Annoyed by commentator at Blair today

suzysparkle

suzysparkle

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Is its just me or is this really bad?

I was stood at the 2nd water for part of the 3* and someone (not sure who it was - coloured Horse) had a rotational fall. It was the direct route (I think she was the first one to go that way) and the jump at the edge to enter the water. I couldn't see that well but looked like the Horse got in too deep. They weren't going that fast so it was like slow motion. Anyway, Horse went right over and I think because of the downhill slope she rolled clear. Both got up and walked away from it.

Anyway, the commentator comment that really annoyed me? 'Well, the crowd got what they wanted'. I'm sorry but I'm pretty sure judging by all the responses that everyone's heart was in their mouths. It was awful to see and it made me feel quite sick. It's the first time I've seen one 'live'. No-one wants to see a rotational fall and everyone where I was stood was horrified by his comment. I know it was after he could see they were ok but still.........

Other than that a great day out as always and the rain held out till the end :-)
 
I agree, I think a comment like that is in pretty poor taste. He was probably trying, very badly, to say that the crowd were getting some good action for their money, but rotational falls are not the way to get your point across.

Glad you enjoyed the day apart from that bit :)
 
Knowing the commentator personally I would think he was trying to cover up the fact of what was happening by making the point of everyone wants to see someone fall in the water.

Don't shout me down as it wasn't me who said it however as someone who takes part in the sport A) rotational isn't funny (know from experience) B) all the crowd are very crude in how they cheer as someone falls in water it may seem funny to them but all falls have a degree of seriousness and can be much more orientated to the dangerous side in water.
 
OneInAMillion said:
Knowing the commentator personally I would think he was trying to cover up the fact of what was happening by making the point of everyone wants to see someone fall in the water.

Don't shout me down as it wasn't me who said it however as someone who takes part in the sport A) rotational isn't funny (know from experience) B) all the crowd are very crude in how they cheer as someone falls in water it may seem funny to them but all falls have a degree of seriousness and can be much more orientated to the dangerous side in water.
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Fair point totally. I've seen many a time the crowd cheering 'water falls'. However I can guarantee no-one cheered when this fall happened and loads of people made angry comments about what he said.
 
I was in the exact same spot as you then, suzy. I agree the fall had my heart in my mouth. I've never seen a rotational fall live before - for some reason they never seemed quite so bad from the tv screen. Not saying they looked good but, seeing it in person was horrible.

Can't say I actually heard that comment myself - it was a bit hard to hear at times. I think it was probably one of those spur of the moment remarks that came across wrong.
 
Don't most commentators work on what is passed on by the fence judges if they are out of site of jumps, he could have been told there was a fall at the water and not known the nature of it. Hope the rider and horse were ok.
 
jrp204 said:
Don't most commentators work on what is passed on by the fence judges if they are out of site of jumps, he could have been told there was a fall at the water and not known the nature of it. Hope the rider and horse were ok.
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Actually that's a fair point - from the position of the commentary box, and with the crowd hiding the fence, I doubt he'd have been able to see the actual jump.
 
Strange isn't it, I was away up the hill but remember hearing that comment and thinking it was a poor statement to make. Mind you I have done a bit of commentating and know just how easy it is for something to come out not quite the way you intended! It is always too late to try and correct it as it usually just makes it worse and the action has probably moved on to something else and you have to go with it. I bet the commentator went home thinking "why did I say that?.... I bet I get a few comments!":eek:
 
I thought the box was close to that jump - but that may well explain it if they couldn't see it. It was said within a minute of the fall though. I suspect he regretted saying it given the potential severity of the fall.
 
I saw that fall as I was walking towards the water jump - just seen the horses back end in the air and the rider falling - my heart almost stopped and I dont think I breathed until both horse and rider were on their feet.

I imagine when something like that happens, its difficult to know what to say as a commentator - he maybe didnt mean it to sound that way and certainly a bad choice of words but, I dont know what I would have said if I were the commentantor. He maybe just meant that the rider was in the water and thats what the crowd wanted to see - after all, most people do gather at the water jumps at Blair, its the same every year and you have to ask why ;)
 
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