The 42 year old Australian received his Golden Whistle from FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman for umpiring his 100^th 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 26^th Male Umpire to receive a Golden Whistle, and the 3^rd Australian umpire to achieve the 100 Senior internationals milestone (after Don Prior and Murray Grime).