Byers family out to celebrate Ipswich's 40th anniversary

By Jordan Gerrans

In the four decades of greyhound racing at Ipswich, the Byers family have been there for almost every step along the journey.

In celebration of the Club’s 40^th anniversary this Saturday evening, trainer Pauline Byers says it would be a special achievement if one of her two chasers can claim the Ipswich 40^th Anniversary Trophy to mark the occasion.

The Byers team, made up of Col, wife Pauline and son Shane, have trained countless winners at Ipswich over the years – including winning multiple premierships at the club.

Col sadly passed away in September of 2019, leaving Pauline and Shane to continue on his legacy in the greyhound industry in the Sunshine State, with Shane working with his father around the dogs since he was in primary school.

While it's Pauline’s name in the race book as the trainer, the Byers are more like co-trainers in the thoroughbred industry, with Pauline and Shane working together to prepare the chasers.

Since Col’s passing, the kennel has not slowed down at all, claiming Ipswich Trainer and Greyhound of the Year with Spring Cleo at the recent 2021 TAB Queensland Greyhound of the Year awards.

It will be Spring Kono and Spring Sonic representing the team in Saturday night’s $15,600 event over 520 metres.

Pauline cannot remember a time over the last four decades when her family was not closely associated with the club at Ipswich.

“It is a big event this 40 years of racing, I think we would have raced at the club for the entire 40 years,” she said.

“We have always raced there, Colin always loved Ipswich.

“We have always liked Ipswich and we have had so much luck at the track over the years, as well.

“It should be a big night.”

The Byers kennel was rewarded at the recent Greyhound of the Year awards, just 12 months on from Pauline winning the Woman in Racing prize at the 2021 ceremony.

After Col's passing, she continued racing and claimed the 2020 premiership with 92 wins, which played a role in being handed the award in 2021.

The field for the Ipswich 40^th Anniversary Trophy on Saturday was graded by fastest runs at Ipswich in the last 12 months over the 520-metre journey.

The field assembled for Saturday’s race is filled with greyhounds who were all in the top 25 fastest times around the track this year, with Spring Kono (30.10 seconds) slightly quicker than her litter sister Spring Sonic (30.26 seconds).

Brindle bitch Spring Kono has not won in her last four trips to the races but has run in the money on three occasions, with Pauline optimistic she can be competitive on Saturday night from her inside draw.

“I am pretty confident with Kono getting box two, I was really happy with that,” Byers said.

“I was hoping she would stay in the two box and she did.

“In her last couple of runs, they have helped her, and her run last week will really help her leading into this Saturday night.

“She should be in her prime this Saturday night, hopefully.

“Hopefully she can ping the lids, she came out good last week.”

The duo are litter sisters out Spring Bridge and Over Here, with all seven dogs from the litter having won races - Spring Crossing the best with 11 victories to his name.

“They have done really well the litter,” Pauline said.

“It would be lovely to win a race like this but it will be a tough one, this is a hard field."

Like many of the Byers’ dogs, Spring Kono and Spring Sonic were broken in and bred in Orange in NSW, before coming north to their Drayton kennel.

“Sonic should go alright from the four on Saturday night,” Byers said.

The Final of the Group 3 Ipswich Auction Series will also be run on Saturday night at Ipswich.

Ipswich 40^th Anniversary Trophy Field's quickest times around the track over 520 metres:

Showdown 30.09 seconds

Spring Kono 30.10

Extra Malt 30.11

I’m Explosive 30.24

Spring Sonic 30.26

Lucky Lance 30.31

Power Moves 30.32

Sleuth 30.32

Little Byrnes 30.39