"They're Off"—How you get the Sporting Results

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 4, 12 August 1927, Page 3

"They're Off"—How you get the Sporting Results

This article, continued from the cover, describes the establishment and progress of the Broadcasting of sporting events in New Zealand. Mr. A. R. Allardyce, the company’s sporting organiser, has now described over fifty first-class events. From the first uncomfortable perch on a haystack, depicted below, the service has expanded, till now all facilities are courteously afforded by sporting authorities.

TROTTING VETERANS BORROW '. "ALLARDYCE’S EYES. Oun' being approached, Mr. A. I. Rattray, the secretary of the Metropolitan Trotting Club, Canterbury Park Trotting Club, and New Brighton Club, was culy too pleased to grant. permission to the company to: broadcast descriptions of thes trotting meetings from Addington, and allotted a dress circle position in the stewards’ stand at their excellently appointed course, The fiist transmission from the racecourse created a great deal of iuterest, and one of the greatest difficulties to be contended with was to keep inquiring’ sportsmen from asking numerous questions while the station was on the air, They are now thoroughly educated, and behave really well. A little coterie of old members are among the most interested onlookers. Their eyesight is not what it once was, and they encircle the announcer and listen to the description of the race. . {hey are thus able to follow the fortunes of their respective investments. On the occasion of the Duke’s visit they must have felt lost, as on this occasion the announcer’s position was guoved into the main stand.

EDUCATED UP TO THE "MIKE." The appearance of the microphone at tliese events always creates a great deal of public interest, and gives rise to many animated discussions on the wonders of wireless. To-day the Smike’’ at Addington is an accepted fact, so much so, that on one occasion when it was decided not to broadcast the announcer. went for «a tramp through the country. Arriving at a

wayside inn about midday, he was interested to see someone tuning in a set. On inquiring what the fan was trying to pick up, he was told that a congregation of local residents had assembled to hear the races at Addington. It was quite impossible to convince the listeners that there was no transmission without disclosing his identity, and this he had no desire to do. The disgust of these sports can only be imagined when they tuned in at 8 p.m. and heard a_ selection of gramophone records from the studio. PIONEERING EXPERIENCES AT NG,

ere bd . * . first transmission from | ton racecourse took place a year ago this week, when a description of the races was broadcast on the occasion of the winning of the Grand National by Peter Maxwell. This first transmission has almost fHecome historic in Christchurch on_account of the difficulties to be overcome before it could be accomplished. Firstly, the C.J.C. would not allow the broadcasters to have a position in the grandstands, as they might interrupt some of their officials or patrons, but they gave permission to work from any part of the course outside the enclosures. } The next difficulty arose over a’ suitable telephone line, as at that time Ricearton was not very well supplied with lines. This difficulty was overcome by the generous action of Mr. J. McCombe, the well-known Riccarton mentor, who placed his private ’phone at 3YA’s disposal during the time the races were on, ‘Then a position had to be secured, and after a thorough investigation it was decided that the most suitable place would be on top

of a half-eaten haystack, which was situated round by the scraping sheds, or nearly three furlongs from the finishing post, at the beginning of tu. back straight. SUCCESSFUL FIRST VENTURE. Only those’ who know the size of Riccurton racecourse can appreciate the distance the announcer was away from the horses. As things were not so far advanced as they are now in the broadcasting world it was necessary for the announcer to go out alone, and, armed with diagrams for the connecting up of

the amplifier, he left for the course, Assistance was given to haul the heavy batteries and gear connected with relays on to the top of the stack by the driver who went ont, and then the announcer was left to his own devices. It was necessary to run three furlongs across the-course to see the starters and jockeys on the board in front of the stand, then another run back to give this information, describe the preliminaries, and the actual running of the race. Without glasses this was no easy matter, but the announcer was lucky enough to be able to place every

winner and secoud horse throughout the meeting without making a mistake, Of course, these difficulties were ex plained to listeners, with the added information that the placings were not to be regarded as oiticial until he had time to go over and check them on the judge’s box. ‘ "A DIPPY MAN ON A HAYSTACK." The weather had been very wet and the stack was very cold aud damp, and the only way to scramble on top was with the assistance of au old hurdle laid against the side of the | stack, which ‘wobbled ominously on every occasion it was used. Vortunately, the relay was voted a great success, and the announcer felt that all his labour had not been in vain. The microphone on top of the stack may*be seen in the accompanying photograph, and it certainly created much diversion among the few who had crawled through the fence to see the events. One such group crowded underneath the stack and indulged in much speculation as to whether the apparatus was a moving picture machine, electric timing gear, or just a percli for the stipendiary steward. They were sublimely unconscious that their cottversation was being carried to the ends of the earth. ‘The riders in the various races also evinced the greatest curiosity in the contrivance, and one on returning to tle birdcage reported that there was ‘‘somebody sitting om top of the haystack who was quite dippy, as he was speaking to himself." ; A year has made a great in the conditions under which a sports atinouucer works. He has now a snug seat in the grandstand, and every cote sideration shown to him by officials -and patrons alike.