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Who is the top racecourse commentator?

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Viewing 17 posts - 35 through 51 (of 55 total)
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  • #38668
    seabird
    Participant
    • Total Posts 2923

    Leemac, you asked for suggestions.

    If I could suggest that all commentators please remember that some of us are colour-blind.:o

    Think back to the days when we didn’t have colour television and try to incorporate some of the styles of the commentators of those days.

    Colin

    #38669
    Leemac
    Participant
    • Total Posts 74

    Thanks for all your contributions; I will continue to monitor this thread for any additional suggestions!

    Well spotted Bear – when I first came back to course commentating I picked up a bad throat virus which lasted about six months. It really affected my work and I’m sorry if it sounded as awful as it felt.

    To all of you, I listen back to my commentaries (with pictures) a couple of times, so that – if I have missed something or made an error – I can try to ensure that  similar deficiencies don’t occur again.

    To some extent, we are all victims of our own limitations, but I can assure you nobody is more annoyed than I am when I think I have fallen short of the mark, and I’m sure that applies to all my colleagues too.

    One point that I do notice is that, when I am commentating through binoculars, things often look different from on the screen. That’s partly why, from time to time, you may think that the commentary doesn’t quite match the pictures. Angles can be very misleading, and maybe I will say more about this one day if you’re interested!

    Once again, thanks to all of you for your ideas –  what a great example this is of an internet forum at work.

    #38670
    apracing
    Participant
    • Total Posts 3771

    <br>Of course the commentators didn’t always have the prime viewing spot. In the late 80’s there was a split that resulted in each race having separate callers for the on course crowd and the betting shops. The latter were employed by SIS and many of the current crop got their first opportunity as a result.

    But the SIS commentator wasn’t usually allowed into the main commentary box. I first met Lee when he was doing the betting shop commentary from the corner of the old Silver Ring stand at Chepstow (now incorporated into Tatts). He was equipped with a tiny monitor screen perched on the top step, with a long extension cable trailing down into a disused bar below the stand and at risk of electrocution when it rained, as it always did at Chepstow back in the days before global warming.

    It’s a more comfortable job now (I hope), but the comfort was earned through a spartan apprenticeship.

    AP<br>

    #38671
    guskennedy
    Member
    • Total Posts 759

    I voted for Mark Johnson who commentates at my local track, Doncaster. I just think he adds some excitement, particularly in the closing stages.

    With reference to he who calls himself Tommo, it’s worth remembering that when he first started out as a racecourse commentator he wasn’t bad at all and I distinctly recall him attracting deserved favourable comment from Zorro, no less, at the time. Unfortunately, as time has gone on, he’s decided that he’s a bit of a comedic "turn" in that area as well as all the others in his life. It’s a pity, really.

    #38672
    davidbrady
    Member
    • Total Posts 3901

    Hi Lee

    I wouldn’t worry about letting in-running punters know about what is dropping off etc. If you’re backing in-running, you shouldn’t be relying on the commentator anyway. In fact, you should call a few wrong every now and then just to keep them on their toes. There’s nothing better than seeing a good old rant on the BF forum every once in a while!:biggrin:

    #38673
    cheltboy
    Member
    • Total Posts 129

    Lee is a great commentator.   I would put him behind John Hunt and Richard Hoiles.  More importantly he’s one of life’s nice guys.  His Five Live commenataries on 30 runners frm Newmarket when he could see bugger all are legandary.

    I worked with him a few years ago at Cheltenham in my local radio days. His commentataries  then, like his Five Live ones,  were off top class.  

    Lee good to hear your voice on the circuit.<br>All the best.  

    Neil<br>

    #38674
    Avatar photoBurroughhill
    Participant
    • Total Posts 1635

    I hope we help Lee, but from what I remember of your commentaries, you don’t have a lot to worry about! Very professional and clear, which is what it’s all about.

    <br>While I do find Thommo annoying, I do think that his style does sometimes fit in with the race he’s commentating on. He adds a bit of excitement to what are run of the mill bad races at Wolves for example. He gets the crowd going you have to say.

    #38675
    sandpiper
    Member
    • Total Posts 16

    To be fair to Tommo, I think it was Wolverhampton last week, and he called a race home, where it was a blanket finish 5 horses.  He called all five in the correct order.  Well done Tommo…let’s give praise where it is due.  

    #38676
    Avatar photoBurroughhill
    Participant
    • Total Posts 1635

    the one who really should be pensioned off is Aussie Jim. His inaccuracies are inexcusable and just lazy. Maybe his heart isn’t in it. <br>To get it right, you’ve obviosuly got to be prepared to do your research.

    #38677
    absolution
    Member
    • Total Posts 214

    Despite his strong scottish accent think Dougie Fraser does a good job on the northern tracks – think tracks like Kelso and Hexham are one of the prettiest in the country and his accent helps with the atmosphere

    #38678
    Venusian
    Participant
    • Total Posts 1665

    I always enjoyed Lee M’s commentaries on Radio 5, but John Hunt is a fine replacement – two of the best in the business.

