Dunn a fine role model

A TOP international umpire has been sharing her knowledge and experiences with the local hockey fraternity. Keely Dunn's passion and enthusiasm for umpiring are obvious and the story of her rise through the ranks can act as an inspiration for aspiring Sarnian officials.

'I live in a city of a million people, but we have a hockey community of only around 600, yet we have produced three FIH umpires from that one city,' said the Canadian, who hails from Calgary.

'I am very passionate about umpiring and I would love to be able to inspire a lot of local umpires to have a go at getting to the next level.

Dunn has been umpiring since 2000 when she retired from competitive hockey and has officiated extensively around the pan-American region.

She became an FIH international umpire in 2002 and has amassed almost 50 caps.

Her biggest tournament has been the Junior World Cup in 2005 and lists the two highlight games of her career so far as the women's final at the European U-21 Championship in Dublin in 2004 between Netherlands and Germany and Germany v. Argentina at a four-nations cup in Rosario last year.

There were certain sacrifices that Dunn needed to make, though.

She did just that and the rewards have been worth it.

'It's amazing the opportunities I have had,' Dunn said.

'My very first international tournament was in Puerto Rico and I had Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago telling me off in their accents and Mexicans swearing in Spanish. I was giddy, thinking that was what international matches are about.'

She also fondly recalled umpiring a match in Chile between the hosts and Spain, which attracted 2,500 spectators and a real carnival atmosphere.

'By the end of the game I certainly knew more Spanish than I did before. It's good to be part of something that grand,' she said.

Dunn is currently in her second season umpiring in the National League in England and took the time from her schedule there to visit the island.

The opportunity arose after discussions with former sports writer Rob Turville on the popular website, fieldhockey-forum.com, and came at an apt moment as hockey official Chris de Putron is in a big drive to train people as umpires locally.

He has secured a thee-year sponsorship deal with BDO Novus, which will help supply the association with all the official equipment and clothing.

Around 65 people are involved with the training and the chance to have Dunn come over was too good to turn down.

'For all of them it is about taking umpiring to the next level,' Dunn said.

'There have been a lot of changes in the last five years and a lot of things to get used to. The hockey rule book is very small and has only 14 rules, but it is complex - it is like you're an artist out there, always thinking and preparing yourself.

'You can all exchange ideas online, but sitting down together and throwing ideas into a discussion is more productive.'