The Club sadly reports the passing of John Pratt last week at Arohanui hopsice (Palmerston North) after a lengthy battle with cancer, aged 81 (born 22 May 1944).

Optimistic and positive to the end, he had taken advantage of the Club's Early Bird membership renewal offer for 2026 and was looking forward to another year of riding in the Summer Criterium Series with his new pair of complimentary gloves.

Despite numerous invasive surgeries over recent years that would have permanently sidelined most people, due to his exceptional fitness and determination, he was able to gather himself and bounce back into competitive racing, winning a gold medal in the road race at the National Age Group Championships in 2024.

His effort in winning the gold medal at the Nationals in 2024 also saw him awarded the club's coveted Rider of the Year Trophy that year.

One of the most successful riders in the history of the Kapiti Cycling Club, John’s consistent podium finishers at regional and national level over the years stretch back to the 60’s.

The photo below shows John raising an arm in triumph as he crests the top of the Kaimai Ranges on his way to winning the mountain stage of the Dulux Six Day Race in 1967, beating Commonwealth and Olympic Games cyclists in the process.                             

John's purple patch in 1967 continued with a win in the prestigious round Mount Egmont (Mt Taranaki) road race, which once again saw him beating internationally recognised riders.

In more recent years, proudly riding in our Club colours, as well as his 2024 win at Age Group Nationals, John won gold in 2015 and 2020.  The photo directly below shows a beaming 71-year-old John celebrating his 2015 gold medal with his brother, Bob Pratt, one of the Club's founders and our Club President for many years.                                            

Atop the podium in 2020, with a bottle of wine ready to toast his victory.

Being able to compete and win at the national level meant John was always a handful at club level on a Tuesday night over summer and at our Winter Series and Club Champs, with the result that his name is engraved multiple times on many of our cups and trophies as a permanent reminder to us of his cycling excellence.

A much respected club member who was always willing to drive down from his home in Levin to arrive early to help out prior to racing, he was an inspiration to many of the younger riders he competed against, a great guy who will be sadly missed by his many friends in our club and the cycling community.

Article added: Sunday 11 January 2026