The 42 year old Australian received his Golden Whistle from FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman for umpiring his 100th Senior international match at the WorldHockey Champions Trophy in Rotterdam last week.
Gentles became an International Umpire in September 1995 and has been a member of the World Panel since December 2002. He has umpired at one Olympic Games to date (Athens 2004) and will be a member of the panel in Beijing next month. He has also officiated at two World Cups and five Champions Trophies.
With this award Gentles becomes the 26th Male Umpire to receive a Golden Whistle, and the 3rd Australian umpire to achieve the 100 Senior internationals milestone (after Don Prior and Murray Grime).
