John Trench

John ‘Crasher’ Trench

1884 -1945

A native of Eyrecourt, Co. Galway, amateur ridder John Athur Burdett Trench, popularly known as ‘Crasher’ Trench, farmed for a living, while enjoying pursuits such as hunting and playing polo.

He achieved his greatest success when winning the 1911 Irish Grand National on Repeater II, trained by Captain A. E. Bacon at Kennycourt, Co. Kildare. Captain Bacon’s other claim to fame was being the father of the celebrated painter, Francis Bacon. The horse’s owner, railway supremo W. L. A. Goulding, was one of the relatively few owners to have silks of a single colour, in his case lilac.

Repeater II had top-class form but had not run since winning the Conyngham Cup at Punchestown the previous year. However, he gave a brilliant display of bold jumping, which saw him in a clear lead by halfway. Evens favourite Dysart gave chase but was outjumped at every fence, having drawn up to the leader on the flat. The pair fought out a great battle all the way to the line, with Repeater II just doing enough to hold on by a length and a half from Dysart, with the 1909 winner Little Hack II six lengths further back in third.

Little Hack II won her second Irish Grand National in 1913 at the advanced age of 14, but she may not have done so had the cards fallen ‘Crasher’ Trench’s way. Little Hack II soon had the field strung out, with New Salt, ridden by ‘Crasher’, being the only danger as they turned into the straight. Both horses were going equally well and a battle royal looked in prospect but, suddenly and without warning, New Salt bolted and ran out with ‘Crasher’, presenting the race to Little Hack II, who went on to win in a canter by 10 lengths.

‘Crasher’ later trained for a time, preparing Stone Chase, a half-sister to Troytown, who was the best two-mile chaser in Ireland before being sent to America.

A leading light of the East Galway Hunt, ‘Crasher’ Trench died suddenly in December 1945 while supervising improvements being made to the Hunt’s point-to-point course.