World No. 1
Congratulations to Amber Church who’s been selected to umpire the Paris Olympic Hockey Women’s Semi-Final, Belgium vs China.
Amber Church (Tairāwhiti, Gisborne) is one of the best umpires in the international hockey circuit and the winner of the FIH Umpire of the Year 2021-22. Her career as an international hockey umpire began well over a decade ago, having officiated her first international match back in 2009 and she figures amongst the most experienced umpires in the world.
“Church was an umpire at the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Tokyo Olympics of 2021, and was the International Hockey Federation female umpire of the year for 2021/22.
She umpired her first international game in Brazil in 2010, and her 100th (a 2-1 victory for Australia over New Zealand) in Auckland on May 15, 2022. For achieving that milestone, she received the Golden Whistle Award.
In 2022 she officiated in two big deciders – the women’s hockey world cup final in Spain and the Commonwealth Games women’s hockey final in Birmingham.” – NZ Herald
The centre of Amber’s universe remains Tairāwhiti where Amber has shared her expertise and knowledge with her community, rohe and NZ Maori Hockey whānau. When she’s not tripping around the world you will find her supporting her local community.