    #38679
    Avatar photoyeats
    Participant
    • Total Posts 3446

                                   Voting now closed

    What a high standard of commentary in Britain, I’m sure most would agree the top 11 or 12 are very good, the quality does tend to drop of markedly with the others but I suppose that’s the same with any profession.

    <br>                                      Result

    1st with 11 votes and nearly one third of the total vote, Simon Holt – A worthy winner, as SwallowCottage said his commentaries are clear and concise with a sense of humour and are just as good at the smaller meetings as at the bigger ones.

    2nd with 8 votes, the popular Richard Hoiles who chased up Simon all the way to the winning post.

    3rd with 5 votes, the enthusiastic John Hunt.

    4th joint with 3 votes each and respectable efforts from both Mark Johnson and Lee McKenzie.

    Maybe Simon would like to say a few words before he receives his award :)

    #38680
    Leemac
    Participant
    • Total Posts 74

    Many thanks for organising this, Yeats – I’m sure we will all be out to claim Simon’s well-deserved crown in the 2008 running!

    To summarise, some of you just prefer different styles of commentary, which is understandable, but there are many areas where there is either a general concensus or a compromise is possible:

    Accuracy and clarity are essential;<br>Specific mentions of those near the top of the betting are useful, but don’t get obsessed with the favourite;<br>Advice on how horses are travelling, and things like interference in running, is a helpful addition to the order;<br>Make colour references, but don’t overdo it – and try to help a listener without pictures visualise what’s going on;<br>Particularly mention any relevant action that is taking place off-screen;<br>Comments about stragglers can be useful, but concentrate on the main contenders as the race reaches its climax;<br>Enthusiasm and colour help to lift a routine day, but don’t go overboard;<br>Do your homework;<br>and… try to avoid cliches!

    Finally, I have to say that the standard of UK commentating has improved hugely in the last 20 years, and I’m sure we’re all striving to do even better, so please forgive us the odd moment of madness when – no matter how hard you’ve worked to remember the names and colours – the combination of eyes, brain and mouth completely lets you down!

    Lee McKenzie<br>

    (Edited by Leemac at 5:01 pm on Feb. 19, 2007)

    #38681
    Avatar photoSirHarryLewis
    Participant
    • Total Posts 1229

    Quote: from Venusian on 8:08 pm on Feb. 15, 2007[br]I always enjoyed Lee M’s commentaries on Radio 5, but John Hunt is a fine replacement – two of the best in the business. <br>

    I missed Peter Bromley though.  When he started getting excited, he really like to blast the mike.  Like I said, we dont get enough of that in Ireland usually.

    SHL

    #38682
    The Judge
    Member
    • Total Posts 74

    An interesting, generally constructive thread.

    From travelling around the racetracks, I am often surprised at how bad the angles can be for commentators at some courses. Off the top of my head, the Nottingham and Beverley commentary positions are a good 75 years before the winning post.

    The low sun and fading light are other factors. Monitors and even big screens can be rendered useless if the position of the sun is low. Try identifying horses through binoculars at Windsor on a sunny evening. It isn’t easy.  

    Out of a generally strong and improving standard of commentators I voted for John Hunt, he is first and foremost accurate and strikes a good balance between giving detail and engaging the viewer/listener. These days, he uses the loud delivery only when it is required, and consequently, with great effect. I miss him on the big racecourse commentary gigs.

    A few gongs:

    to Ian Bartlett, Richard Hoiles and Simon Holt for their sprint handicap/ cavalry charge work: really outstanding broadcasting.

    to Iain McKenzie for his National Hunt work; descriptive, entertaining and refreshingly free from clichés

    to Doug Fraser, Martin Harris, Mark Slater for unsung accuracy

    to John Hunt, Richard Hoiles and Lee McKenzie for only turning up the volume when it is really warranted

    to Malcolm Tomlinson for best newcomer

    (Edited by The Judge at 7:21 pm on Feb. 19, 2007)<br>

    (Edited by The Judge at 7:23 pm on Feb. 19, 2007)

    #38683
    Avatar photograysonscolumn
    Participant
    • Total Posts 6966

    Quote: from The Judge on 7:19 pm on Feb. 19, 2007[br]<br>to Iain McKenzie for his National Hunt work; descriptive, entertaining and refreshingly free from clichés<br>

    Hear hear. Not as great a technician as some named, but all the things you listed here, and above all else punishingly honest. Don’t run a poorly-schooled horse, or stick an inept rider on board, and expect him not to pick up on it, especially in summer jumps races, hunter chases and points.

    <br>

    <br>to Malcolm Tomlinson for best newcomer <br>

    Glad Malcolm got a mention late in the day as well – three years into his tenure now and increasingly impressive.

    Jeremy<br>(graysonscolumn)

    Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.

    #38684
    Avatar photocarlisle
    Member
    • Total Posts 772

    I like Tommo.

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