PUBLIC ADDRESS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 85, 11 April 1935, Page 4

PUBLIC ADDRESS

RACECOURSE BROADCASTS. ANNOUNCER’S ACTIVITIES. During an interview with a “Chronicle” representative, Air. C. E. Craig, of Auckland, who is well-known to sportsmen throughout the North Island as an announcer at racing and trotting meetings, gavj* some interesting features of the public address system. The visitor said that there was no doubt about the popularity of racecourse broadcasts, and the public now looked for the public address system at all meetings. Clubs who did not fall in line with the demand were regarded by their patrons as being somewhat behind the times. Air. Craig said he first became interested in the possibilities of the scheme through operating for the Taranaki, Wanganui and Hawke’s Bay Trotting Clubs a few seasons ago. He discovered that with only one meeting a year at each centre, the public were not familiar with the horses, or their form and to give them a guide, he instituted the policy of a brief comment on the competitors in addition to describing the positions of the horses during the race. Both clubs found this very helpful and after closely watching the operation of the scheme at one Taranaki meeting, Air. H. W. Burch, president of the Waikato Trotting Club, had it installed at Claudelands. That, said Air. Craig, was really the beginning of the public address system in the Auckland province, as after a successful venture at Claudelands other country trotting and racing dubs in the Auckland province fell into line, while the demand quickly spread to agricultural shows, athletic meetings and various other sporting functions. Discussing the working of the broadcast, from the racing point of view, Air. Craig said expert care had to be exercised, firstly with the comments on the, horses, and secondly with the start and finish of races. In the former case, any reference to the probable winners had to be avoided, and in the second place, it, was necessary for the announcer to wait until the horses were dispatched, so as not to confuse the starter, and also to remain silent when the horses were approaching the finishing post, In order not to interfere with the work of the judge. T Asked how many meetings he had I now done, Air. Craig replied that it a was difficult to say, but he had oper- * ated at trotting fixtures at Hastings, Palmerston North. Wanganui, Hawera, ? New Plymouth, Hamilton, Cambridge, 1 and Te Aroha. His racing duties in- ? iduded meetings at Pukekohe, Te Rapa, 0 Matamata. Te Awamutu, Rotorua, Paeroa, Te Aroha, Cambridge and n Pangaroa, and he had operated for A. r ' and p. Associations at Hamilton, To p Aroha and Te Puke. —— , I'