Dr Annabelle Willox, Faculty Officer for Strathclyde Business School, will be one of only 12 hockey umpires at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi this October.Dr Annabelle Willox, Faculty Officer for Strathclyde Business School, will be one of only 12 hockey umpires at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi this October.
Dr Willox said, "I'm incredibly excited to be travelling to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, and to represent Great Britain and my home country of Wales is a great honour.
"Today's hockey players are playing at a very high level, and the game is becoming increasingly fast and tactical. Umpires don't Annabelle Willoxhave substitutes and can't take breaks, so my training will have to be intense, with humidity training sessions at Hampden to help me prepare for Delhi's weather conditions.
"The University's new Centre for Sport and Health will be a major boost for sport at Strathclyde, helping staff and students train for major events as well as helping to encourage more people to think about trying out a new sport or activity."
Dr Willox was a hockey player before she became interested in umpiring. "During a game, I had an animated discussion with an umpire and she asked me if I thought I could do any better. I decided to give it a go and I've been hooked ever since!
"Umpiring requires a great deal of focus and the ability to communicate clearly in sometimes difficult circumstances. These skills have undoubtedly helped me throughout my career."