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Dave Pountney, aka "DP"

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Philip Whiteman:
RIP DP

I have received sad news that Dave Pountney, known as DP to many cyclists, passed away on Tuesday following a lengthy period of bladder cancer.   

Dan Howard, Chair of Cycling UK, circulated the following statement:

"Hi everyone,   It’s with sadness that I’m emailing you to let you know that Dave Pountney died in hospital yesterday morning. Charlotte and Claire, his sister, were with him and he died peacefully. Dave supported and influenced so many of us and he’ll be really missed.   We’ll circulate funeral details when they’re known.   Best wishes,   Dan"

DP was instrumental in the creation of the Kidderminster Killer and Elenith audaxes.  He was a stalwart within the Kidderminster CTC as well as being an accomplished audax and mileater.  Several hundred cyclists participated in his audaxes over the years and will remember his great humour at the HQ and within the materials sent to riders along with the friendship, care and attention given to riders.

At a personal level I was honoured to inherit the Kidderminster Killer from DP and by total coincidence, Mark Rigby and I have recently relaunched DP's other flagship, The Elenith in calendar and permanent event forms respectively.

 
Cycling UK awarded him a Certificate of Merit for cycling accomplishments and the accompanying statement provides a fitting tribute to the great DP.

------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Pountney - Certificate of Merit

Dave Pountney (known to everyone as DP) joined the CTC in 1959 but didn’t really start cycling until approximately 8am on the 10th March 1965. We know this because as well as being an avid cyclist he is also meticulous diary keeper, having logged all of his so far 482,841 miles.

His need to start cycling happened by chance, his mode of transport to work in his younger days was a trustee moped, unfortunately one day the engine fell out on the way back home. Having the “can do” work ethic DP decided to cycle the hilly 14 miles to work and back, it’s been told that that night he crawled upstairs on his hands & knees. This led to the cycling career he is now being recognised for. DP has been on the Kidderminster CTC committee since 1965 and has become a mainstay of the club being on the committee for a continuous 46 years (and still counting), holding positions of Secretary, Treasurer, magazine editor & opening up the club room between September & May for the last 12 years.

Only last year DP retired from organising the well known audax, the Elenith (26 years) & Kidderminster Killer (22 years), two rides which showed DP’s fondness for hills. His other achievements include riding the Paris Brest Paris in 1979, 1983, 1987 & 1991 & many other audax to numerous to mention.

DP has given slide shows at club events, other CTC clubs around the UK and also at the “Birthday Rides”. He has cycled through many countries one of his last being China. This Certificate of Merit would not be complete without acknowledging DP’s inspiration to new & old riders. There are many members today, still cycling through DP’s encouragement & guidance. The sense of achievement he has helped young riders accomplish should not be under estimated, the selfless support in battling a headwind, cycling through 20 hours of rain in the depths of Wales, the sharing of bonk rations (mainly jelly babies) are qualities learnt and taken with you on life’s roller coaster journey.

All-in-all whenever we talk of the Kidderminster CTC we say the initials DP in the same breath.

BlackSheep:
This is devastating news, and saddens me greatly.

He was "A cyclist's cyclist". I had the privilege of being severely tested on some of his events.

He will be missed. Rest in peace Dave.

Salvatore:
Very sad news, if not unexpected. This was the last photo he posted on flickr some months ago. As he usually posted at least once a day his absence since then was ominous.
Signing Off for a time ...... by Dave, on Flickr

--- Quote ---Signing Off for a time ......
….. as I am cashing in quite a few of my lifetimes 'donations' to the NHS :-(
--- End quote ---

The first time I met Dave was the 1987 Elenith, my first attempt at a 300. The little group I was with finished 2​ 1⁄2 hours out of time and Dave was still there at the scout hall to welcome us back. I rode the Elenith most years after that.

Two years later I rode the first LEL with him (or an increasingly large distance behind him) and later that year I rode the first Kidderminster Killer (although it was called 'Shropshire Lanes' or something). This time I was a victim of hedge clippings (8 punctures before I ran out of tubes and patches) and again I was out of time. When I arrived at the hall a note was pinned to the door "John, come to my house. Dave", but seconds later Dave appeared (on a two-wheeled bike!) and led me to Trikie Towers where he generously put me up for the night.

Our paths often crossed in the intervening decade, and in recent years on flickr. Photography was one of his passions and cyclists of advancing years may remember seeing his slide show 'Kidderminster Capers" (most of which seemed to show Kidderminster CTC crossing deep fords or pushing through deep snow, many of which can be seen here).  In recent years he produced some stunning wildlife photos. The last time saw him was a couple of years ago when he and Charlotte (and their dog Turbo) invited me to lunch when I was passing through Kidderminster. Dave was anticipating reaching 500,000 miles lifetime mileage, but I don't think he quite made it.

RIP Dave

CrazyEnglishTriathlete:
RIP DP

The Kidderminster Killer and the Elenith were inspirations at the start of my Audax life.  Beautiful and signature events.

Jethro:
I am deeply saddened by this news.

It was Dave that influenced me greatly into long distance cycling when he organized the CTC Birmingham & Midland DA 240 in 24 in the late 60's and into the early 70's.  I entered this event in 1972 at the age of 17 and would not have been able to complete the event without Dave's help and encouragement.  When AUK began in 1975 (?) Dave became one of the first members.  I think his membership number was 0075 and I joined not long after and had the number 0077 until my membership expired for a couple of years.

I have many very happy memories of riding with Dave not just in Audax events, but on CTC events and general club riding although I have never been a member of Kidderminster CTC.

RIP Dave, you were one of the very best and will be sadly missed.

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