Tribute: Momin Sheikh

Above: HM The Queen in conversation with Mo Sheikh after his team had won the Mountbatten Trophy on Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup Final Day in 2013

DECEMBER 1963 – SEPTEMBER 2021

The Guards Polo Club community was shocked last September at the death of a much-loved Home Elected Player and Patron, Mo Sheikh, following a period of illness

Momin, known to all as Mo, had been a member of Guards Polo Club since 2006. He ran medium and low goal teams under various banners but most recognisably as BHC Polo and latterly as the Bridge House of Twyford Polo Team. These teams took their name from his business interests – Mo was a pioneer in retirement living.

He achieved much success in polo, especially here at Smith’s Lawn, adding his name to some coveted trophies including the Duke of Cornwall, the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother’s Centenary, the Duke of Wellington, the Autumn Nations Tournament and the Town & County Championship. Mo was also successful in raiding Cowdray Park’s trophy locker, registering wins in the Holden White Cup and Dollar Cup in past seasons.

Mo’s love of polo also saw him create an opportunity for the next generation of players. He was instrumental in the creation of the Copenhagen Cup schools tournament at Guards Polo Club. This competition allows polo-playing schools to compete competitively on the top-quality grounds at Smith’s Lawn, delivering an unprecedented opportunity for these student players. Since its inception many

Mo's BHC Polo Team, featuring Roddy Matthews, Oli Hipwood and his long-standing Polo Manger, the late Juracy Santos, after winning the Ganjam Jaipur Trophy in 2014.

young players have come through the initial experience of playing at Guards Polo Club whilst at school and then moving on to playing at the Club as professional players and patrons, even up to the Queen’s Cup level. This is a true legacy of Mo’s passion for polo and has helped inspire the next generation of polo players.

In addition to his passion for playing polo, Mo was also a long-standing Board Director, representing the Amateur Playing Members for some seven years at the Club. He contributed to the good governance and efficiency of the Club with his subtle but well-informed inputs and suggestions, always having the values and ethos of the “gentlemanly nature” of the sport at the forefront of his proposals. Indeed, Mo was always impeccably dressed and set a high standard for all to aspire to, whether he was in the Royal Box, attending a meeting, on the polo pitch or enjoying the après-polo.

Mo lived his life “flat out” in the same manner as he would invariably be seen entering the field of play. Whilst others would be in a hand-canter, working on their swing before the resumption of play, Mo would be giving his steed a full gallop to get ready for the ball being brought into play.

Ever-smiling and ever kind and gracious to all he met, Mo touched many hearts with empathy, respect and without any discrimination of status or situation. This distinguished gentleman of the sport will be sorely missed, but never forgotten.

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Players and Members send their deepest condolences to Mo’s wife, Sapna, their children and the wider Sheikh family. Vivek Rawal

Left: The Autumn Nations Cup-winning Bridge House of Twyford team — Jack Richardson, Tommy Beresford, Mo Sheikh and Ralph Richardson— in 2016.

Above: Mo receives the 2015 Autumn Nations Trophy from Jock Green-Armytage.