6 minute read
ROW WITH IT
Award Winning Results
www.controlledevents.com
Triumphant return
The Boat Race 2022 returned to its rightful position on the River Thames. Here, Chris Price, event manager, discusses the big changes
There’s nothing like the roar of a crowd, an encouraging scream, or a cheer of jubilation when loyal supporters congratulate a win. That’s the thing about sporting events; they exude excitement so to see packed crowds returning to live events and watching sport is a thing of beauty.
Last year, The Boat Race took place behind closed doors; COVID-19 continued to impact the events industry and crowds were banned from turning up and supporting their heroes. It’s one reason why the revered sporting event moved location to the Great Ouse in Ely; to discourage spectators. The other reason – the small issue of ongoing engineering works on Hammersmith Bridge – also played its part in the essential move.
Such elements meant last year’s event had a different look and feel. A challenge that Chris Price, event manager of The Boat Race, took in his stride. He had joined Boat Race HQ in November 2020 and knew that his first race [in 2021] would be very different. Jump forward 12 months, and this year’s Boat Race returned to the banks of the River Thames and spectators returned too. It was time for Price to deliver the rowing event that people had missed so much. No pressure.
“I have just about recovered,” says Price. “It’s been strange, and it’s been unique.”
Price is talking to StandOut about all the changes that were made to The Boat Race 2022, which saw thousands of spectators turn out to see Cambridge’s women and Oxford’s men win their respective races.
Images: © The Boat Race/Benedict Tufnell/Row 360
Award Winning Results
www.controlledevents.com
“There were lots of challenges coming in to 2022,” he continues. “At the beginning, there was uncertainty around Hammersmith Bridge and whether the race could take place on the Thames and whether the bridge would be reopened. We had to look at other courses because we were not sure of the bridge’s status and whether it would be closed to river traffic underneath.
“Thankfully, at the end of July/beginning of August, we got the nod that it was probably going to be OK and that the bridge would be open to pedestrians and cyclists, and our rowing teams could go underneath the bridge.”
NEW FACES AND PLANS
The last two years have proved interesting. Price is not the only new face on the block. COVID-19 has meant many people within the key agencies that The Boat Race liaises with have moved on and changed roles.
“There have been some new faces within the planning team this year because some people have moved on. But even though I did have to create a new event management plan for the 2022 race, there was still a lot of knowledge around and expertise upon which I could base my thinking.”
Price reviewed everything. “It’s been a real balancing act. You must be innovative and respectful of history. You need to move forward but you don’t want to shy away from tradition. It’s not a case of repeat and tweak. I had to look at everything, even our core suppliers.”
Controlled Events, Wise Security, and JP Event Safety are three event suppliers that Price cites as central to this year’s planning. “They have good knowledge of the event and they have been important to me, guiding me through important changes.”
PRAGMATIC APPROACH
According to Price, the event probably looked the same to TV audiences but there were subtle differences. For example, Price was keen to make sure the women’s race was on an even keel with the men’s race, so the women’s race had the same number of press, sponsorship, and spectator boats following them down the course. Also, drones were used for the first time, providing valuable footage for TV, enhancing the TV offering. Furthermore, it was important for Price to “get a grip” of procedures and resilience planning, including new Protect Duty guidance.
“I want to have a pragmatic approach to risk planning and assessments and I want to strengthen our planning and contingency plans,” Price continues. “We have spectators standing either side of the river on a course that is 6.8 kilometres long. On the day, I sit in event control so that I have a good understanding of who is looking after what so when we have to troubleshoot, everything works well.”
STRESS, CHANGES, AND PATIENCE
Price was assisted on site by Olivia Harper, event administrator, Joe Milner, start manager, Chris Walker, finish manager, and Barbara Wilson, who was his sounding board and helped with day-to-day operations. Together, they ensured the smooth running of the event, but Price feels that the race still has the capacity to be more dynamic in its approach and he is currently looking at implementing a few changes for 2023.
For example, Price is working with the crowd science team at Manchester Metropolitan University to look at crowd capacities, crowd flows, ingress and egress, which will help inform decisions next year. Plus, Event Control is currently positioned on Putney Embankment in an area shared by umpires and Boat Race officials. Access to the area is “messy”. In addition, Price thinks that more could be made of the race’s official fan parks, and waste needs to be addressed too.
Price explains: “Our event is run solely on sponsorship. It’s hard to put in two large fan parks when costs are increasing. The fan parks are free. I do feel that we could make more of them in terms of spectator experience and fan engagement.
“Also, waste is an area we need to improve on. I put pressure on Wandsworth Council this year to put in waste recycling bins on Putney Embankment, but they pushed back. It was uncomfortable.”
According to Price, The Boat Race does not create a lot of waste and works with sustainable suppliers such as CSM Live on event branding, but when the event partners with GB Row, to highlight the plastic in our waterways and oceans, a lack of recycling facilities does not make sense.
“At the moment, I am collating all the debrief notes and am trying to get ahead of time. Over the summer, I’ll be strengthening the relationships I’ve made and working with the planning teams to make things easier.
“I’m confident in my planning. I’ll admit I was nervous, and a bit stressed about this year’s race because you can get push back if you want to make changes, but I had great support, the approach I adopted was right, and I had a very patient wife.”
SUPPLIERS LIST
Event control – Controlled Events Event safety – JP Event Safety Security – Wise Security Radios – 2CL Branding – CSM Live Barriers – Sunbelt Rentals Fan parks – We are Massive IT and tech – Rocket Networks Drones – SP Films
Award Winning Results
www.controlledevents.com
