23/10/08, The 2008 post ride book has been printed and will be mailed 23/10/08. It is anticipated that the post ride books should start arriving in letter boxes on Friday 24th October and Monday 27/10/08. There will be one book per mailing address for entrants in the 400km, 80 K and training rides. (Where there are multiple entrants from the one mailing address, there will be one book).

The file for refunds of withdrawls from pre-nomination, etc, of the 2008 Shahzada, has been e-mailed to Peter McKechnie at 2245, 5/9/08. All enquires about this to Peter McKechnie.

The 2008 Shahzada is over, the end results have been posted on this web page.

At the presentation on Saturday morning 30/8/08, the winner of the best Managed and Best Conditioned Horse award for Shahzada 2008 is Melanie Anderson riding Ausden Kon Tiki. Melanie Anderson is the third person to achieve the 500 km Shahzada.

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Friday Morning, 29/8/08...

All 23 of the entrants remaining in the 400km marathon at the end of Thursday started this morning (Friday), see "Year 2008 400KM MAIN RIDE Data" for the full list, below. Peter Norman was first out at 4.00am, closely followed by April Bonham and Stuart Lymbery at 4.01am. The last 3 out were Talea Hasco-Stuart at 4.28am, Ken Bradley at 4.34am and Brad Dillon at 5.32am. Today's course goes across Joe's Crossing, up the very steep Jack's track, along the Woomerah Path and down McKechnies on the first leg. The second leg goes up rocky broken cliff face known as "The Steps" and after leaving the Transmission Road, takes the road through the St Albans Common back to the tiny semi-rural village of St Albans. The temperature here today at 6 am was 5 degrees C with a very dense mist in the air. I hope to provide another update about 1300 hours...

SHAHZADA 500...

This is a special extension of 100km to the 400km Shahzada.

Sunday 24th August 2008, 4am, Melanie Anderson riding Ausden Kon Tiki started the first day of their attempt on the 500 km Shahzada. In 4 degrees temperature, with misty conditions and the dew dripping off the trees, Melanie and Ausden Kon Tiki headed off into the darkness. The first leg started in St Albans and went up the Wollombi Road to the top of the St Albans Common. The course then turns up Johnnie's Hill and goes around the top on the Transmission Road, decending to the valley floor via Blue Hill, then Wrights Creek Road and Settlers Road back to St Albans.

Melanie completed the first leg, of 52 km in 4 hours 20 minutes. The horse vetted fit to continue. Mel and Ausden Kon Tiki left St Albans on the second leg at 0953 after 1 hour 33 in the base camp. The second leg included the sights of Joe's crossing, Mc Kechnies, Woomerah Path and the massively steep down hill in Jack's Track. Mel finished the second leg at 1338, making 4 hrs 45 minutes for the second leg of 35 km. The final leg is just 13 km from St Albans, up Wollombi Road to the old quarry and back. Mel departed on the third, 13km leg of the 100 km at 1454, returning at 1550. Ausden Kon Tiki has been vetted "Fit to Continue" in Mel's quest for the 500 km Shahzada with Vet's comments "Looks Good".

Tuesday morning before Shahzada, full moon last night even fuller frost this morning !! There was a heavy blanket of Frost this morning over everything. Bring your winter woolies !!

It has turned into a nice day, blue sky and sunny at midday.
For drivers using Wisemans Ferry Road from Gosford direction to St Albans, there are roadworks in two places near Gunderman. The only problem that I experienced was the hold up at the traffic control light because of the single lane in operation. There are also bridgeworks at Gundaman Creek.
The coin head has re-appeared on the Public Phone, so its back to card or coin for the phone. Havn't heard how this was achieved, yet..

Wednesday was a seriously cold frost, temperature not recorded. Thursday the frost was lighter and temp was 3 degrees at 7am.

Participation in the 400 km Shahzada is a unique experience (it certainly will be if it continues to be this cold) for qualified endurance riders while the two Single Day 80 and the 3 day training ride allow riders to "sample" the spirit of the marathon event.

Click here for Shahzada07     2008 CALENDAR information    (PDF format file)