HT Collecting ring steward - tips...

little_critter

little_critter

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I've been asked to help at a small local Hunter Trial in a couple of weeks.
I've been given the job of looking after the collecting ring.
I'm sure I'll be told what to do when I get there but can anyone give any hints / tips / advice on what I'm likely to be expected to do and what will make it all run smoothly.
Not sure at the moment if the competetors are being given times to start or whether they just add their number to the board to say they're in the class.

Thanks in advance......
 
I've done this a few times. First make sure you are wearing warm boots, and take a wooly hat, gloves, and full waterproofs. Its a really horrible job if you are cold and wet.

You need a loud voice, you will be yelling a lot. I always take some water, to stop me getting too horse.

Whether they have times or a chalk\white board I would also take along a notepad and pencil in a clear plastic bag, if it is really wet you can switch to this. Don;t take a biro, it won't work in the rain!

Basically your job is to send the next horse upto the starter as the previous one starts. You need to know at all times who your next 2 or 3 horses are.

I find that getting their attention with something like 'No 62, you have 2 to go and are following 57, on the grey over there' generally means that most people will magically appear when no 57 goes down into the box.

When you first make contact have a quick glance over them to check for any dangerous\missing tack, e.g. Tail bandadge still on, no body protector, noseband not done up. You don't need to be that observant\picky, but the riders & the starter will thank you for it.

When the horse goes down to the start, cross it off the list.

If you have no shows (both declaration systems will have those), mark the number with a star or a circle and carry on. They will probably turn up eventually, and you will have to tactfully slot them in (If they have times then you can not let them start, but that is very mean at local level).

I also tend to put a dot, or a mark by the riders I have seen warming up so I know who is missing, especially if they have times and you need to get people to go early.

You will also have to deal with a constant stream of people to put numbers down, move up or down on the list and want to know 'how many move before no 35'. This helps if you have a helper to look after writing on the board, but otherwise you will need to multi task!

I really enjoy manning the collecting ring, you might get some grief, but everyone will natter to you, so you won't be bored or lonely.
 
Echo Shazzababs there, great advice. I do XC collecting ring for our local trials, it's my favourite job!
Would just add, depending how long you're likely to be there (I'm from 9.30 until 6.30, long old day but enjoy every minute of it!) make sure you have ability to call relief cover if you need it like loo or lunch break; nothing worse than being stuck there with no contact with the outside world and you're dying for a pee!
Take clothes for absolutely every weather you can think of!
Make sure you can see the start box from collecting ring entrance and find from starter what interval he wants between riders; we're usually 2 minutes but it can go down to 1.5 if we're pushed for time. I try to get the next one there just after the last has started so they don't feel too rushed.
Remember to look out for medical bands if they're to be used.
We have times but from past experiences from a few years back, they were more trouble than they're worth with people being late, wanting to go early and so on so now, as XC is the last thing they do, we take them in order as they come to the collecting ring; the only exceptions being riders with more than 1 horse who we'll slot in so they can get to the next one. I've now found it easier to write down numbers as they come in and cross them off when they've gone to the start rather than fiddle trying to find them in the list. That way it's also easy to tell someone how many there are before them (that's one question you will get fed up with, lol!) with people being late, wanting to go early and so on
If you have the chance, take a trailer for you to stand in if it's wet, makes life much pleasanter; just make sure the ramp faces the CR so you can see what's going on and competitors can see you.
Above all, be cheerful, it makes the day seem better whatever the weather! I always say Good Luck to them as they go to the starter and always ask if they enjoyed it or how did they get on when they return; they seem to appreciate it.
I wouldn't change the job for worlds!
 
I XC steward every year at two BE events - its good fun but be prepared to be assertive and have people ask you the same question a million times. Most importantly, do not take any abuse from any competitor, helper etc. I find that people tend to be more tense when they are about to go XC and can be a bit rude. If they are rude, report them to the secretary. Also, if people are slow to come to the start, make sure, as earlier posters have suggested, you shout ' no 34 you have 2 minutes, no 45 you have 4 minutes'. If they are not responding, give them say till they have 20 seconds and then call the next horse and slot the earlier rider in later. This sounds complicated but if you give riders all the time they want, you'll end up getting very behind time. 10 or 20 seconds does not seem like much but if each rider does it all day it all adds up. Mostly, enjoy watching all the horses!
 
Thanks all for the tips - did the stewarding yesterday and I think it all went fairly well (no complaints as far as I know). Starter asked me to send them a bit quicker a few times but other than quite a few late / missing pairs all went relatively smoothly. I was in the swing of things by the last class and would happily do it again (if they could guarantee sunshine again!)
I'm usually a quiet person - I didn't realise I could shout so loud!
 
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