"JR comes through with flying colours"

RACING over the years has become far more accessible, what with the blanket coverage by Sky Channel and now TVN. But before the races were on television, punters, glued to the radio or at the track, had to rely on the racecallers to paint the pictures. The likes of Bill Collins and Bert Bryant became cult figures. A former racecaller who was part of those times and is still around to tell the tale is John Russell, the eternal sidekick to Bert Bryant and then Bryan Martin before joining the TV age and continuing his career with Sky.

"JR", as he is known, hasn't called for a few years now but he still retains a passionate interest in the sport. He bobs up all over the place, invariably wearing his trademark dark felt fedora or a straw variety for the warmer climes.

At the height of his career, there was something of Jekyll and Hyde about JR. He loved a few beers and if he did occasionally over-indulge, the mild-mannered, dapper figure would become a party animal. The change was usually signalled not by any major transformation, just a lock of hair falling over his forehead and an extra gleam in the eye.

At one two-day country cup carnival many years ago, there was a club dinner after the first day and JR was seated alongside the very attractive wife of the vice-chairman of another club. It did not take long for the lock of hair to fall on the forehead and, in a loud voice, he told the woman not only how attractive she was but what he would like to do with her. He also added a rather derogatory remark about her husband, who just happened to be seated on her other side. After the initial surprise, politeness took over from outrage and the couple decided to overlook the outburst, not that it made much difference to JR because he invariably did not remember such occasion.

JR has just completed his autobiography An Ounce Of Luck, with John Craven, which will be launched next week and promises to be a rollicking read.

He started racecalling for 3UZ, now Sport 927, in the 1950s and before that, he was a more than handy athlete and competed at the Stawell Gift carnival. After retiring from running, JR called the Stawell Gift for many years. His other great sporting passion is the Carlton Football Club and he spent all the pre-season grinning like a cheshire cat in anticipation of Chris Judd leading the Blues' climb up the ladder. Having Richmond in round one was an additional bonus for the Blues as far as JR was concerned, as he made very clear to any of us long-suffering Tiger supporters.

Now, although he is adamant the events were not connected, JR awoke on Good Friday after the Blues' drubbing by the Tigers with pains in his chest and back. He was due to fly to Adelaide later that morning for the Oakbank carnival on Saturday and Monday but instead checked himself into the Monash Medical Centre. After tests, JR was told he had a heart problem and would have to have a pacemaker. The procedure was carried out last Friday and he has come through with flying colours. After last week, the title of his book is even more appropriate.