Birch, Mark

Mark Birch, who originally wanted to be a hairdresser, was born in Chadderton, Oldham, on September 6, 1949.His apprenticeship was served with Geoffrey Booke. He then switched to Peter Easterby's stable at Great Habton, near Malton in Yorkshire.

He rode his first winner on Bollin Charlotte at Chester on July 26, 1968. It was on this course that he rode the great Sea Pigeon to successive victories in the Chester Cup, 1977 and 1978.

Mark made his name in his early days when winning four times on Maystreak, the best Northern miler of the day.

In 1981, with the ill-fated Brian Taylor unable to do the weight, he rode Protection Road to a stunning victory in the 1981 Ebor for trainer Jeremy Hindley.

Other big race wins that came his way were on Dawn Johnny (Northumberland Plate, 1981), Hard Fought (John of Gaunt Stakes, 1980) and Bronze Hill (Lincoln, 1973). He also rode Sonnen Gold, the 1979 champion Northern two-year-old, to six consecutive victories.

Numerically, 1979 was his best year, with 77 winners in the book.

After quitting the saddle, Mark became the assistant of Tipperary-born trainer Kevin Ryan at Hambleton Lodge, near Thirsk.

The prematurely-balding jockey's nickname was 'Archie.'

Mark, who lived at Hillview, Malton Road, Slingsby, York, enjoyed fishing and crosswords.

On September 20, 1969, he married Joyce; she gave him three children, Samantha, Jill and Nicholas Mark.

Mark, in April 2014, was living in Malton.

Mark Birch died on October 19, 2016, aged 67.

Biggest wins:

1973: Lincoln Handicap - Bronze Hill

1977: Chester Cup - Sea Pigeon

1977: Andy Capp Handicap - Revlow

1977: Vaux Gold Tankard - Sea Pigeon

1978: Vaux Gold Tankard - Sea Pigeon

1978: Chester Cup - Sea Pigeon

1979: Gimcrack Stakes - Sonnen Gold

1981: Ebor - Protection Racket

1981: Northumberland Plate - Dawn Johnny

1982: Magnet Cup - Buzzards Bay

1984: Ayr Gold Cup - Able Albert

1987: November Handicap - Swingit Gunner

1988: November Handicap - Young Benz

1992: Magnet Cup - Tell No Lies