This day is the only day competing at HKB. While the venue opened for spectators from 6am, we were required to arrive before 3am. Taxi is the only mean to get to the PTI. With the volunteer uniform on, the taxi driver recognized that I was a volunteer. After a short conversation, he told me that he is a volunteer worker of St. John. However, due to the limited number of entrance permits, he could not take part in the event. He asked a few times whether I can get reimbursement for the taxi fare. I believe if I could not get it back from the EqCo, he would have given me a free ride. It is so delighting to meet someone who shares the same passion for the event.
This day is also the only day that rained during the whole event. For an outdoor event, it might sounds discouraging, but in fact it is much welcomed. The 5000+ meter cross-country course with all those jumps is physically very demanding for the athletes and the horses. It is also very harsh for spectators to stand and walk around the mostly unsheltered venue for a few hours. The rain has brought down the temperature by a few degrees. Well, some might feel annoyed with the rain, but it is better to have many getting heat stroke.
To us HK people, we of course were looking forward to the performance of Hua Tian, the 18 years old representative of China. I was waiting to take his photos at jump no. 16 but then decided to also take some galloping shots when along the pathway between jump no. 7 & 8, which is the other end of the area I was keeping. Right after I've taken this, he fell off the horse at jump no. 8..... R said, "It must be u.. What have u done??" (.....)
This day is the only day competing at HKB. While the venue opened for spectators from 6am, we were required to arrive before 3am. Taxi is the only mean to get to the PTI. With the volunteer uniform on, the taxi driver recognized that I was a volunteer. After a short conversation, he told me that he is a volunteer worker of St. John. However, due to the limited number of entrance permits, he could not take part in the event. He asked a few times whether I can get reimbursement for the taxi fare. I believe if I could not get it back from the EqCo, he would have given me a free ride. It is so delighting to meet someone who shares the same passion for the event.
This day is also the only day that rained during the whole event. For an outdoor event, it might sounds discouraging, but in fact it is much welcomed. The 5000+ meter cross-country course with all those jumps is physically very demanding for the athletes and the horses. It is also very harsh for spectators to stand and walk around the mostly unsheltered venue for a few hours. The rain has brought down the temperature by a few degrees. Well, some might feel annoyed with the rain, but it is better to have many getting heat stroke.
It was cool to see spectators amused and excited by the performance of the athletes and the horses (most tribute to the horses, probably). My duty was marshal around jump no. 16, the Great Wall. It was a combination jump of 3 in a short U-shape course and attracted many spectators.
To us HK people, we of course were looking forward to the performance of Hua Tian, the 18 years old representative of China. I was waiting to take his photos at jump no. 16 but then decided to also take some galloping shots when along the pathway between jump no. 7 & 8, which is the other end of the area I was keeping. Right after I've taken this, he fell off the horse at jump no. 8..... R said, "It must be u.. What have u done??" (.....)
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