PUNCHESTOWN has become a favoured spot for the announcement of retirements, though it has usually been from the saddle. Riding a winner at the famous festival of National Hunt racing, coming as it does at the close of the season, has set the scene for some notable retirements in recent years.

Memorable among these was Katie Walsh’s announcement that she was to hang up her boots after winning on Antey in 2018, and then a year later her brother Ruby called it a day after Kemboy won the Punchestown Gold Cup. Oh yes, and just a day after her sister-in-law surprised everyone with her decision, Nina Carberry made it a family retirement double after guiding Josies Orders to victory over a course that has, among its varied highlights, the famous Ruby’s Double.

The bank is named in honour of a certain Mr Walsh, and it is easy to see how important the Co Kildare venue is to the family, and how deep it lies within their DNA. Where else then would Ted Walsh pick to bring the curtain down on a broadcasting career that stretches back four decades, but at Peerless Punchestown? He did so too on his own terms, catching everyone on the broadcasting team by surprise on the day.

Ted Walsh is one of the most recognisable faces in sport, and his longevity as a member of the racing team on television says much about him. Not one to put a tooth in it, saying what he thought did land him in hot water from time to time. His views were not everyone’s cup of tea, and he would be the first to acknowledge it, but none of that took away from his huge popularity.

I recall speaking with a previous head of sport within RTÉ who told me that to appease everyone in the audience would be to fail, and having a voice that was controversial, outspoken, or even contrarian, was important. Ted will be forever associated in my mind with his great sparring partner and friend Robert Hall, and together they were a tour de force. I can still see Robert’s face from time to time as Ted enunciated on some topic, clearly at odds with Robert’s take on the same matter. In some respects, they were yin and yang.

Whether you agreed with him or not, Ted held his views strongly and was never afraid to express them. He also spoke the language of the people, calling a spade a spade. He will be missed from the screen by many, but will never be forgotten. Happy retirement Ted.