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I understand that Mark Johnson will be at Nottingham Racecourse on 10 Aug [eve] for their ‘Rat Pack Evening’, along with ‘up and coming’ commentator Steven Powell. It looks like a cracking evening and quite a few of us are going along. I know I rant on about it but if anyone hasn’t been to Notingham Racecourse, give it a go, it’s a great little track.
Steven’s good – gets a fair bit of use both on the ICS commentator service and in point-to-points. Seem to recall him calling some of RUK’s harness racing coverage at Musselburgh last season, along with Gary Capewell.
One of the youngsters who should find their way onto the Racetech roster one day, along with Gareth Topham.
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.
One of the youngsters who should find their way onto the Racetech roster one day, along with Gareth Topham.
gc
Right on. He’s a really enthralling caller and really one of the nicest guys you could meet. We met at the Aspatria P-2-P last month and he showed me the ropes, even let me call a race
I’m always afraid when it comes to meeting point to point commentators, because really it’s the best they can get until they’re on the roster, so they like to hold onto any "gigs" they can get, so when this young upstart comes asking if they could show him how it’s all done i fear they’ll be a bit snippy etc, but Gareth was anything but. I’d give him another 5/6 years (if that!) before he’s on the roster.
That’s an excellent encounter, Peter. Gareth is very accommodating, remembers kindnesses and hasn’t forgotten where he’s come from – there would have been a time when he was an aspiring caller hanging around pointing commentary boxes hoping to make acquaintances, too.
Aspatria is one of Gareth’s very longest standing gigs, as he may have told you – he originally filled in there for an absent caller (in 2006 or 2007, I think it was), having driven up from Cardiff at extremely short notice to do so!
I was watching the footage of Lady Dudley Cup day at Chaddesley Corbett on
Viewpoint
the other night. Gareth Facebooked me a few days beforehand and confirmed how thrilled he was to have been given such a prestigious meeting to call. It shows – he was precise, enthusiastic and immaculate on the day.
At any time, and depending on whom the presiding hunt has sourced, the raft of pointing commentators can expect to comprise a curious mix of past and present Racetech employees, youngsters aspiring to get on the roster and perfectly contented pointing-only callers (I don’t think the likes of Lord Leigh, Edward Dingle or C Clapham have designs on working for Racetech any time soon, but they can rack up about over 20 stints each season easily enough). I’ve never encountered open hostility from any of them, so I’d be disappointed if you’ve had short shrift on any occasion. Feel free to PM me the names of the guilty parties…
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.
Yeah he told me about when he traveled all that way at short notice. He deserves the gig after doing that.
Haha i’ll let you know when i have it happen. Darren Owen and Gareth Topham are the only two i’ve ever contacted (Darren actually recomended Gareth to me)
We’re meeting again next Saturday at Appleby Harness Racing. He said i can call a few up there too, so i’m looking forward to that.
I bet Gareth will be calling the National one day, on the BBC that is (he calls it on William Hill Radio, so…)
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