Chris Wallace - dressed and ready for work
STEWARDING AT LONDON 2012
Chris Wallace has been the steward general for eventing in Australia since 2008. She takes her position seriously and works very hard to ensure that the correct proceedures are carried out and the horses welfare is always the priority. This year Chris was lucky enough to be asked to attend the London Olympics as a national technical official. We caught up with Chris as she was still recovering from Olympic fever and jet-lag …
When I took on the position as the steward general for eventing in Australia in 2008 I had a number of objectives to achieve.
One of these was to raise the profile of stewarding at FEI events as the position of stewarding became more professional. To achieve this, I have established good communication between all stewards – FEI, national and potentials, have helped with instigating a national steward training program with a pathway to FEI stewarding and have helped organise courses, both FEI and national, for this ongoing education.
Another objective was to give stewards the opportunity to be involved with FEI events abroad and many Australian stewards now have the opportunity to work at events in New Zealand and some events further afield.
In 2009, the International Eventing Organising Committeee included stewards in the Global Education Program for Technical Officials and this has opened up another opportunity for stewards to be involved with international events. For the first time, two Australian stewards have been given this opportunity and recently Andrea Webb had an exciting week at Aachen in July and I am going back to England for Weston Park Horse Trials in October.
For the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010, I was able to organise four Australian stewards to attend the test event and the WEG, which was great, and then I got started on working towards the Olympic Games. I had a number of stewards interested in going to London but sadly it was not to be and although it was a little bitter sweet I have to admit I was pretty pleased when I was invited to be a national technical official for the Games.
Although I was the only Australian steward to be on the team at London we had Penny Dodd (pictured above), a FEI steward from WA, as a fence judge along with some other volunteering jobs, and Julie and David Cavanagh from SA also as fence judges. They got these jobs by applying through the initial volunteering program for the Olympic Games.
Arriving in London
I arrived on July 23rd at my accommodation, ‘The Ibis’ at Greenwich, which was very comfortable and so close to the venue (two minutes from the entrance to Greenwich Park) with lots of good pubs around for our evening meal. I was soon met by the LOCOG representative and a group of us were taken by bus to receive our uniforms.
This gave us the first indication of the amount of planning that had gone into this huge event and the contingent of volunteers and the fact that some of them had been there for months – amazing. There was a one-kilometre queue of volunteers lining up for uniforms, but we were quickly ushered through accreditation processes, etc. and finally got to try on uniforms – one shape fits all!
That done, it was all collected in two large boxes with us already wondering how we would manage to fit it into our luggage to take home. We were given two casual uniforms, right down to correct coloured shoe laces and two formal uniforms to be worn when on the ‘field of play’.
Our first duties were to steward the few horses that had arrived in practise areas and help those arriving to settle in. It was so exciting to see the Aussies arriving.
Arena construction
The stable area consisted of about 10 individual blocks, all connected by rubber matting and ramps, an extensive horse wash area, forge, ice tent, weigh scales and a grassy grazing area under the magnificent trees of Greenwich Park. It was lovely to see how the stables quickly became decorated in the flags and mascots of each country.
All veterinary matters were attended to in a purpose-built treatment/veterinary centre beside the stables. The treatment boxes were set up in this clinic for day-to-day treatments, injections, etc. The clinic also had facilities to cater for all emergencies and a number of surrounding specialist veterinary hospitals ready to take any horses that needed further treatment. All swabbing of horses was also done here, but stewards were not involved as there was a special team delegated to this job.
Stewards were assigned to the stables in three-hour blocks throughout the day and night duty was covered by a team who had all been notified prior to commencement of the games.
Flags fron around the world outside the stables
At every practise arena, for the hours it was open, there were two vets, a farrier and a doctor in attendance and there were five individual work areas for horses, one covered arena and one lungeing ring. Four of the arenas were behind the main arena and the fifth at the top of the hill with a further grazing area connected by a long uphill gallop track. The cross-country practise area was also here with a variety of beautifully presented practise jumps - however they were given very little use. Except for the long distance to Arena 5, the whole area was quite compact and transport was available up the hill but it was a pleasant walk past the observatory and such beautiful trees. The way the practise areas were constructed was quite amazing: all above ground on platforms with access via ramps and now all being removed - even the surface is for sale.
