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14-Mar-86

Cleveland Sports Personality of the Year

Paul, Louise clinch the Cleveland star awards

TWO young Cleveland stars who achieved outstanding performances in 1985, yet who have still to realise their full potential, were named as the county's top sporting personalities of the year at the Post House, Thornaby, last night.

They were 25-year-old cyclist Paul Curran, last year's amateur road racing champion form Thornaby and 18-year-old Louise Stuart from Stokesley, the Middlesbrough and Cleveland Harrier whose 200 metres silver medal in the European championships earned her the vote as the country's top junior female athlete.

Paul, who recently turned down an offer to turn professional, has high hopes of competing in the Milk Race, the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships in only his second season as a road rider, after achieving Olympic representation on the track.

Louise will be aiming in the immediate future to achieve the Commonwealth Games qualifying time of 23.2 see, and will be leaving soon for some warm weather training in Portugal.

Realistically she has set her sights beyond this year to the Olympics in 1988, and the next Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in four years time.

The duo headed a talented group of sports people who were being honoured by the Sports Aid Foundation.

The team award went to Western Social Club, who were CIU national team billiards champions for a record tenth time.

Junior winners were Peter Richardson, from Ormesby, who bids this month for a third national schoolboys boxing title, and Lisa Wright, Middlesbrough's BMX star, who was also national champion for a second time in 1985.

Other special awards went to Gwen Sutton, British open women's darts champion; Denise Ross, blind discus champion; Stephen Hackney, England under-18 rugby player; Gary Havelock, 16-year-old speedway sensation; and national schools champions Vernon Ferguson (boxer), Louise Morris (swimmer) and Melanie Kell (1,500m athlete).

They were presented with their trophies by the donors, Derek Priestman, of Ruffers Travel Ltd., Mrs. Mary Wren, of Stockton Engraving Co., Gene Jarred, of E.C. Jarred (M.S.S.) Ltd., and County Councillor John Stokes and Mrs. Stokes, on behalf of Cleveland County.