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I doubt many people have heard this guy but Arthur Cooper who calls races in France and other overseas courses is absolutely awful. He called the races at Pau on Racing UK yesterday and his droning (Australian or New Zealand) monotonous voice just goes on and on never changing in tone even when calling a winner. He makes Des Scahill sound electrifying
Mike Cattermole although he tries never really makes a race any more exciting for me but i know plenty who think he’s very good,maybe it’s in my head
I doubt many people have heard this guy but Arthur Copper who calls races in France and other overseas courses is absolutely awful. He called the races at Pau on Racing UK yesterday and his droning (Australian or New Zealand) monotonous voice just goes on and on never changing in tone even when calling a winner. He makes Des Scahill sound electrifying
Messes up the names, mistakes the finishes etc and obviously sitting watching it on a TV in a studio somewhere
I’m with you on Arthur Cooper, OP. I caught some of those Pau races at the weekend and one stood out for some particularly dispassionate commentary. Two horses fought out an extended duel from three out with the lead changing hands several times, both finishing tired after trying very hard.
Cooper seemed completely unmoved and never broke out of his monotone.
The worst racecourse commentator I have ever heard was the appalling Bryan Firth, who used to commentate at the Yorkshire and northern courses in the 1980s but thankfully disappeared with the dawning of the early SIS betting shop coverage.
From the same era, John Cotterell, in the West Country, Ken Grainger, Varlian Vyner-Brooks and the plummy, patrician and military-sounding Cloudesley Marsham, who lived in to his 90s, were others who would not even get past the audition these days.
Their modern day reincarnation is the terrible Irish commentator Peter O’Hehir, who is the runaway winner of the "How does he get away with it award?"
He can kill the atmosphere of any race stone dead with his deadpan, funereal delivery. Absolutely appalling.
Martin Harris is the stand-out contender in this regard in this country. He manages to sound bored stiff and seems determined to add as little atmosphere as possible to races, accurate though he may be for the purists. Perhaps he should market himself as the human antidote to the overly excitable Mark Johnson.
I remember someone on this forum likening Arthur Cooper’s twee voice to that of Richard Hoiles. Perhaps that’s why my heart always sinks when I hear dear old Arthur commentating on French races. One of Richard Hoiles is quite enough.
Peter O’Hehir – Father Stone without the gags.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
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I doubt many people have heard this guy but Arthur Cooper who calls races in France and other overseas courses is absolutely awful. He called the races at Pau on Racing UK yesterday and his droning (Australian or New Zealand) monotonous voice just goes on and on never changing in tone even when calling a winner. He makes Des Scahill sound electrifying
Used to listen to Arthur Coopers US racing tips in the Ladbrokes shops, my god they were awful, constantly picking random evens favourites that would flop.
Shocked at no mention of Ian Bartlett – I personally mute anything he’s commentating on.
Shocked at no mention of Ian Bartlett – I personally mute anything he’s commentating on.
When he commentates I always think his underpants are too tight
From the same era, John Cotterell, in the West Country, Ken Grainger, Varlian Vyner-Brooks and the plummy, patrician and military-sounding Cloudesley Marsham, who lived in to his 90s, were others who would not even get past the audition these days.
Crusty, I refuse to believe that commentators called
Varlian Vyner-Brooks
or
Cloudesley Marsham
could be anything other than brilliant.
"He’s forlan orf…silly arrrse!"
Mike
Of that era we should not forget the excellent Micheal Seth Smith who was a top racecourse mic/bins operator.
Just remembered another, Peter Montague Evans who served as BBC commentator in the pre O’Sullevan era. These were the days when a double barrelled surname really meant something!
Dessie messed up a race completely today with calling the winner a totally different name throughout today, not even a mix up of names just a completely different name.
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