MY CALL: BRETT KITCHING AND THE IPSWICH TURF CLUB

By David Fowler | Tuesday, July 7, 2020

David Fowler is the principal thoroughbred caller for Radio TAB. David, who is a keen form student and punter, has enjoyed a lifetime involvement in the racing media. His personal blog, ‘My Call’, appears exclusively on HRO.

It’s not lost on Brett Kitching that he will be 58 years old when he departs as Ipswich Turf Club’s General Manager

It was the age his dad George was when he had a stroke.

Kitching revealed on my RadioTAB Press Room program on Monday he will retire in February next year after beginning the role in 2004.

Apart from being Ipswich to his bootstraps as a fifth generation family member, his character exemplifies so much of what the club is about.

Hard working and modest. No frills or fancies. Gets the job done.

Sounds a lot like the Ipswich Turf Club don’t you think?

Even the title of “general manager” rather than “chief executive” fits the narrative.

The club in itself is intriguing.

Nestled in Labor heartland, it is usually overlooked when big ticket considerations are being formulated by the controlling body.

The working class suburb of Bundamba, a stone’s throw from the Ipswich CBD, is not sexy enough.

Yet it’s racing status sees it regularly used by the all of state’s leading trainers and jockeys!

You can turn your nose up at it but you can’t ignore it. It’s a vital piece of the 24/7 jigsaw.

The club never tries to push itself higher in the pecking order yet they all come clamouring every Ipswich Cup day to share in the limelight.

And always ready to help out. The clearest indication is its’ willingness to accommodate so many different race dates to assist one drama or another that has beset racing in the south-east.

Having to reset one commercial model after another has to play second fiddle to its’ commitment to the industry in general.

While Kitching uses his words carefully, he should never be underestimated.

Mark that times ten for their long serving Chairman Wayne Patch who has enjoyed the lead role for almost two decades.

It’s only the uninitiated who treat him merely as “the chair of a provincial club”.

Apart from being highly successful in business, his political influence is immense, far outweighing many of his counterparts.

But, similar to Kitching, he lives and breathes the city and has played a strong hand in numerous Ipswich sporting administrative roles.

Both see the success of the ITC in the prism of the city itself. Kitching served on the Chamber Of Commerce for several years.

It’s more than fitting their long awaited infrastructure project is close to completion, boasting the Ipswich Events and Entertainment Centre, an outstanding renovated track surface and brand new tie-up stalls.

Patch, Kitching and their committee has had to wait painstakingly over several years under several different control bodies to achieve the soon-to-be completed result.

Crowned Ipswich’s leading sports administrator only last week, Kitching will depart next February with a lot of memories and a lot of satisfaction.

But don’t expect any fanfare. It’s not his style.

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