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Back in the day, when I started racing in the mid to late 80's, two riders dominated British road racing; Deno Davie and Paul Curran.

Both raced for the mighty Manchester Wheelers and I was lucky enough to get to know both later on in my life.

Just over ten years ago, I was at Phil Griffiths wedding, sitting across the table from me was Paul Curran; as we got talking I told him I had been a big fan and had driven the service vehicle which was behind him and his breakaway companions, when he won the Commonwealth Games road race in 1986.

Deno riding for the famous Manchester Wheelers in the Zorbit GP.

He then told me that my picture was on his dining room wall, as the photographer had been on the line and taking his shot down the finish line with the service vehicle right behind him.

(Too close, according to commissaire, Gerry McDaid, who had to warn me more than once about my proximity to the group.)

Deno Davie on the other hand, went off to the Italian outfit Carrera and had two successful seasons; riding the Vuelta twice and various other high profile races until a very bad crash at the World's brought a premature end to his career.

On returning to the UK he eventually became the rep for Assos, Rudy Project, and Corima to name but a few, and one night turned up at my house with his boss Mr. Phil Griffiths.

They would regularly stay at my home and we would go out for dinner, put the world to rights and blether about the world of cycling.

We became friends and later I introduced him to another friend, an Irish girl called Tanya; they are now happily married with two children, and stayed with us over New Year.

Never one to miss an opportunity we dived out to the Sheep's Heid for a few pints and a walk down memory lane.

When did you start racing?

"When I was about 13 or 14; I had a Chopper but a couple of friends were telling me about all these places they visited on there touring bikes.

"We had races round the village green.

"My Dad, who had been New Zealand sprint champ and used to race with Reg Harris at the Fallowfield Velodrome in Manchester, agreed to get me a Claud Butler.

"Shortly after this, a guy came round all the schools to promote the "Viking Trophy" and I won the qualifying heat at my school, then was second at the regional heat and 2nd in the National final. (Both these were won by Robert Shirley, Kirkby CC)"

What was your first club?

"Manchester Wheelers!

"My dad rode with them so it was natural for me to do likewise.

"They were more than the racing team that most people thought they knew.

"Jack Fletcher had been a member of the 'Wheelers' for a long time and indeed had like many others been helped financially by them.

"It was very family and community orientated, so when he made his money he repaid the debt he felt he owed by sponsoring and personally helping so many of the best UK riders."

Your first success?

"In those days the Peter Buckley series was always over subscribed, so in order to get an entry in my local event, The Junior Peaks, I had to be slightly creative with my entry details.

"I finished 11th behind Chris Walker who won and Joey McLaughlin who was 10th.

"As part of a Manchester Wheelers team, we rode the Kenilworth International 2 day.

"It felt like the big time as we had a manager, mechanic and a masseur and we were up against among others the full GB squad.

"I was riding a Condor by now and we won overall and the team prize.

"This gave me a real result; as a 2nd year junior I could ride the whole series and finished 2nd to Chris Walker and was selected for the Junior Worlds in New Zealand.

"I rode the team pursuit on the track and the road race, but crashed with two laps to go when in the winning break."

So what happened next?

"As a second year junior I rode for the Zenith, however when I turned senior I was lured back to the the 'Wheelers' by Jack.

"My first season was relatively progressive no massive wins but I won the Divisional Champs. The big break-through was in 87' when I beat Jonny Clay in the British Champs. It was a place to place race rather than a circuit and finished in Birmingham with big crowds. [Deno obviously doesn't count winning a Commonwealth Games Team Time Trial Gold Medal in '86 as big! Editor]

"I had gone well all year and was always there or there abouts in the Star Trophy's (now Premier's) so it was great to win the 'big one'.

"We also won the British TTT championships then drove up to Dunfermline to ride the CR Smith Crit which was a superb race. They booked us a great hotel, gave us appearance money and really looked after us. Paul won it and I was 3rd so it was a lucrative weekend.

"With the help of Paul Sherwen and Mike Taylor I got into ACBB for '88 and had a really solid year with them, although GB chose to overlook me for the Worlds as they would only consider UK results at the time."

