From about a week before Shahzada starts, this file will be updated daily with a report of the daily weather conditions. Its normal that the weather conditions are very different to the conditions in Sydney. Check out this page daily and don't forget to refresh to get the latest information.
During Shahzada, as time permits, there will be a report of things that happened each day, in addition to the daily weather.
Monday 14/8/06. Today I brought the third load of PA, computers and associated equipment to St Albans and started setting up in the site shed in the vetting area. Today it was blue sky and warmed up enough in the afternoon to change into a a tee shirt. It starts to cool off as soon as the sun disappears behind the hill, about 4.30pm. As I write this, (11.45pm), its cold outside. A partly cloudy / partly starry sky and its 3.3 degrees. The river isn't flowing, from what I could see below the end of Bulga St, its just a series of ponds.
Tuesday 15/8/06. The overnight temperature was 1.3 chilly degrees, no frost. Don't forget the winter woolies. Today it again became quite hot, tee shirt weather again for a while. The temperature in the shade behind the computer site shed peaked at 23.2 degrees, it was a lot hotter in the sun. Remember to pack in some sunscreen. About 1 o'clock it clouded over and it became decidedly colder and tried to rain. A light sunshower didn't even do anything to the dust on the vehicle windows. The usual activities are occuring, like pumping river water up for the tanks and working on the village plumbing. Remember the public address system will be using a FM radio transmitter, you will need to bring a FM receiver to hear the PA in your own camp on 90.9 Mhz FM. Coverage appears to be better than 3km along the valley floor on a car radio.
Wednesday 16/8/06. It was warmer both last night and today. Overnight the low was 2.3 degrees and today's high was 26.7 degrees and quite a bit hotter in the sun. There was no rain today. Around the middle of the day we had a willy-willy wind which lasted for about 30 seconds and then moved on. It picked up plastic signs and distributed them all over the place, tipped over empty plastic water containers. Then as quick as it came it was gone. The WICEN shed was moved today, the IRT tent is up and the speakers are up for the PA around the vetting area only. The rest of the camp is on the radio, 90.9 MHz FM. As you approach St Albans for the last few kms tune in to hear any PA announcements as you approach. Four riders have arrived in St Albans today and have established camp.
Thursday 17/8/06. The weather warmed up again today. The overnight temperature was estimated at about 7 degrees (the thermometer gave a wildly incorrect overnight minimum temperature. Today's maximum was 27.1 degrees which was quite hot. The pace of things Shahzada quickened today. We had a visit from Mick Elvin, the new Police Senior Constable from Wisemans Ferry, who displayed an interest in the event. The local police have been very helpful in past Shahzadas when things have needed their special assistance. Deliveries of firewood have arrived along with entrants from further afield. Today we had people arrive from as far afield as Queensland and Tasmania in addition from Woodstock, Grafton and Mudgee. Our Dubbo Farrier has also set up camp on the corner near the trot out area. We had an interesting situation develop late today where one of the committee members doing track marking failed to turn up at the expected pick up point. After the pick up driver reported this problem back to base, he went out again to try to find the missing track marker. This time it was with radio in hand for communications. All was well, the track marking had taken longer than expected and when it got dark, it got dark very quickly. He was not carrying a torch. The search that was about to be organised was thankfully able to be called off. Just about a record, people arriving today were able to enjoy a hot shower, today, since the amenities block at the old church on Wollombi Rd was again available for us to use.
Friday 18/8/06. Overnight temperature 9.5 degrees C, daily high a very hot 26.2 degrees C. No rain. A very busy day with more entrants arriving, numerous phone calls, especially from people who paid their entry at or after the cut off date. The books and forms for these entrants will be available at St Albans when they arrive. Course marking has involved numerous people, water for the horses has been dropped in containers around the course, the portable toilets are in place, the portable showers are operational. The water tanks in the village are brimming full.
Saturday 19/8/06. Overnight Temperature 5 degrees C. More people are out course marking, organising keys for access to the course. Technical setting up still continues between numerous phone calls, camp site placements and enquiries. Not as hot today, maximum 24.1 degrees C. Some entries finalised with riders getting their riding bibs. Vetting on Sunday 20/8/06.
Sunday 20/8/06 - The thermometer malfunctioned overnight but we woke to a blanket of frost. That qualifies as "cold". At 8 am the track markers are already out there, doing the final marking of the course. Peter and Gail are on their way to see Derek at Gotches, Brad is doing the steps, Allan is up at Gotches and Prestons, Neil after dropping Allan off is doing the Common and Rex is marking Shepherds Gully. There is very little other movement. My technical setup work continues before the rush of entrants arriving. Todays top temperature was 23 degrees c. 56 horses vetted OK, one was withdrawn leaving a field of 55 to start in the morning at 4 am.
Monday 21/8/06 time 0530, updated 22/8/06 0440 - Overnight low temperature 2.6 degrees with a good blanket of frost. 55 riders and horses are out on the first 52 km leg of the 400 km marathon. The temperature peaked at 24 degrees, a pleasant day. This day was very busy in entering numerous single day and training riders information for the Tuesday start. There are 41 in the single day 80 km event and 31 for the 3 day training ride. Of the 55 starters in the 400 km marathon, 52 continue for Tuesday.
Tuesday 22/8/06 - 0730. Overnight temperature 2 degrees, no frost. The 400 km is underway. The 80 k start time has been ammended to 6am and the trainer to 6.30 am to suit the prevailing conditions. 52 riders are out on the first leg of the 400 km which includes Woomera Path and Prestons. 40 have started the single day 80 km ride and 30 have started the 3 day training ride. 8pm, Its been a very hot day, maximum temperature was 28 degrees in the shade, quite a lot of people are showing sunburnt skin. Its still quite hot at 17.6 degrees at about 8pm. In base camp its been quite busy, especially with the 3 rides which seemed to have a co-ordinated return for the 400 km and the single day 80 after the first leg.
Wednesday 23/8/06. Overnight it was a very mild 6 degrees, as I write (5 am) it's dropped down to 5.5 . We have 49 horses on the first leg of the 400K today and 48 have gone out, where is Mark Harvey?. The training ride starts at 6.30 with 27 riders. There is a fire in the vetting area with 2 logs of about 400 mm diameter burning slowly, generating a beautiful warmth if one is close enough. Today we will be taking additional entries for the Thursday 80 km single day event while the 400 km marathon continues. (5.15 am) the valley is ringing with the crashing of the garbage bins being emptied over at the pub. (5.30 am) Mark Harvey is on his way, thats the whole field of 48 out on course. More later...The number of late entries in the second single day 80 km event stressed the organisation because we were conducting the 400 km and the training ride at the same time. Full pre-nomination is essential !
Thursday 24/8/06, already ! Time passes by quickly when one is very busy. This morning we woke to gentle rain. Overnight it was 4.2 degrees and at 6 am it had risen to 6 degrees. At the time of writing these lines (10.15 am) its 13.6 degrees and the rain has been replaced by scattered mist. The rain was enough to settle the dust and nothing else. This morning we had 44 riders and horses start in the 400 km, 35 in the second single day 80km and 25 in the training ride. (10 pm). Its been a very mild day today, relatively warm in the morning and cool through the day. This is the mildest weather day we have had all week. This would have contributed to the lower than usual vet out rate, we only lost 1 in the 400 k ride today. After lunch today, head vet Kym ran the dog races which were actively enjoyed by the support crews in camp. The team making the documentary were in the thick of it. Should make for interesting action footage. Tomorrow, Friday, its the last day of the 400k, the trainer and single day events are over.