Visitors to Wednesday’s British Open Show Jumping Championships found themselves listening in on the final round of Grandstand Media’s competition to find a new voice in broadcasting.
After two tough preliminary rounds, the three finalists — Adam Cromarty from Fife, Jo Thoenes from Oxford and Ian Scott from Stamford — “went live”, with their performance judged by H&H deputy editor Jaki Bell, showjumper Tim Stockdale and commentator Mike Tucker.
The winner, 36-year-old Jo, a radio broadcaster at BBC Oxford, received a voice-training bursary worth £500 and will join the commentary team at October’s Horse of the Year Show.
“This was tough,” said Jaki. “But Jo’s clarity of tone stood out and, as a new voice for the future, she took the rosette.”
