Top-class umpiring team ready for ABN AMRO EHL FINALS

The ABN AMRO EHL FINALS at Den Bosch will once again have a top-notch set of officials, bringing a wide range of experience to the 26 games played between April 16^th and 21^st.

Chief among them is Sarah Wilson (pictured), the current and two-time FIH Umpire of the Year, who has been conducting top level EuroHockey finals since 2015. Indeed, the Scot has officiated in six top tier club finals since then including last year’s men’s GRAND FINAL.

Ben Goentgen – the 2023 FIH Umpire of the Year – is another of the sport’s most recognisable whistle-blowers. He is also one of the EHL’s most prolific umpires, officiating on 21 previous games over nine tournaments, including the 2021 GRAND FINAL.

Magali Sergeant has been on top tier scene since 2019’s women’s Club Cup and this will be her fourth EHL tournament. She has also been on the FIH Pro League roster for past two seasons.

For Clare Barwood from Wales, this will be her EHL debut having been on the whistle in Alanya last year for the EuroHockey Club Trophy and the 2024 FIH Nations Cup in Spain.

At the other end of the experience-scale, Dutchman Michiel Otten has been part of the EHL since 2013 when he debuted as a video umpire. This is his 11^th tournament, umpiring in both the 2019 and 2021 BRONZE MATCH.

Switzerland’s Benjamin Messerli holds a unique place in the EHL having played in the competition with Rotweiss Wettingen in 2013 against Rotterdam and KHC Dragons; Swiss international.

He switched to umpiring, taking on indoor Cup competitions since 2018 as well as the Hockey5s World Cup in Oman. This will be his third EHL campaign.

Nick Bennett is also in his third series and brings a wide range know-how, highlighted by the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 Junior World Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

Rebecca Edwards is taking part in her fourth successive EHL event since 2023 in Barcelona and she was the video umpire in 2024 women’s GRAND FINAL having done the Bronze Match beforehand.

Michael Dutrieux is in his 6^th EHL since debuting in 2017; he also did the men’s Bronze Match in 2024, hot on the heels of the 2023 Euros in Mönchengladbach.

Lorijn de Kraker made her debut at the KO16 in Surbiton before Christmas with three on-field and two video umpire appointments. It came in the wake of the FIH Nations Cup in 2024 in Spain.

Gemma Calderon was also at that Nations Cup event while she was also at the EuroHockey Championships in Mönchengladbach in 2023. She is another recent regular on the EHL scene having also been part of the 2023 FINAL8.

Finally, Poland’s Lukasz Zwierzchowski is looking forward to his second EHL FINALS. His history with the tournament is longer than that, though.

He previously managed Politechnika Poznan in 2013’s ROUND1. He has been umpiring internationally since 2013 with further highlights including the 2017 EuroHockey Championships in Amstelveen and the Indoor World Cups in 2023 and 2025.

The tournament itself will be expertly overseen by Technical Delegate Casper Guldbrandsen who has previously performed the role in two other EHL tournaments.

The umpiring team, meanwhile, will be supported by Umpires Managers Roel van Eert and Alwiene Sterk.

Full officials list

Technical Delegate	Casper Guldbrandsen	DEN
Technical Delegate	Annie Hairsine	ENG
Technical Officer	Marianne Billekop	DEN
Technical Officer	Loïc Cogels	BEL
Judge	Melusine Labbaye	FRA
Judge	Ben Redwood	ENG
Judge	Bart Jan van Woensel	NED
Judge	Ralph van Eck	NED
Judge	Jan Lehejcek	CZE
Umpires Manager	Roel van Eert	NED
Umpires Manager	Alwiene Sterk	NED
Umpire	Sarah Wilson	SCO
Umpire	Magali Sergeant	BEL
Umpire	Clare Barwood	WAL
Umpire	Michiel Otten	NED
Umpire	Benjamin Messerli	SUI
Umpire	Nick Bennett	ENG
Umpire	Ben Goentgen	GER
Umpire	Rebecca Edwards	ENG
Umpire	Michael Dutrieux	BEL
Umpire	Lorijn de Kraker	NED
Umpire	Gemma Calderon	ESP
Umpire	Lukasz Zwierzchowski	POL

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