Dr Shannon Nott has returned to Dubbo after completing the gruelling 1008-kilometre Mongol Derby, albeit with a broken neck.
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The rural medico was one of 44 riders to set out, and one of only 26 who made it through the wild and rugged terrain to the finish line.
The remainder retired due to injury or fatigue.
It was only after returning to Dubbo that Dr Nott learnt he had broken three vertebrae in his neck in a fall about 350km into the race.
He counts himself as lucky not to have done any permanent damage.
The injury hasn’t stopped his jubilation at completing the Mongol Derby, listed in Guinness World Records as the world’s longest and toughest horse race.
The Dunedoo product participated to raise funds to help run rural-specific wellbeing training for young people, hoping it could address the rates of self-harm and suicide seen in the bush.
Dr Nott, who works out of Dubbo Hospital as a district medical officer, rode in the lead pack throughout the race, leading the race with up to 300kms to go.
It was at this stage he lost his horse.
“I was on an incredibly strong gelding that day and unfortunately my raincoat fell out of my bag forcing me to get off him,” he said.
“I knew it would be tough to get on the guy again as it took three Mongolian horse herders to hold him from bucking too much when I jumped on him originally.
“Sadly my assumptions were right and he turned into a bronc as I was swinging my leg over forcing me to bail.”
By the time Dr Nott received help from local horse herders to catch his horse, the lead pack were too far ahead to close the gap.
A former finalist for Young Australian of the Year, he said words could not describe how amazing it was to compete in the race.
“Some days your body ached all over and the slightest wrong movement would cause you to cry,” he said.
“Other days you would be so overwhelmed by the beauty of the landscape, the friendliness of the Mongolian people or the athleticism of your horses to you would shed tears of joy.
“It was an emotional rollercoaster ride and that was one of the biggest surprises.”