Sports guru Colin McNiff signs off to follow his calling

AFTER 34 years on TV, Tasmanians will bid farewell tonight to WIN-TV sports presenter Colin McNiff.

AFTER 34 years on our television screens, Tasmanians will bid a fond farewell tonight to WIN-TV sports presenter Colin McNiff.

McNiff, 53, is leaving the network to pursue a full-time career in race-calling, but he does so with a heavy heart.

“TV presenting has been part time for a while now, whereas calling the races is my mainstay – the two roles have been overlapping and it was time to make the difficult decision,” he said.

“It was a tough one to make, but the right one.”

McNiff first appeared on screen in 1980 as a sports journalist for what was then TNT 9 in Launceston.

Eventually he made his way to the Hobart TAS TV studio where he made the move from sports reporting to presenting the sports news. The station later became WIN-TV and McNiff was also known to present news on a number of occasions, but his heart remained in sport.

“My favourite moments have been with live sports and coverage. Back in the ‘90s the NBL and Wide World of Sports on Sundays were a lot of fun,” he said.

McNiff has watched many Tasmanian sporting heroes reach the pinnacle since he began in the industry 34 years ago.

“Seeing young boys and girls develop into outstanding sportsmen and reach the top has been great to watch,” McNiff said.

“Watching someone like Ricky Ponting come though, from a kid at 16 years old, playing and training with Tasmania to captain of Australia, or footballers like Matthew Richardson, has given me an enormous amount of satisfaction.

“In so many sports Tasmania punches above and beyond our weight.

“We have come along in leaps and bounds, we are really a strong contender in the national and international scene – something we never imagined could happen during the 80s.”

Originally from Melbourne, Tasmania is home for McNiff who will remain in the state.