I have a new and healthy respect for umpires.

Yesterday I got called to stand in for one of the professional umpires Campbell MacNab, who could not get a flight in to Malaysia till today.  With only one field at Putrajaya, the Malaysian Open Polo had to get started yesterday to get through the two-matches-a-day programme.

Umpiring eight RMPA International League matches of 14 goals, is trying, to say the very least.  Mentally, you have to concentrate all the time on the line of the ball, and the right of way.  Eight straight chukkas is something that, as players, we rarely umpire.  Eight chukkas at that level tests your ability to concentrate.

So often we disregard the horses the umpires ride.  My first one went straight up in the air on the first throw-in of the day. I should have known that was the start of a really long day.

There is always plenty of chatter on the field.  Some of it is constructive - teams calling plays to each other.  Some of it is almost mindless chatter, like the Argy pro who gave us a running commentary of everything that wasn’t going to his liking.  His team was being whopped 15 - 6, so there was a lot he wasn’t liking.

Then there are pros who think they can swear at you in Spanish and get away with it.  Like the Argy pro who called us “paheros” which means “wankers”.  He got a technical called against him, even though he immediately claimed to have been shouting it at himself.  Yes, he is a wanker.

Thankfully I was umpiring with Tim Keyte, the deputy head of umpires of the Hurlingham Polo Association.  Tim is a real pro, and a real pro at it.  And I’m thankful that Campbell arrives today so I can go upstairs to the commentary box instead.  It’s much easier to criticise than to actually do it!

P.S. Spectators are welcom at the Malaysian Open.  It is great polo.  Zack’s Tack is running polo apparel promos at the Malaysian Open too, so see you all there.