WINDSOR, U.K. – Summit Steel supplied a selection of its SmarTmast range to the Royal Windsor Horse Show. The SmarTmasts were deployed around the main arena to support video displays, lighting and PA gear. Summit Steel, which has provided equipment for the event for the last five years, once again worked with equestrian event specialists and show producers Horse Power for the event, which has expanded its rigging requirements during that time.
This year, there were additional technical requirements for both the Horse Show and for the Windsor Tattoo, which was staged on four of the five evenings of the Horse Show.
Two 6 x 4 meter LED screens, each weighing approximately 1.2 tonnes, were positioned at the ends of the arena – one straddling the warm up paddock entranceway, and the other at its opposite diagonal corner.
These displayed competition and public information as well as branding and advertising. The screens were suspended on two SmarTmast 3s, a product specifically designed as a flexible rigging method for screens.
Ten SmarTmast 1s were used to create lighting positions around the arena. Summit undertook special calculations so the height could be increased to 12 meters rather than the standard 10 meters. This height gain was necessary to preserve good sight lines from the low rise seating stands on 4 sides of the arena, and involved adding a lot more ballast to the bottom of the masts. Each SmarTmast 1 was rigged with 6 Vari*Lite 3500 moving lights, spec'd by LD John Pope, and supplied by lighting contractor PRG.
Six of the 10 masts were evenly spaced down one of the long sides, with four along the other.
For the larger PA system this year at the entertainment stage, two SmarTmast 4s were used on both sides. These normally extend to 15 meters, but again, due to sightline requirements and to avoid obscuring the view of Windsor Castle on the hill opposite, their trim height was modified – in this case, reduced to 12 meters.
The SmarTmast 4 has a larger base size because it's constructed from 52 cm trussing, and picks up the PA off 2 x 2-tonne points front and back, enabling it to carry much larger PAs. Audio for the event was supplied by Delta Sound.
Each of the SmarTmast 1s also carried two trapezes complete with small PA speakers attached to them for general announcements. Along the short sides of the arena, Summit rigged a series of 4.5-meter high PA stands, each with two small speakers onboard.
Summit also set up a 4-meter high, 10-meter-by-5-meter ground support system, which was draped to mask off the production portacabins.
The event was project managed for Summit by Jay Call, who worked with a team of six riggers over a six-day build period, in close conjunction with event production manager Steve Renouard.
One of the major challenges was to enhance the visual appeal of the site, on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The crew also had to be aware that there were often lots of horses in close proximity – to remain alert to their safety and welfare, and, of course, to watch their step while walking the grounds.
For more information, please visit www.summitsteel.co.uk.
