Dennis George Atkins, born August 1, 1947, had two attempts to win the Grand National and finished up on the floor both times.
Glen Owen came down at the 26th in 1975 and Irish Tony fell at the 8th in 1978.
He had better luck in the 1980 Scottish Grand National, winning on that great stayer Salkeld.
Dennis also excelled on Cancello, the pair being first past the post in the Mackeson Gold Cup of 1976, later to be renamed the Paddy Power Gold Cup.
Among other good wins came victories in the Shaw Memorial Hurdle and the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. He also won the 1976 Rowland Meyrick Chase on Irish Tony.
Dennis lived at Kirklea, Leyburn Road, Middleham, Leyburn and, on June 25, 1969, he married Shirley Anne White; she gave him a son, Paul Anthony, and a daughter, Sheridan Louise.
He served his apprenticeship - 1962 to 1967 - with J. P. Yeomans at Upton on Severn and rode six winners before going jumping.
On 30 September 1968, he rode his first treble at Hexham.
On Saturday, May 29, 1982, Dennis put on racing colours for the last time, climbing aboard Roman Con at Hexham.
On retiring, he opened a pub.
Dennis was a keen angler.
Dennis Atkins
Big winners:
1976: Mackeson Gold Cup – Cancello
1976: Rowland Meyrick Chase – Irish Tony
1980: Scottish Grand National – Salkeld
