Summit Steel Supplies Royal Windsor Horse Show

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Summit Steel supplied a wide selection of its highly regarded SmarTmast range to the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which were deployed around the main arena to provide an elegant solution for the flying of video displays and PA and lighting points.

Summit were working for equestrian event specialists and show producers Horse Power, and have supplied the show for the last 5 years, during which time its unique rigging requirements have steadily grown in scale.

This year, there were additional technical requirements, utilised for both the Horse Show and for the Windsor Tattoo, which was staged on 4 of the 5 evenings of the Horse Show.

Two 6 x 4 metre 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 relayed competition and public information as well as displaying 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 metres rather than the standard 10 metres. 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 4 along the other.

This year, a much larger PA was specified for the entertainment stage, located in the middle of one long side, so the main left and right arrays were hung on 2 SmarTmast 4s either side. These normally extend to 15 metres, but again, due to sightline requirements and to avoid obscuring the magnificent view of Windsor Castle on the hill opposite, their trim height was reduced to 12 metres.

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 2 trapezes complete with small PA speakers attached to them for general announcements. Along the short sides of the arena, Summit rigged a series of smart steel 4.5 metre high PA stands, each with 2 small speakers onboard, which were also used for general 'PA' duties.

Summit's work was completed with the erection of a 4 metre high 10 x 5 metre ground support system, which was draped to mask off the production portacabins.

The Show was project managed for Summit by Jay Call, who worked with a team of 6 riggers over a 6 day build period, in close conjunction with event production manager Steve Renouard.

One of the major challenges was respecting the beauty and unique nature of the site which is within the massive grounds of Windsor Castle. They also had to be aware that there were often lots of horses in close proximity, so crew had to be alert and constantly looking out when driving site and access vehicles, etc.

For more press info on Summit Steel, please call Louise Stickland on +44 (0)1865 202679 or +44 (0)7831 329888 or Email ‘[email protected]'. Contact Summit Steel direct on +44 (0)1622 745977 or check www.summit-steel.co.uk