Team name and why: Clarita (black and white with crossed polo sticks and name as
logo). Chris: Clarita means little Clare in Spanish. The team was named by me as I thought I would be able to spend more money and time (and not get any grief) from my wife if I named the team after her. I did not realise that it would be twice as expensive as she took up the sport as well! Clare: We have hot pink shirts when the girls play (our daughters and I) but they have not been seen at Guards yet! The team was named by Pepe Santamarina who runs the Hurlingham Club in Buenos Aires. The first time I ever hit a polo ball was when we went to stay at Pepe Santamarina's farm in Argentina in 2000 and he always called me Clarita.
How did you get into polo? Chris: Clare
bought me a polo lesson for my birthday after I had torn some discs in my back and could no longer play tennis – which had been the sport to which I was addicted. Clare: I bought Chris a polo lesson for his 39th birthday (I also bought him a golf lesson but he became addicted to polo immediately). I only joined in because I would make a very bad polo widow!
Favourite tournament at Guards? Chris:
The Royal Windsor. fast, competitive, no wife as it is 15 goal, great prizes and shaking hands with the head of state for the UK – cool. Clare: Impossible to say – I like the tournaments I win!
Favourite pony? Chris: Rana, a seven-year-
old Argentine polo pony. I got her from Chino Estrada. She is amazing, fast, strong and light, but most of all she goes around corners on rails so you know exactly where she is and where the ball is at all times. Clare: I can’t answer this question as it would be like asking me which is my favourite daughter (We have 3)!
My dream team? Chris: Clare,
myself, Facundo [Pieres} and Cambiaso. Clare is married to me – which no one else is. And Facundo and Cambiaso are the two best (looking!) players in the world – which Clare would love to have on her team. I would be
there to ensure it was all above board... Clare: Not me! What have the others players got that I haven’t - talent !!
Which Guards tournaments would you most like to win?
Chris: Royal Windsor – see above. I will keep trying and who knows? Clare: Has to be the Archie David – I’m not retiring until I have won it.
Favourite hotel? Chris: St. Geran in
Mauritius – facilities, location and weather etc, are all superb. But this is the best hotel in the world because they really know what service is – and they do it fabulously. Clare: Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire – just does it beautifully for all occasions.
Favourite restaurant for a special dinner?
Chris: Club Gascon in Smithfield, great foie gras dishes, sharing dishes and I made my first chunk of money while I was there. Clare: Drakes in Ripley because we go there for family birthdays - we are the youngest and noisiest by far! Cancha Dos in Sotogrande is great for polo friends.
Who would be your ideal dinner party
guests? Chris: Sophia Loren, Maggie Thatcher, Bill Clinton, Obama, Ursula Andress, Blondie (Debbie Harry), Hema Malini and J Lo. I would choose to sit between Sophia Loren and Hema Malini – and if you have to ask then you have not seen them! Clare: Clint Eastwood or the cast of Pride and
Prejudice but only if I am next to Colin Firth – reason is obvious if you’ve ever seen him come out of a pond !
Favourite dish off the Clubhouse menu: Chris:
Embarrassingly – I do not know. Clare: Gin, gin and gin.
Preferred wheels? Chris: Mercedes
Mclaren – outrageously fast
and
in-your-face supercar styling. Clare: Maserati Gran Sport Spyder – white van drivers always want to race me !
Most listened to track on the
IPod? Chris: Black Eyed Peas. Clare: Ride on Time by Black Box.
Other passions? Chris: Normal
riding, skiing, swimming, running,
reading, debating, socialising, eating, drinking, laughing, going to faraway places to see weird things. Clare: Photography, loads of travel and philanthropy.
Best book or film? Chris: I need to think too
long before I can answer this one so I am going to skip it. Clare: Zoolander – it’s so bad it’s brilliant.
Most unusual gift ever bought?
Chris: A small old bungalow on the corner of our farm in Surrey. Clare: The aforementioned polo lesson – golf would have been so much cheaper !
Chris and Clare Mathias
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