Born on June 16, 1934, Patrick Tristram de la Poer Beresford was the second son of John Charles de la Poer Beresford, 7th Marquess of Waterford. Following a successful career in the services, where he was awarded the GSM in 1957, Lord Patrick Beresford became Chef d’Equipe and selector for the British Senior Eventing team in 1985.

At his first European Championship as Chef d’Equipe, which took place at Burghley in same year he took charge, Great Britain fielded a team of highly experienced riders on well-proven horses. GB vanquished the opposition to win the team championships by 181 points, as well as all three individual medals.

The following year the World Championship took place in Gawler, Australia, and GB secured another team victory along with individual gold and bronze. Four months later the British team competed in Bialy Bor, Poland, where the FEI had authorised to run another team championship as a possible substitute for Gawler, Great Britain again took both team and individual gold, along with an individual silver.

In 1987 the European Championship was held in Luhmühlen, Germany. The British team once again won gold, whilst Virginia Leng took her fourth consecutive individual gold medal. The 1988 Seoul Olympics gave Britain a team silver and Ian Stark individual silver with Virginia Leng the bronze.

Back at Burghley for the 1989 European Championship, Great Britain again took the team gold and all individual medals, a feat they repeated at the next European Championship in 1991 at Punchestown, Ireland.

In his last Championship at the helm, Lord Patrick Beresford led the team to another team gold, along with an individual bronze, at the 1994 World Championship in The Hague, Netherlands.

Lord Patrick Beresford was a prominent figure, not only in the eventing community, but also in the UK polo community and he was a keen amateur jump jockey, whilst in his professional life he achieved a decorated military career.

Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.