“On last weekend of June all eyes in eventing world are on Strzegom that is why you have to be here, you have to see it live while others will watch it on TV”. Interview with Marcin Konarski, event director of Strzegom Horse Trials.

Strzegom Horse Trials: 12 editions, several thousands of spectators, the biggest stars of eventing, a few hundreds of beautiful horses- that’s a large organizing and logistic project. How is it possible to gear it all up?

Marcin Konarski: You never know if it will work out. You cannot predict the future and you cannot predict what can surprise you at that kind of large logistic and organizing project. But you can know one for sure- the preparation has to start early enough so that you always have some time to solve issues that are trying to surprise us.

The secret of success- what is it? How would you say it in just 3 words?

Work, work, work. Nothing can be done without it. Preparing such an event demands a huge work input of whole team- from Organizers’ Office to preparing the cross country course. The preparation phase starts few months before previous event, so you can say that phase takes more than a year and of course the closer the event is, the accumulation of issues is bigger.

The event has been organized in Morawa near Strzegom for 12 years. Which of the editions you keep in mind and why?

I have a few of them. Still my favorite is an event form 2009- World Cup Final. I also have some good memories from 2014- from the organizing point of view it was a great event- everything worked out and even if something wasn’t exactly the way it should be no one who didn’t know the scenario was able to notice the inadequacy. I can also remember 2006 when tornado carried away the sable tent. It was a true miracle that as the matter of fact no one was hurt.

The biggest success and the biggest howler.

World Cup Final because that event started the history of Strzegom as a place of the biggest and most prestigious shows in Europe and of course giving us a right of organizing European Championships for Seniors 2017. 12 great editions of Strzegom Horse Trials had an impact on the decision of International Equestrian Federation. I hope there were no dramatic howlers. Although obviously we had some unexpected difficulties- I’ve already mentioned “flying stables” or weather in 2013, when heavy rain almost caused the flood in Lower Silesia region and we were forced to halt the competition. But the biggest, and the most hilarious howler at the same time, was last year cross country radios story. The cross country test was to start at 11.00 and on a briefing at 10.00 it turned out that we don’t have radios for fence judges. Thanks to calmness and experience we managed to get everything under control and find 30 radios in an hour so that the competition started on time, every fence judge had a radio and non of the Officials became conscious that something was wrong. I realized then that we are the masters of back-up. It is the best example that you must not get into a rut because it is always disastrous and despite an experience you need to concentrated and check everything twice.

Why is it worth to be here- what can that event offer for equestrian fans and outsiders?

Strzegom Horse Trials is a unique event. Top riders with horses worth million of euro have competed here for years. And eventing is a queen of equestrian sport demanding a grace and elegance in dressage test, courage and stamina on the cross country course and precision in jumping test. Moreover there are shows for the spectators, a great family picnic- all of it creates the unique show on the top international level. On last weekend of June all eyes in eventing world are on Strzegom that is why you have to be here, you have to see it live while others will watch it on TV.   

How is the cooperation with International Equestrian Federation FEI?

It is very good from our point of view. We never have had any communication or organizing problems. FEI is very professional as a number of experts of different areas work there. It is easy to find a common ground. I am a member of FEI Eventing Committee since 2013 therefore our contacts are very excellent.  

Strzegom is not associated with big sport event in Poland. However in international world of eventing there is not a single person who would not have heard about Strzegom. How have you built Strzegom brand in international equestrian world? 

Events like Strzegom are being built from year to year, step by step. You have to always raise a bar for yourself so that organizing level gets better form year to year. We managed to boost our event so that a number of entries increase every year and we always have top riders. We have more than 300 pairs on this year entries list including no. 1 in Eventing Ranking and four riders from TOP- 20. Strzegom is now one of the important stop points for many European and, in equestrian world, it is the most recognizable place in Poland. And here we have another funny story. Few years ago two judges meet at the event somewhere in Europe. One of the ladies is Polish, the other is foreigner. As they start to chat the foreigner asks the Polish where she lives. A lady from Poland says she is from Wroclaw. – Oh yes, I know!- says the foreigner one- It is that big city with an airport and it’s near Strzegom where I was judging once! And so Wroclaw became recognizable in equestrian world thanks to Strzegom competition!

It all leads us to admitting the right to organize European Championships 2017…

Yes, we’ve made this.  In fact 12 editions, a number of factors and coincidences had an influence on FEI decision. To tell the truth, although I really wanted to have that event in Poland, I didn’t believe that it is possible. As you can see it’s worth to believe and fight till the end. For many people, in Poland and abroad, the decision of giving us European Championships was shocking. Surly it was shock for many Western Europe countries that they will have to take a trip somewhere and that it will be in the Eastern direction. Even though they come to Strzegom for years the significance and prestige of European Championships is another level.  Just to remind you, last time we had an event on that level on East from Odra River in Kiev in 1973! The reactions after announcement FEI decision were incredible!  A number of people from all over the Europe have declared the willingness to help! 

What is so special about Strzegom Horse Trials among other events in Poland?

It’s the history- this event has been taking place continuously  for 13 years, we have made 12 very good edition so far. We are the only one Organizer working in the same team. Other big events are not made by the same team from the beginning  of existence.

Strzegom Horse Trials connects high level sport and business. Why is it worth to invest in it?

One of the best and the cheapest marketing tools nowadays is advertising and building the image through the sport. Positive emotions brought with sport have an impact on company image if that one is a sponsor presenting itself at the event. That kind of engagement brings more long term effects than traditional advertisement.

During Strzegom Horse Trials we can offer very interesting sponsorship service- checked and effective marketing tools which, connected with the emotions brought by equestrian, can not only have a positive influence on company image, but also strengthen the brand on Polish and international market. For many brands equestrian is a perfect connection of access to the mass, because of its popularity, and in cause of Premium brands, to the selected group of people with over average incomes.