Popular FNQ hoop set for comeback after broken neck vertebrae

By Jordan Gerrans

Still full of passion and desire to ride, popular FNQ hoop Shane Pawsey is set for his latest injury comeback after suffering a broken vertebrae in his neck last year.

The 51-year-old plied his trade in New South Wales and the ACT before moving to north Queensland in 2012 and has had to fight through a number of frustrating setbacks in recent years.

The father of three daughters had a cancer scare back in 2018, when a melanoma was taken out of the back of his neck, as well as constant battles with his weight.

His most recent injury – the broken vertebrae when jumping out an unraced filly at Cannon Park late in 2020.

The respected hoop has fought his way back to full fitness through extensive rehabilitation and will take two rides this Saturday at Mareeba, his first since early September of last year.

Pawsey is known for his positive attitude and quick wit and was desperate to get back doing what he loves.

“It has been pretty good to be truthful, I am glad I got back into it and got going again,” Pawsey said of his fight back from the broken vertebrae.

“Like the doctor said to me through the process, there is no reason for this to stop me from going back riding physically, the thing that will stop me is that if my nerves have gone or if you are not confident within yourself after the fall.

“I quickly said to them that I can guarantee that my nerves have not gone on me because I know a lot of people around my age, that can happen to them and they give it up.

“For me, I still have a passion and desire to do it, my nerves are good so I am going ahead with it. You have to stay active at my age.”

Pawsey has been back riding track work for almost a month following the tick of approval from his doctors and rode in a jump-out in front of stewards on Wednesday to get his final clearance to return.

On his two rides at Mareeba on Saturday, the experienced hoop says he is sure he will have a bit of rust but is keen to get back into it and will get back to his best sooner rather than later.

Pawsey’s orthopaedic professor recently told him he was unlikely to break the vertebrae in the same spot ever again if he was to suffer a similar fall, allowing him to return to a normal life and get back to riding.

When he suffered the break, Pawsey was on the comeback trail after spending a few months on the sidelines getting his weight back to a suitable level for racing.

He drove himself home from the track following the fall that broke a bone in his neck and then was taken to hospital.

The veteran hoop was adamant in the days after the latest injury setback that he would not let it end his career in the saddle and his thoughts have been vindicated.

“When I did break the neck, it popped my five, six and seven vertebrae, it is still a little bit sore there but nothing major,” Pawsey said.

“It is like anything in sport when it comes to injuries, they are never completely the same again and you are always going to have a bit of soreness.

“All in all, everything is feeling good and in tack so it is onwards and upwards.”

Pawsey’s eldest daughter, Jade, is also a budding rider– with the teenager recently taking out her strapping and stablehand licences with the aim of eventually becoming an apprentice hoop.