Year 2003 Shahzada
the ULTIMATE TEST in HORSEMANSHIP
The 23rd Shahzada, 25th to 29th August 2003
Held annually in historic St Albans, NSW, Australia.

All 2003 files reloaded 13/9/03 to correct spelling of 2 horse names

This file updated 5.30am, then 7.10am, then 11.18am, then 7pm 29/8/03 from St Albans, NSW.

There were 67 starters at 4 am 25/8/03. One horse was withdrawn (entrant 20) pre-start.

The strong wind of Sunday died down completely to a beautiful clear Monday morning.

The 3am Monday temperature was 15 degrees C, at 6am it was 9 degrees C.

Monday has seen 13 vet outs or withdrawals leaving a field of 55 to challenge the course with a start time between 4 am and 6am on Tuesday morning.   The start time is rider's choice.
The weather on Monday 25/8/03 has been fairly clear skies with occasional strong wind gusts and a 10am temperature of 22 degrees C.

Tuesday's course included the double hump of Boyd's - Woomera Path - McKechnies and then Prestons on the first leg and a course via the scenic Short Wellums track on the second leg.   It has been another day with a large number of horses vetting out or withdrawing.   In all we lost 11,   leaving just 44 to tackle the Shepherds Gully,   Great North Road and 8 mile track on Wednesday morning.   The weather has been kind today with almost no wind and a comfortable 22 degrees C.

Wednesday morning has started off clear and still with a temperature of 2 degrees at 4am (at the computer caravan) and -2 degrees at 7.30am at the Terry Wood camp which is down in a dip.   Once it became light enough, a good frost was evident.   Entrant 60 is an early morning vet out leaving 43 riders on the course this morning.   After the cold start, it turned into a beautiful day, sunny, warm and no wind.   The afternoon leg was Joe's Crossing, then up through the Word of Life to the Woomera Path and back down through Boyd's. The new river crossing at the end of Bulga St (in place of using the road bridge) looks great and gives the horse an opportunity for a drink just before getting back to the base.

Thursday morning, the thermometer shows 1 degree at 5.30am but there is a good frost, even on chairs 3 metres from the strappers camp fire in the vetting area.   A later report reveals that the temperature on the outside table at Terry Wood's camp (down in a dip) was -6 degrees at 6.30am.   A total of 33 riders have started this morning, the first leaving at 4am and the last 5.15am.   Non-starters are entrants 12, 29, 40 and 55.   Today's first leg includes Blue Hill, the Transmission Road and comes down The Steps.   The last of the entrants from the first leg were back in St Albans at 1002 this morning.   Entrant 43 has vetted out lame and 27 has withdrawn, leaving just 31 entrants to tackle the second leg.   Second leg today takes in Joe's crossing, up Jack's Track to the Woomera Path and down the Baker's Creek track.

Friday morning 4.59am, Rex Cox is the last out of a field of 29 (from 67 that started on Monday) on the start of the last day. (Everyone still in the ride in the Thursday list has started).   First out was Suzanne Barton at 4.00am.   Its very cold here again this morning, the thermometer outside the computer caravan shows 3 degrees, but Dee Wyatt proved yesterday that it is up to 6 degrees colder than this in the dip at the back of the vetting area where Terry Wood is camped.   There is a group of about 20 around the camp fire in the vetting area.   Today's course is first leg - The river crossing then along St Albans Rd for about 15 km to Webbs Creek Mountain Road, up Milk Can hill and along the Woomera Path and turn down McKechnie's for the Branch Rd 9km back to the river crossing and base camp in St Albans. Second leg is up Wollombi Rd, scramble up The Steps then Brown's Rd, and back onto Wollombi Rd for 12 km back to St Albans.   No wonder we felt cold this morning, Dee has just advised its -7 degrees at 7am at Terry Wood's camp. Leading horses coming down through McKechnies at 7.10am.   Eleven o'clock, its warmed up to a beautiful day, 14 degrees in Dee's dip 22 degrees in the shade at the computer caravan.   The last horse was in at 9.44am, only one vet out, number 8.   Second leg start time unknown at this time, last horse must be in by 5pm, final results loaded 6.53pm.

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START LIST loaded 1712 24/8/03,   Monday results loaded 1815 25/8/03,   Tuesday results loaded 1810 26/8/03,   Wednesday results loaded 1830 27/8/03,   Thursday results loaded 1800 28/8/03, final Friday results loaded 1853 29/8/03.

This year is an elevator ride in the 400 km Shahzada.   Riders will be able to withdraw after any leg from end of day 3 of the 5 day Shahzada with the horse "fit to continue" and have the successful distance credited.
Riders must complete the whole 400km with the horse "fit to continue" to win the coveted gold plated Shahzada buckle.

To contact Shahzada at St Albans, call phone 02 9456 6301.

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Start list
4am 25/8/03
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Monday
25 August 03
Tuesday
26 August 03
Wednesday
27 August 03
Thursday
28 August 03
Friday
29 August 03
Day 1 NumericDay 2 NumericDay 3 NumericDay 4 NumericDay 5 Numeric
Day 1 Time OrderDay 2 Time OrderDay 3 Time OrderDay 4 Time OrderDay 5 Time Order