Clifton Wrottesley

Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdon Wrottesley, 14th Baronet, 6th Baron Wrottesley (born 1968), is an Irish sportsman and British peer.

  • The Right Honourable
  • The Baron Wrottesley
Clifton Wrottesley, 14th Baronet, 6th Baron Wrottesley
Born
Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdon Wrottesley

1968 (age 51–52)
Dublin, Ireland
EducationEton College
Alma materEdinburgh University
Sandhurst
Spouse(s)Sascha Schwarzenbach
Children4
Parent(s)The Hon. Richard Francis Gerard Wrottesley
Georgina Clifton
RelativesUrs Schwarzenbach (father-in-law)

Early life

Wrottesley was born at Hatch Street, Dublin in 1968[1] to the Hon. Richard Francis Gerard Wrottesley and his wife, Georgina Wrottesley, née Clifton, daughter of Lt. Col. Peter Clifton of Dummer House, Hampshire, and his wife, Patricia Mary Adela Clifton, née Gibson-Watt, of Doldowlod House, Radnorshire.[2]

His first two years were spent in Abbyknockmoy, Co Galway. After his father's death, he moved to Spain with his mother.[3]

He was educated at Eton College, Edinburgh University and Sandhurst (Grenadier Guards).[4]

Through his paternal grandmother he is a descendant of the Stratford family, and through his maternal grandfather the Clan Bruce.[5] He inherited the Wrottesley Barony in 1977 upon the death of his grandfather, his father having died when he was two.

Career

Wrottesley works in property and fine wine.[6] Wrottesley was chair of British Skeleton from 2012-2017 and was a board member of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (BBSA) from 2012-2019. He is still involved in overseeing the British Skeleton high performance team.[7]

HM Revenue and Customs have issued tax demands for 2000 to 2008 on the basis that Wrottesley was domiciled in the UK. Wrottesley has appealed, contending that his domicile of origin is in the Republic of Ireland. The first-tier tribunal has issued a preliminary ruling but has not yet issued a final decision in the case.[8]

Sporting career

Skeleton

Wrottesley competed as an Irish skeleton racer on the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing (FIBT, now the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation or IBSF) Skeleton Continental circuits in the 2000–2001 season and the FIBT World Cup circuit in the 2001–2002 season. He finished fourth in the Men's Skeleton at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games. As of 2014, this remains the best result of any Irish athlete at the Olympic Winter Games.[9]

Wrottesley and his father both competed in bobsleigh for Great Britain before competing for Ireland.[3]

During the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, he served as Chef de Mission for the Irish team.[9]

Cresta Run

Wrottesley is also a rider of the Cresta Run, St Moritz, Switzerland. He has ridden on the Run since the 1988–1989 season, won his Cresta colours in 1996, and has won many of the Open races since his first victory in 1997 (although he did not compete on the Run in the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 seasons, due to commitments on the IBSF Skeleton circuits).

Of the 4 Classic Races on the Cresta Run, Wrottesley has won The Curzon Cup (the Blue Riband event of the season from Junction) a record 12 times (beating Nino Bibbia's record of 8), The Morgan Cup a record 15 times (beating Franco Gansser's record of 10), The Brabazon Trophy a record 15 times and the Grand National (the Blue Riband event of the season from Top) a record 15 times (beating Nino Bibbia and Franco Gansser's record of 8).

Wrottesley has also won The Grand Slam a record 5 times (all 4 Classic races in the one season), in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2010 and 2012.

Wrottesley holds the record for the number of Classic races won with a total of 57 to date, was the first person ever to break the 50 second barrier (on 1 February 2015) and in doing so holds the World Record from Top (49.92 seconds). Wrottesley also holds the Flying Junction Record (31.44 seconds).[10]

Personal life

He lives in St Moritz, Switzerland and Henley-on-Thames, England. He is married to Sascha Wrottesley, née Schwarzenbach, Lady Wrottesley and the daughter of Urs Schwarzenbach, the Swiss billionaire financier. The couple have four children: three sons and a daughter.[11]

References
  1. "The life and times of Clifton Hugh Lancelot de Verdon Wrottesley". Irishtimes.com. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  2. Debrett's Peerage
  3. Sinead Grennan (24 February 2002). "How 'our Clifton' became an Olympic hero". Independent.ie. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  4. Ian Chadband (20 February 2002). "Irish Lancelot lords it up over Britain | Sport | London Evening Standard". Standard. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  5. "Person Page 5504". Thepeerage.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  6. "Lord Clifton Wrottesley". LinkedIn. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  7. "Lord Clifton Wrottesley". Britishskeleton.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 September 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  8. "Appeal Number : TC/2014/01551 : THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CLIFTON HUGH LANCELOT DE VERDON BARON WROTTESLEY (Appellant) and THE COMMISSIONERS FOR HER MAJESTY'S REVENUE & CUSTOMS (Respondents)" (PDF). Financeandtaxtribunals.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  9. "News article". Fibt.com. Archived from the original on 25 February 2015. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  10. "Events & Races". Cresta-run.com. Retrieved 4 October 2015.
  11. Debrett's People of Today
Peerage of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Richard John Wrottesley		 Baron Wrottesley
1977–present		 Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Hon. Victor Wrottesley
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