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Tresham Lawrence
Tresham Lawrence
1898-1973
1898-1973
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Tresham William Lawrence was born at Livermore, Bury St Edmunds, on July 5, 1898, the son of George Lawrence, a groom. The family later moved to Findon where Tresham was a stable lad.
Tresham William Lawrence was born at Livermore, Bury St Edmunds, on July 5, 1898, the son of George Lawrence, a groom. The family later moved to Findon where Tresham was a stable lad.
Apprenticed to trainer Ted Gwilt, he had his first ride at Birmingham on Easter Monday, April 13, 1914, when finishing unplaced on an unnamed two-year-old in the Doddington Selling Plate. His career on the Flat in 1914 was a brief one and he failed to ride a winner.
Apprenticed to trainer Ted Gwilt, he had his first ride at Birmingham on Easter Monday, April 13, 1914, when finishing unplaced on an unnamed two-year-old in the Doddington Selling Plate. His career on the Flat in 1914 was a brief one and he failed to ride a winner.
In 1917 he was called up where he served with the labour corps in a Hampshire Regiment, having been deemed unfit for the front line. His job was to clear trenches, dig trenches and very often to dig graves and bury the dead.
In 1917 he was called up where he served with the labour corps in a Hampshire Regiment, having been deemed unfit for the front line. His job was to clear trenches, dig trenches and very often to dig graves and bury the dead.
He was court-martialled in July 1918 for endangering the lives of his comrades by having his rifle loaded when off duty. It had gone off and wounded two men. He was sentenced to 14 days of being shackled but not fixed, which was aimed at humiliating him in front of his fellow men. After demob, he married in 1920 and continued working at Findon.
He was court-martialled in July 1918 for endangering the lives of his comrades by having his rifle loaded when off duty. It had gone off and wounded two men. He was sentenced to 14 days of being shackled but not fixed, which was aimed at humiliating him in front of his fellow men. After demob, he married in 1920 and continued working at Findon.
He began riding under National Hunt rules in the early 1920s and recorded his first victory over jumps at Gatwick on February 8, 1922, when Yorick won the Maiden Hurdle, beating The Knight, the mount of Albert Chapman, by three-quarters of a length. Three of the finest jockeys of the period, namely Fred ‘Dick’ Rees, Frank Wootton and George Duller, had all tried and failed to win a race on Yorick, so all credit to Tresham, who was riding the four-year-old for the first time.
He began riding under National Hunt rules in the early 1920s and recorded his first victory over jumps at Gatwick on February 8, 1922, when Yorick won the Maiden Hurdle, beating The Knight, the mount of Albert Chapman, by three-quarters of a length. Three of the finest jockeys of the period, namely Fred ‘Dick’ Rees, Frank Wootton and George Duller, had all tried and failed to win a race on Yorick, so all credit to Tresham, who was riding the four-year-old for the first time.
He did not get another chance to shine on Yorick, but at Lingfield Park ten days later he finished second on Galroy in the Woldingham Handicap Hurdle, beaten one and a half lengths by Captain ‘Tuppy’ Bennet on Balthazar. However, after learning from the owner that “no registration of partnership was lodged in the case of Balthazar,” the stewards disqualified the five-year-old and Tresham had his second win.
He did not get another chance to shine on Yorick, but at Lingfield Park ten days later he finished second on Galroy in the Woldingham Handicap Hurdle, beaten one and a half lengths by Captain ‘Tuppy’ Bennet on Balthazar. However, after learning from the owner that “no registration of partnership was lodged in the case of Balthazar,” the stewards disqualified the five-year-old and Tresham had his second win.
Again, that was the only occasion on which he rode Galroy, and although he had more than a dozen other rides that year, there were no further successes. Those two wins in ten days, albeit one on a disqualification, were the sum total of Tresham Lawrence’s career. He did not ride after 1926.
Again, that was the only occasion on which he rode Galroy, and although he had more than a dozen other rides that year, there were no further successes. Those two wins in ten days, albeit one on a disqualification, were the sum total of Tresham Lawrence’s career. He did not ride after 1926.
He eventually became head Lad to Captain John Davidson at Findon. On retirement, he worked as a nurseryman.
He eventually became head Lad to Captain John Davidson at Findon. On retirement, he worked as a nurseryman.
Tresham Lawrence died of stomach cancer in October 1973, aged 75. His wife Elsie died in 2001 at the grand old age of 102.
Tresham Lawrence died of stomach cancer in October 1973, aged 75. His wife Elsie died in 2001 at the grand old age of 102.
Additional information courtesy of Derek Gay.
Additional information courtesy of Derek Gay.
Yorick, Tresham Lawrence's first winner, Gatwick, February 8, 1922
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