Eventual British Champ Deno leads Jonny Clay.

How did you get the contract with Carrera?

"At the end of '88 my DS at ACBB, Claude Escalon, called the head of Carrera and arranged for me to do a King Cycle test.

"I was later told that my results were better than Stephen Roche's!

I was in; they gave me a two year deal on £25,000 per year. But the approach was very business like; you were very much a commodity to them and there was no sensitivity.

They wanted exposure for the sponsors so you had to deliver.

I remember innocently going to the pictures one night with a few others from the team and when the DS found out he gave us a right bollocking because we were mixing with others who could be carrying infections plus sitting in a smoky cinema, which none of us had thought of."

How did your first season go, any results?

"Pretty well; in the Vuelta stage into Jaca I jumped over to Sean Yates who was on his own and we rode together holding the bunch off for the last 20k, however he beat me in the sprint.

"It was the first GB one-two in a Grand Tour stage.

"We rode a top class programme and I rode some fantastic races throughout Europe but the Spanish racing really suited me, it was very aggressive."

The famous image of Deno and Sean heading for a unique 1-2 in a Grand Tour stage.

Where did you go from there?

"In my second year I rode the Vuelta again and by just keeping out of the way and staying near the front I was the highest placed on GC going into the TTT.

"We had a very strong squad (Zimmermann, Bontempi, Visentini, Maechler) and felt we could take the jersey.

"It was only 50k but at about 20k we came across some road works and I got a rear wheel puncture.

"The team waited but the mechanic made a bad change and they had to keep going; I was left to ride in myself.

"When I reached the finish and saw the result I knew if I had finished with the rest of the team I would have taken the leader's jersey! Mightily pissed off does not begin to describe how I felt; my morale went through the floor.

"It was over a week later in the race before I felt like riding again."

Deno's Carrera 'hero card'.

That was the year you crashed at the Worlds, what happened?

"Yes, it was pouring down and I was still in the bunch, we had another 10 laps to go and as we came round a corner on the descent a team car that had been following the break had skidded off the road and was half in the ditch with the back end over the road. The guys at the front came together and nearly everyone came down.

"I ended up in the ditch with a broken arm, wrist, nose and very bad cuts. I was in hospital for weeks then came back to the UK.

"By then, Carrera had offered me a new contract but only verbally. I went back to Italy around mid February and they said they had no space for me. I had had enquiries from other teams in Spain but wanted to stay with Carrera as it was a good set up, but by that time it was too late.

"I rode in France for Peugeot but it wasn't the same level and I began to know it was all over."

Any regrets or things you would do differently?

"No regrets really but I wish I had taken my Dad over to coach and look after me as we have a very good understanding.

"In pro cycling you will always have more downs and disappointments than wins so it would have been good to have family around for support."

1987 British Road Champion.

Did you see anyone taking 'kit'?

"No but you were aware it was about and available.

"In Carrera we had great medical backup and we were put on glucose drips etc but I always made it clear I wanted to race clean otherwise what was the point!"

Any advice for younger riders now?

"Just to have belief in your own ability, results don't lie and if you’re good enough people will notice you."

Do you still ride or follow the racing scene?

"I try and get out but only for a few hours here and there, family and work keep me very busy.

Pro cycling in the UK does seem to be on the up with Team Sky and a lot of domestic teams like Pinarello, Condor, and Sigma  - there's no shortage of inspiration for younger riders who have the ability.

"When ANC rode the tour in 87' it really motivated me."

What is your job now?

"Tanya (my wife) and I have a company called Stretch and Grow which goes into schools and nursery's etc to install good habits into kids about exercise, sport, healthy eating and diet.

"We sell franchises throughout the UK and run our local one near Alderly Edge."

And lastly, any good memories that stand out?

"One of the first races I rode for Carrera was the early season Tour of Sicily.

"I was hiding down near the back and could see Sean Kelly making his way down the bunch. When he got to me he introduced himself and chatted offering advice and help. It meant a lot to me as he clearly went out of his way to do it and of course didn’t need to either, but there was a great sense of camaraderie especially among the English speakers."

A big ‘thank you’ to Deno for his time.

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