Ipswich greyhound royalty's succession plan

By Jordan Gerrans

The surname Byers is royalty out at the Ipswich greyhound track and after a recent change in licenses, there is another regal term that is being thrown around for the long-time greyhound clan.

The Byers team, made up of Col, wife Pauline and son Shane, have produced an array of winners at Ipswich over the decades – 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.

Since Col’s passing, Pauline has been trainer by name for the family as Shane has been the trusted lieutenant and regular handler on race day.

In a bid to eventually upgrade his own licence so he can have more dogs in his own care, Shane recently took out his own training licence and prepared a winner at just his second race start.

As Pauline is the senior member of the team, some around the greyhound caper out in the west are referring to her as ‘Gai Waterhouse’ with son Shane as her ‘Adrian Bott’.

“It has created a bit of interest at the track, there is a bit of banter around which is good,” Shane said with a laugh.

The Byers’ would like to be co-trainers as is commonplace in the thoroughbred racing industry but it is currently not an option in the greyhound game.

While Shane has only started his one dog - Spring Tino – on three occasions, he has already gone up against his mentor mum.

The score is 'one-all' at the moment after Shane got the better of Pauline in their first meeting on the track before she levelled the scores a week or so later.

Shane has been involved with numerous winners in recent years as Pauline is the four-time reigning champion trainer at the Ipswich track.

But, he admits it was a little different on a personal level when the well-bred Spring Tino got the money late last month.

The son of Fernando Bale won over 431 metres in 25.51 seconds.

“It is good to have one in my name,” Shane said.

“It was a different to any other winner we have had before – it was good. It was different (laughs).”

Spring Tino began his racing with Spring Hill dog man Scott Board in NSW – like many of the Byers’ greyhounds do – before transferring north to Shane’s team.

Shane thinks he has not seen the best of Spring Tino yet and after three runs at the Ipswich Showgrounds complex, he believes the chaser will only get better with more looks at the track.

The Darling Downs-based Shane says Board had a serious opinion of the dog before he headed north.

“I think he is going to be a promising dog, he is improving every time he goes around,” Shane said.

“He is getting better with each run and he should turn out all right I think.

“The best is yet to come with the dog, that is for sure. He is improving with every start and bringing his times down.

“He is getting more excited when he goes to the track now that after every run, he knows the place more.”

Shane just has Spring Tino in his own care at the moment but he is keen to add more to his kennel in the coming weeks.

Pauline says Shane is key to the way the clan’s dogs operate.

“I haven’t the energy to box the dogs and I need someone to do that for me,” Pauline recently told Chase Magazine.

“Shane is taking over a lot of the physical side of training.”

Spring Tino will have his fourth start for Shane on Tuesday afternoon at Ipswich as he has been handed the pink rug over 431 metres.

Pauline also has a runner in the event, Spring Release commencing from the three alley.