I haven't lost enthusiasm and I think I can still see them as well but there are other things in life to do.
- Allan Hull
The voice of racing in Wagga and the wider Riverina has decided to hang up his binoculars.
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The decorated career of iconic racecaller Allan Hull will come to an end in January after more than 50 years.
Hull has announced his impending retirement from racecalling, that will see him hang up the microphone from all codes.
The 69-year-old has been considering retirement for the past 12 months and decided it is the right time to move on to the next stage of his life.
"I haven't lost enthusiasm and I think I can still see them as well but there are other things in life to do," Hull said.
"I had a good chat with (wife) Gayle and the kids and they said Dad, why another five years, what would it achieve. You could have a heart attack tomorrow or a stroke, I don't think I'm going to but who knows.
"The problem with this industry is that every public holiday, every Saturday, there's racing. I don't know how many family dos I've missed over the years because I'm working.
"I've been allowed to follow my passion for 50 years, now it's time for family and some more time with them."
IN OTHER NEWS
Hull had his first paid racecalling job at the Henty Show in 1969. He was then employed for his first meeting at Coolamon trots later in the year.
He called his first Wagga Gold Cup on radio in 1979 and has been course broadcaster at Murrumbidgee Turf Club (MTC) since 1982.
MTC president Stuart Lamont said Hull was more than just a racecaller.
"I think he's probably been our ambassador, to a big degree," Lamont said.
"His contribution has been outstanding. He's been the voice of Wagga, he's very identifiable with Wagga and the club will certainly miss having that individual that is so focused on this particular club."
Calling harness racing Hull says has been 'just as important'. He called four inter dominions for local radio during the sport's heydey.
Hull will finish up at MTC's Australia Day meeting on January 26. He will call a couple of non-TAB meetings after that at venues he has long associations with.
Hull expects he will miss calling immensely.
"It's my theatre. Every time you walk up and put the microphone on, you're performing. And I suppose I've always tried to do that and be enthusiastic. Every race is a new story to tell," he said.
"When you do something you love, you're not going to work. How badly I'll miss it, I don't know, but you've got to move on.
"This day had to come one day. It either comes today, and I have another 10 years of healthy and happy life, or it comes in five years time when I'm starting to make a few mistakes, what's the point."
