Guards Polo Club Official Yearbook 2017 Official Yearbook 2017 | Page 20

interview
LASTMAN
STANDING
AFB has been one of the most successful polo teams at Guards Polo Club for over
a decade. Diana Butler catches up with Clive Reid, in between Pilates classes and
chukkas, to find out what continues to inspire this hugely competitive patron
F
or Clive Reid, patron of the blue-
shirted AFB team, polo is all about
being a competitive player. This
59-year-old player wants to be at the heart
of the game – every game. And with the
AFB name on a raft of trophies – ranging
from Guards Polo Club’s Archie David,
Phoenician Cup, Committee, Spring
Tournament, Social Cup and the Ground
Ten, Cowdray Park’s Holden White (three
times) and the Julian and Howard Hipwood
(three times) at the Berkshire – plus
overseas success in the Cartier polo (twice)
in Dubai and snow polo in Moscow and
winning the Arena Nations (three times) –
this policy is clearly reaping rewards.
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“When I first started to play, I knew that
I wanted to be a good player at whichever
level I participated in. I don’t see the point
of playing if you are not competitive,” he
revealed over lunch, accompanied by his
professional for the past nine seasons,
the five-goaler Pete Webb, in the popular
players’ haunt The Winning Post in
Winkfield. “Although playing 8-goal is never
the easy option – it’s still hard at that level.”
So how did Clive get into this gamae
that has so dominated his life for the past
two decades? “It was weird really,” said
Clive. “Neither of my parents were horsey,
in fact, I have just always loved horses and
that way of life. I spent a lot of my time
with my Uncle in Sussex where I grew my
love of the countryside and pursuits.
“I used to hunt and was into show
jumping, but then I hit a polo ball and
never hunted again. I was addicted. I
originally kept my horses at Belmont and
then bought the farm in Winkfield, where
my team is still based. I bought the farm
about 20 years ago, from former Club
player Roger Carlsson.
“It has stabling for 30 horses,” revealed
Clive, “a really nice stick and ball field,
22 acres, 30 small corrals, a small arena
which we use all year round to keep the
horses fit, a lovely chill room plus a great
place to have BBQs.
guards polo club official yearbook 2017