Stewards, vets, farrier and doctor spent many hours on all these practise arenas and they were open all day, so we often had lots of time to catch up with our team members and take photos of the squirrels, who appreciated being fed as the park had been closed to the public for sometime.
Arena maintenance (below) was superbly carried out by a dedicated crew throughout the day and an even more dedicated crew of volunteers in charge of pooper scoopers meant there was never any manure to be trodden on throughout arenas, tracks and stables.
Throughout the games, the steward duties included practise areas, stables, gallop track, warm-up for competition and flow to main arena and then on the field of play with horse inspections, bit checks and boot checks.
I was at Greenwich from the time horses arrived until the last horses were being trucked out, with one day off between the eventing and dressage. That day was spent having a good sleep in, a long breakfast and a trip up the Thames to relax.
Aren't these cameras pointing the wrong way?
On some of the other days we did have a few hours off, which gave us the chance to go into the main arena to watch competition and sit amidst the royal family. Yes really - our seats were just below the ‘royal’ seats! It was funny to have the cameras aimed at ‘us’ throughout the competition and to see so many people taking photos of the royals.
Well I couidn't not take a photo - could I ...
Lunch was provided for us at Devonport House, one of the old majestic buildings of Greenwich, and this was where the grooms also had meals and were accommodated. The meals were a feast of English cuisine and were really too good for a ‘grab and go’ as stewards so often had to do.
The security at the venue was very well controlled, and with the huge destroyer anchored in the Thames at Greenwich, we had a large army and navy presence. Every time we entered the venue we were screened and identity-checked and could take no fluids into the venue. I have to say, although there had been some intial concern about secruity at the Games, I felt very secure during my stay in London.
With this on your door step how could you not feel safe
I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to the Opening Ceremony with a group of officials and once again it was so well organised - we just walked in and took our seats after having picked up an amazing gourmet coolpack of food for dinner. This was something available to all Olympic Family members. The sights, sounds and activity on the main arena was fantastic and Mr Bean a highlight.
With a 6am start the following morning, and still a little unsure about public transport, we sadly had to leave before the arrival of the flame. However, it turned out not to be so bad as I happened to meet up with the cross-country course designer (Sue Benson) on the way home and was able to have a great conversation. London provided us with such a diversity of officials to be in contact with.
As a steward, we often do not get the opportunity to watch the main event but the bonus is we are there as riders warm up, do their last minute checks and wish them good luck and so it was with the showjumping.
I was there at the last minute to see the British riders go into showjump and witness the excitement as their medal hopes materialised and with the Saudis and the next day as the individual medallists emerged.
The highlight of this experience for me was working in teams with stewards from all over the world and all working as a team together. We had very experienced officials, the chief stewards and all other volunteers working together and becoming good friends. It was wonderful having the opportunity to talk with grooms from all over the world as we did our walks through the stables, seeing how horses are managed in the stables and equipment that is used, particularly on the showjumpers. We saw the various treatments that can be given in stables; lasers, ice, bowen, massage and all manner of treatments to keep the equine athlete at the top of their game.
Time to go home
To see the trucks coming down the hill to collect the showjumping horses really bought it home to me that it was all finally over BUT that meant I had the opportunity to sit in the stand and watch the three dressage medal winners perform their freestyle. WOW – that was certainly worthing seeing!
London 2012 was a fantastic experience, very exhausting, but I now have many wonderful friends to communicate with throughout the world.
New friends
Now I am focusing on my next appointment as a Global Education Program recipient stewarding at Weston Park in England early October. We are leaving in three weeks time to have a short holiday on the Croatian coast but first have a house to pack up as we prepare for renovations – so I’d better stop typing!
Chris Wallis
