Hockey: From sinbin to sheriff - whistler closes on the ton

Lyn Farrell has enjoyed international success.

In her playing days, Lyn Farrell admits she was a bit bolshie and spent a fair bit of time "in the bin behind the goal".

On deciding her better playing days were behind her, Farrell took an "if I can't beat them [the umpires] I'll join them" stance, and at 28 took up the whistle.

Very quickly, she was at her first national tournament.

Soon after that, she was appointed to her first international.

Today, at the National Hockey Stadium in Wellington when she blows time on for the first of five clashes between the Black Sticks and the US women's team, she will join an elite group of officials when she becomes the first New Zealander to umpire 100 tests.

"I remember my first test between New Zealand and Great Britain and the opening game at the Sydney Olympics as being special occasions," said the 41-year-old.

"I was going to retire after the Athens Olympics, but I miscalculated and came home thinking I had done 100 when it was only 99."

Farrell, who also chairs the HNZ board, was a useful defender for age-group and senior Waikato teams in her earlier days, but it is with the whistle she has made her mark, being recognised last year as New Zealand's umpire of the year.

Since her debut, she has controlled matches in Japan, the United States, Wales, Argentina, Korea, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Australia, South Africa and Greece. Spain is a notable absentee from her list.

"I'm now thinking I might make next year's World Cup in Madrid my swansong," Farrell said.

"I'm keen to go to Spain. I was set to go there once before but I had to pull out with injury."

Although she has enjoyed her time in the spotlight, Farrell admits to a couple of moments of trepidation.

None was more public than the final at the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

"It was my fault - definitely the lowest point ... but in the end it was sorted out," she said of the match in which India beat England for gold.

"I made the right call but changed it under pressure from the defenders."

"It was in extra [golden goal] time. With 15s left I awarded India a penalty corner, but forgot to let time run down before they took it. One second after the hooter went they put the ball in the net and I awarded the goal.

"England protested and I needed to check with the technical officials before allowing the goal to stand."

The other memorable moment came four years earlier in Kuala Lumpur in a match between India and Scotland.

It was the only time, apart from a men's club game in Hamilton in her early days, that Farrell flashed a red card - against the India captain.

Because she had intended to retire, Farrell was not nominated for next year's Commonwealth Games but would jump at it, given the chance.

Her six-year stint on the board ends, by rotation, in September and with her umpiring days numbered, Farrell, who recently played at the national masters tournament for the first time in 12 years, is looking forward to a decent holiday.

LYN FARRELL

* Born: September 14, 1963.

* Representative career: Waikato age-group, senior teams.

* Umpiring career: Began 1989.

* World panel: 1997.

* Commonwealth Games: 1998, 2002.

* Olympics: 2000, 2004.

* Internationals controlled: Senior 99, junior 14.