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https://x.com/RacingTV/status/1800868612435005615
Awful news.
I had wondered why Jonathan didn’t cover the Cheltenham hunter chase meeting last month as it was always one of his favourites.
I always enjoyed his coverage as he was humorous, informative and didn’t shy away from speaking his mind. He wasn’t afraid to a call a horse a rogue when he deserved it.
If any racing broadcaster was going to be a poster on this forum I would have see it being Jonathan.
A real loss to the sport.
That really is sad to news to hear. He was a fine broadcaster and his opinions were always worth hearing. He also brought a nice touch of humour to proceedings as well. His absence throughout the last National Hunt season was keenly felt on RTV.
My sympathy to his family and friends.
Very sad news and I felt he was missing for quite a while. I missed him at the bigger NH meetings on a Saturday, but also at smaller tracks like Ludlow or Taunton during the week.
He knew quite a lot about the pointing background of many horses and was always a joy to listen to. No stupid, endless waffle like you get from the younger generation and his post-race analysis was always accurate and useful for a punter or just a regular TV viewer.
He will be very hard to replace and sorely missed.
Rest in Peace Mr. Neesom
I always find these threads difficult as most people won’t have known the person in question.
My only two memories of him are negative one’s.
I always got the impression he was someone who very much didn’t suffer fools gladly. In the early days he worked a few times with Lorna Bradburne (Fowler) where she was the ‘newbie’ and he was the ‘old hand’. She wasn’t great, but instead of encouragement, he must have made her feel two feet tall. It was a horrible watch.
In recent times he formed something of a double act with Machin where seemingly they would try and outwit each other. Another excrutiating watch.
Sad news – there was a stray thought in my head after the last few times I saw him on TV that he didn’t seem to be in such robust health and I did wonder whether he was having health issues but this was still a shock to hear.
His style to many may have been an acquired taste but I always enjoyed his appearances as when he had an opinion on a horse he never seemed shy of voicing it even if it would (and probably did) upset the connections to hear it……granted not being the lead presenter probably allowed for him not to worry overly about treading on toes as he wouldn’t have been asked to interview say a trainer or owner on RTV after a comment or two.
Judging from the RP piece it seemed like he may not have been quite fully aware of the affection many within and out of the sport had for him.
RIP
I thought he was comfortably the best “sidekick” on RTV and, unlike stilvi, found his partnership with Machin both erudite and entertaining.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Sad news. On the whole I liked his presentational style but he could be too condescending. Given that they were often at low grade meetings, the arch comments and hmmms from his pairing with Machin were too ungracious for my taste.
That said he was better than most.
Very sad news.
I thought he was very good at quickly assessing a race accurately and insightfully just after they’d passed the post. I thought he was ideally suited as a specialist channel pundit.
He seemed to have a good sense of fun and humour and appeared well-liked among his peers.
RIPJust logged onto Racing TV and saw the news of Jonathan’s passing.Although his preference was for NH and mine flat the very sad announcement should not be allowed to go without the recognition it deserves.Always well prepared and amicable before the cameras he wasn’t above expressing a forthright opinion,he will be sadly missed.
My condolences to family & friends.
good luck to all^ Spot on, Kid.
Can’t really add much, just to say that I always enjoyed Neesom’s analysis and wit on RTV.Thought Richard Hoiles gave him a good send off too on the Opening Show.
RIP.
Value Is EverythingI didn’t get to Cheltenham last Friday, but the running of the race for the late Jonathan Neesom evoked some memories of him, both direct and indirect. I share them here, along with praise for a couple of the evening’s winners.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
“Hello, Jonathan, haven’t spoken for ages”, I gormlessly offered.
“Yes”, he offered witheringly, and looking slowly up from his notes, “and I think that was rather for the best, don’t you?” ”
Ouch
As icebreakers went, it was very… him.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
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