We are sad to announce the death of Dave Spooner. Dave died on Saturday 5thth September 2015 having been admitted to hospital suffering from Pneumonia. His funeral will be held at 1pm Wed 16th September at Saltwell Crematorium.
Dave Spooner was undoubtedly one of the greatest riders that rode for the Barnesbury and a star of the regional time trial, track and grass track events. In 1946 he was unbeaten on local courses – the only race he failed to win was the National 25.
Perhaps Dave’s greatest victory was in the 1947 Manx International where as part of the Barnesbury Team of Stan Bain (20th), Bob Leftwich (9th) and Bill Taylor (6th), he won the prestigious Team Trophy. Dave’s individual result for 1947 was 14th, and we do know he crossed the line in 1st place on the 1st of 2 37mile laps.
The Manx Trophy is no longer run, but in its day attracted the world’s best riders and has been won by Andre Darrigade, Tom Simpson, Barry Hoban, Rudi Altig and Jacques Anquetil, so a Barnesbury Team victory was a significant result for the club, especially as at the time massed start races (road races) were not permitted in the UK.
Dave was selected along with Stan Bain and Bill Taylor as “possibles” for the 1948 Great Britain Olympic team.
In addition to his selected Palmares below, Dave dominated the 1952 track racing season with Eleven 1st places, six 2nds and three 3rds.
In 1954 Dave won the Edinburgh Grand Prix (track), and along with the Australian John Tressider took 3rd place in the 50 lap Madison at the Herne Hill “Meeting of Champions”.
Dave retired quite early from cycling as was the norm in the 50’s to raise his family, although at a Club dinner he revealed that when he saw riders of his generation still racing successfully as Vets, he wished he had continued.
Barnesbury would like to thank Dave’s daughter Julia for providing many of the photographs of him and also photographs of his extensive medal collection. The Club would like to extend it’s sympathies to his family.
Selected Palmares
| Year |
Promoting Club |
Event |
Placing |
Time |
| 1942 |
BCC |
Open 25 |
Fastest Team |
|
1942 |
BCC |
Endurance Test |
120 miles LS |
in 10 hours |
1942 |
BCC |
Open 25 |
Fastest Novice |
01:08:58 |
1943 |
BCC |
Open 25 |
Fastest on Standard |
01:06:08 |
| 1943 |
BCC |
Open 50 |
Fastest Time |
02:14:57 |
| 1944 |
N&DCA |
|
1st Team |
02:11:32 |
| 1945 |
BCC |
25 Standard |
|
01:03:08 |
| 1945 |
County Wheelers |
Open 25 |
2nd HCap |
01:02:07 |
| 1945 |
N&DCA |
50m TT |
Fastest Time |
02:11:32 |
| 1945 |
BCC |
25m TT |
Club Record |
01:01:45 |
| 1945 |
County Wheelers |
Open 25 |
1st |
01:02:07 |
| 1945 |
National Cyclists Union |
1 Mile |
1st |
|
| 1945 |
BCC |
1000 Yards |
1st |
|
| 1946 |
Gateshead Cycling Club |
Open 25 |
1st Team |
|
| 1946 |
Gateshead Cycling Club |
Open 25 |
Fastest Time |
01:04:10 |
| 1946 |
Gateshead Cycling Club |
Tandem 30 |
Fastest Time |
01:11:25 |
| 1946 |
National Cyclists Union |
NCL Centre 880 Yards |
1st |
|
| 1947 |
Northumberland Road Club |
Open 25 |
1st Team |
01:11:10 |
| 1947 |
BCC |
Open 100 |
Fastest Team |
|
| 1947 |
Border City Wheelers |
Open 25 |
Fastest Team |
|
| 1947 |
BCC |
100 Mile TT |
Fastest Time |
04:45:40 |
| 1947 |
Manx International |
TT |
|
|
| 1948 |
National Cyclists Union |
1000 Yards |
3rd |
|
| 1948 |
Manx International |
TT |
Fastest Team |
|
| 1949 |
Wearside Wheelers |
Open 25 |
Fastest Team |
01:05:49 |
| 1949 |
National Cyclists Union |
NCL Centre 1000 Yards Grass Track |
2nd |
|
| 1950 |
BCC |
10m Competition |
2nd |
00:24:32 |
| 1950 |
Dunstan CCC |
Inter Club 10m TT |
1st Team |
00:24:57 |
| 1951 |
National Cyclists Union |
440 Yards |
1st |
|
| 1951 |
National Cyclists Union |
5 Miles |
1st |
|
| 1951 |
National Cyclists Union |
2 Miles |
1st |
|
| 1951 |
National Cyclists Union |
2 Miles |
1st |
|
| 1952 |
Jesmond Cycling Club |
Open 25 |
Fastest Team |
01:03:40 |
| 1952 |
National Cyclists Union |
5 Miles |
1st |
|
| 1952 |
Scottish National Championships |
880 Yards |
2nd |
|
| 1952 |
Scottish National Championships |
440 Yards |
1st |
|
| 1952 |
National Cyclists Union |
440 Yards |
2nd |
|
| 1953 |
National Cyclists Union |
1000 Yards |
1st |
|
| 1953 |
National Cyclists Union |
880 Yards |
1st |
|
| 1953 |
National Cyclists Union |
440 Yards |
2nd |
|
| 1954 |
National Cyclists Union |
440 Yards |
1st |
|
| 1955 |
National Cyclists Union |
1 Mile |
1st |
|
| 1955 |
Wearside Wheelers |
Open 25 |
Fastest Team |
03:10:37 |
|
BCC/N&DCA |
30m TT |
Course Record |
01:17:00 |