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He’s not my cup of tea, but you can tell he knows his stuff, and is very good at it.
The worst commentator is Ian Bartlett – just absolutely awful. Compare the Arc’s in 2009, BBC one commentated by Aussie Jim, and the ATR one with Barty, just ruined the race for me.
Don’t like Ian McKenzie and Mike Cattermole.
Richard Hoiles and Simon Holt are miles ahead of everyone else. Lee McKenzie is quite good too.
A fast, accurate and descriptive commentator. Great at measuring his voice tone to suit the particular tempo and stage of the race without ever shouting or showboating and in terms of overall delivery the most natural successor to Sir Peter I’ve heard.
Right up there with Hoiles and Holt, imo.
I like Stewart Machin, he’s accurate which is most important. Don’t have a problem with puns, he’s not only calling to the tv audience, he has to cater for the people on track and keep them entertained.
Most of the current commentators are ok, except for Jim McGrath who really needs to hang up the bins soon to rescue any reputation he once had. Mark Johnston and John Hunt by far the best. Hoiles is good and I liked the way he came out and apologised on tv and twitter last weekend for mixing up the horses in the Victoria Cup. He seemed genuinely upset over it. I quite like Gerry Hannon in Ireland, glad he got to share the Puchestown festival.
I think Stewart Machin is a very good commentator, definitely not dull to my ears. He has a few ‘stock phrases’ that get brought out a little too often, but you cannot fault his accuracy and articulateness.
Another vote for Stewart Machin from me who I find to be accurate, very knowledgeable and entertaining.
Most of the commentators are really, but one or two do lose accuracy in running and increase the decibels when things get hot in the final stages of a race.
Stewart is also very approachable and will willingly answer any questions put to him
Like others, I find MC a better presenter than a commentator.
For me, no one but no one, has ever had Sir Peter’s vocal and mental broadcasting gifts. He was quite unique, but even he didn’t suit everyone apparently.
I wouldn’t say his voice is dull but his find his recent spate of "puns" at the end of races very annoying. Just what is the point of them? Are they meant to be funny and/or clever?
His "the writing’s on the wall for Banksy" the other day was funny and clever.
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.
Another vote for Stewart from me, I think he’s an excellent commentator.
If you want dull just listen to Mark Slater, who even in a photo finish sounds half asleep, or Aussie Jim McGrath.
I would describe Stewart Machins voice as BLAND but I mean that in a complimentary way of being neither stimulating or irritating which is more than can be said for Ian Bartlett who has the ugliest voice on the circuit.
The guy mentioned earlier who keeps pausing to take a deep breath would that be someone called Lee something who often does Exeter course commentaries, his pausing to take that breath is so pronounced.
I’m very impressed with the new kid on the block David Fitzgerald (on duty at Uttoxeter last night).
He does what a commentator is supposed to do which is give a good concise commentary with no name dropping bull like someone else I could mention.
its Aussie Jim McGrath’s last commentary in this country at Ascot this Saturday. The last race is even called Croc’s last call or something like that.
I can never knock his accuracy, but i do find Stewart Machin boring. He and Richard Hoiles would send me to sleep if they read an audiobook together, alternating every chapter.
But like i say, they do their job well. They’re just not my taste.
I’m working ICS on Saturday, so i’ll take a minute to give tribute to McGraph
Seriously, he was a childhood favourite of mine. And i’ll be sad to see him go.I can never knock his accuracy, but i do find Stewart Machin boring. He and Richard Hoiles would send me to sleep if they read an audiobook together, alternating every chapter.
But like i say, they do their job well. They’re just not my taste.
I’m working ICS on Saturday, so i’ll take a minute to give tribute to McGraph
Seriously, he was a childhood favourite of mine. And i’ll be sad to see him go.People with boring voices shouldn’t be commentating, no matter how accurate they are. Hoiles is technically fine but just doesnt convey excitment.
SHL
I must be watching different races to some of you.
I find Machin good and Hoiles (along with Holt) the very best. Britain has (imo) an excellent stable of commentators, wish I could say the same for Ireland. Every one I’ve heard on ATR misses obvious issues in running and there’s no build up to a crescendo. Sometimes with little change in voice tone, sometimes going from monotone to extreme exitement in the space of a stride.
Value Is EverythingStuart Machin maintains a professional tone and manner which allows the race watcher and listener, to reflect more clearly and accurately on the race in hand. I personally would describe his commentary style as dry, perhaps others hold preference to other commentators, however the brandishing of dull is impolite and unnecessary.
its Aussie Jim McGrath’s last commentary in this country at Ascot this Saturday. The last race is even called Croc’s last call or something like that.
Probably about five or six years too late.
When he first arrived he really was a breath of fresh air and his arrival shook things up to the extent it has resulted in the generally high standard of commentators we have now.
At his peak he was amongst the all time best commentators.
However age and lifestyle have taken their toll and his standard of commentary has declined badly in recent years – it’s a shame one of his so called friends didn’t have a quiet word with him and suggested he walked away a few years ago.
Instead we have had to endure some frankly embarrassing calls from him and he will, unfortunately, be remembered more for those than when he was at his prime.
The depths for me was a meeting at Plumpton last year where he even managed to totally screw up a six runner race.
I don’t know why people don’t walk away when they’re at the top of their game or just when they come off the boil.
Peter O’Sullevan went on a few years longer than he should but, for me, the worse one was Peter Bromley. I recall listening to to his last ever Cheltenham Festival calls and was almost in tears at how embarrassingly poor they were, especially from someone with such high standards as Bromley had.
Bromley was poor at the end but still exciting. My brother who never really got into racing til he heard Bromley commentating over the radio was won over by him.
I see people here sticking up for the quite men but those commentators should be aiming their talents towards snooker. They will simply deter the yet to happen racing fan.
SHL
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