Olympia Commentators

Your Vision....

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i think the best commentator this year was sara rust on eurosport, knows the riders and horses and gives clear explanations of why a horse has a fence down

i found the guy with her a little annoying this year although generally he is ok....a huge improvement from peter churchill anyway who might as well not have been watching the class
 
No personal offence to Amanda Ratcliffe who I do not know and nor does anyone in the show jumping world that I have asked. I wonder why Eurosport would use an eventer to commentate on show jumping? Perhaps because they both involve horses and the programme controllers know so little about equine sport that they are unable to differentiate? On the same basis would they use a tennis player to commentate on football - they both involve a ball.
 
i should imaging you have hit the nail on the head plus the fact that amanda is a fomer BE board memeber and knows tucker well aswell as being a rather well connected busines woman.
 
I have to admit I find Mike Tucker an institution and if showjumping is on without him I think I've hit the wrong channel. For me the commentary illustrates how boring Showjumping is over many rounds and I think Andy Austin had a difficult task, his commentary was boring but so was what he was commentating on, really how many times do we need to hear the sames comments over and over ie, he/ she rides like a german, I wonder what he will do, he needs to push on, and please liven up your voice.
 
Steve Hadley actually commentates on the World Cup Classes throughout the season - if you have Sky you can watch them on CNBC or ESPN i think. Much better programmes than the live Eurosport show, in my humble opinion.
 
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we need younger blood to give us up to date info.

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I heard the other day on Eurosport a new younger voice that was very up to date on his rider information and interesting/easy to listen to. He had certainly done his homework. I think he's the same person that presents the Canter Banter programme on Horse and Country, if I recall correctly is his name was Steven Wilde? If it is the same person I wish the BBC would employ him to do their coverage. More of him on Eurosport/BBC please!!!
 
Could well have been Steve Wilde - he does quite a bit of commentating at shows in the south, and sounds genuinely enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
 
I personally would prefer someone who is currently competing at the same level that they are commentating on as they can bring an added dimension to the viewer in terms of credibility, and an understanding of what the riders are up against and the challenges they have faced to get to that level / class. I didn't really learn anything from the existing commentary format, I think someone at BN level could have come out with the same comments. I suppose it depends though whether a commentator has to just say what they see or if they need / want to help people understand the sport a bit more.

In the case of MT I see him as more of a compare and whoever he is paired with should provide the technicalities of what is happening but to personalize things would make for additional interest. Ie info about how the horses are bred, who bred them, who produced them through the ranks, do they have any particular quirks the riders are battling against and also to humanize the riders a bit more for the non horsey viewer ie has jo bloggs ridden all his life, was he a fireman in a past life, I don't know anything that helps the viewer engage with the action and horse / rider pairing on the screen.

 
Steve Hadley and Mike Tucker are really good mates so dont think there's a problem with interruption but I have to agree Mike Tucker was slightly annoying on one commentry session when he did seem to be talking over Steve all the time. Steve Hadley should be retained as the voice of horse commentary. Andy Austin is annoying and the blokes off Sky sport doesn't know the front end form the back. Worse still who the hell is the presenter on horse & country. The commentary's ok but the greasy haired guy who fronts it is creepy just to look at.
 
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