, John Tanner
John Tanner (cyclist)
John Tanner is a British racing cyclist from Yorkshire. He competed in the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games.He has won the season-long British Cycling Premier Calendar five times.-Palmarés:1992199419951997...

, Julian Ramsbottom)


1993
1st National Motor-Pace Championship
3rd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Team Pursuit


1994
1st Archer Grand Prix
Archer Grand Prix cycle race
- History :The Archer Grand Prix has been run annually for over fifty years, organised by Stuart Benstead of the Archer Road Club . It has been descried by British Cycling as a "long running classic". The first edition was held in 1956 and won by British rider, Alfred Howling...

1st National Motor-Pace Championship
3rd British National Track Championships
British National Track Championships
The British National Track Championships are held annually. Organized by British Cycling, they are competitions of various track cycling disciplines in age, gender and disability categories.-Senior :-Amateur :...

 Madison (with Hugh Cameron
Hugh Cameron (cyclist)
Hugh Cameron is a champion racing cyclist, having won the madison at the British National Track Championships in three consequtive years with Paul Curran. He first became interested in cycling as a schoolboy, it was at Grangefield Grammar School, Stockton-on-Tees in 1968 that he set up a cycling...

)
3rd British National Track 100km Team Time Trial Championships (with Rob Harris, Wayne Randle, Mark Lovatt
Mark Lovatt
Mark Lovatt is a British road racing cyclist who represented the United Kingdom at the 2001 UCI Road World Championships and England at the 2002 Commonwealth Games....

)


1995
1st National Motor-Pace Championship
3rd British National Road Race Championships
British National Road Race Championships
The British National Road Race Championships cover different categories of British road bicycle racing events, normally held annually.-History:...

 - Amateur


1996
1st National Motor-Pace Championship
1st British National 100km Team Time Trial Championships (with Wayne Randle, Kevin Dawson)
3rd British National 50m Time Trial Championships (with Wayne Randle, Kevin Dawson)


External links

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