Alan Danson

A mechanical fitter from Wigan, Alan Danson started his racing career at Wigan Wheelers before joining Reg Harris at Manchester Wheelers. Danson, who had enjoyed success in seven 25-mile road races in his first two years of competitive racing was forced to miss the 1952 season due to an injury at work. He returned in 1953 and was a member of the Manchester quartet that finished second to Norwood Paragon in the final of that year’s British National Team Pursuit Championships.

Danson was the Manchester Track League champion in 1954 and the following year broke two British records within seven days. At the new Harris Stadium (owned by Reg Harris) at Fallowfield, Manchester, he first reduced the 1,000 metres standing start record to 1:12, and then broke the half mile standing start record with a time of 57.2, at the same stadium.

Danson was selected for the 1,000 metres time trial at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics but four months before the Games he crashed heavily in a 5-mile race at Salford and had to be taken to hospital with a suspected fractured shoulder. Fortunately, Danson recovered and went to Melbourne where he finished equal fifth, just 0.7 seconds away from the bronze medal.

Although selected for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games at Cardiff, Danson pulled out less than three weeks before the start of the Games because he intended on turning professional and moving to Australia, which he did three weeks later.

Danson continued cycling in Australia and competed in the national championships but soon found he was being handicapped out of races. He took up running instead, and also trained rugby league players. Throughout his career Danson took part in over 1,200 cycle races.