In your neighbourhood

Skittles presentation next Wednesday

Presentation of trophies and prizes won in the recently concluded Henkel-sponsored Pattex Cup and Sistas singles competition will take place on Wednesday, March 23, at Mystix Sports Bar, 78^3/4 Hagley Park Road, starting at 7 p.m.

The top award will go to Mystix, who defeated outgoing champions Eastern All-Stars 6-1 in the Pattex Cup team final three weeks ago at Mystix.

In addition to the championship trophy, Mystix will receive $60,000, while Eastern All-Stars have secured $25,000 for second; Willies Strikers $10,000 for third; and Starliner $5,000 for having finished fourth.

In the Sistas men's singles championship, Robert McKen from Eagles emerged the winner, blanking Fitzroy 'Paul' Blair from Eastern All-Stars 3-0 in the best-of-five final at Willies (Three Miles Plaza) a fortnight ago.

McKen, a six-time singles champion, will receive $50,000 and the Sistas championship trophy, while Blair has secured $25,000, and third-place Keita Stephens from Eastern $15,000.

Cash and trophy presentations will also be made to Starliner's Marsha Newsome, winner of the ladies' singles final; as well as runner-up Charlene Pheonix from Eastern. Newsome defeated Phoenix 2-0 in the final at Willies.

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Vic Higgs Memorial Golf

The 18th annual Vic Higgs Memorial Golf Tournament takes place at the Constant Spring Golf Club today starting at 6:30 a.m. The tournament is one of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica's (HFJ) major fund-raising events each year.

The late Vic Higgs had served on the board of the foundation for many years and was well known in golfing circles, having assisted the Jamaica Tourist Board in the staging of the Johnny Walker World Golf Tournament.

The tournament was started in 1992 when the Friends of the Foundation, as well as enthusiastic golfers, decided that a tournament bearing Higgs' name would be appropriate to keep his memory alive. Over the years, the event has enjoyed overwhelming support from the golfing fraternity.

All proceeds from the tournament go towards the HFJ's mobile screening programme, which travels islandwide providing screening tests for the risk factors of heart disease.

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South Central Confed U-20 kick-off

The 2011 season of the South Central Confed Under-20 competition will kick off this weekend. The competition is in its third year and is usually played as curtain-raiser to the regular Super League matches involving the same 12 teams. However, only Under-20 matches will be featured for the first round.

The games on are:

Today: Mile Gully vs De la Vega; Bodles vs Newland; and Downs vs Monymusk.

Tomorrow: New Bowens vs Rivoli; Newell vs Naggo Head; and Meadows vs Tru-Juice.

Regular competition in the senior league will resume next weekend, when teams will be involved in return matches of the preliminary round.

In last weekend's final set of matches in the cross-zone round, Meadows defeated New Bowens 3-1, Monymusk turned back Mile Gully 3-0, Newell edged Newland 2-1, Downs stopped Bodles 1-0, while both St Catherine derbies featuring Tru-Juice and De la Vega, and Naggo Head vs Rivoli ended 1-1.

It now means Meadows (25) have regained the overall lead from Rivoli by one point, followed by Monymusk on 22 points, and Downs on 16.

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Spartan win Clarendon mid-season final

Spartan Athletic, who are second in the league, stunned leaders and favourites Gimme-Me-Bit 2-1 to take the $50,000 prize money and bragging rights in last weekend's mid-season final of the Claro/Captain's Bakery Clarendon Major League.

The game was played at the Jamalco Sports Club, which also featured the start of the Claro Clarendon Division One competition.

A shell-shocked Gimme-Me-Bit then laboured to a 0-0 draw on Thursday against sixth-place Longwood. However, the final will be preceded by the start of the Division One competition, sponsored by Claro. Milk River defeated Freetown 1-0 to move to fourth.

Today's action will feature an afternoon double-header at Clarendon College football field. Woodhall meet Spartan in the curtain-raiser at 1:30, while Rock River and York Town clash at 3:30.

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New Green are Manchester mid-season champions

New Green defeated Hillstars 2-1 to take The Captain's Bakery-sponsored Manchester Major League mid-season final played last week Sunday at Brook's Park.

For their efforts, New Green won the greater share of the $30,000 on offer.

Hillstars received a major setback early when Romaine Williamson was sent off in the fifth minute for striking another player. However, Hillstars rallied to take the lead through Kenroy Mullings in the 29th minute.

New Green, however, replied a minute later, courtesy of Irwin Elliott. A keen tussle ensued until Milton Christopher scored in the 89th minute and played stoutly to ward off anymore attacks. However, mere seconds later in time added on, Christopher was sent off for a second bookable offence.

Earlier, Hopewell recorded a 4-0 thumping of Clandon Strikers in the start of the Power Services-sponsored Division Two competition. Michael Folkes scored twice, his brother Basil once, and Akeem Taylor once.

That competition continues next Thursday with Gully Strikers of Cobbla hosting Lynhurst at the Cobbla Training camp.

Final spot needed for St Elizabeth FA semis

Black River and Mountainside will fight for the final remaining semi-final spot in the Wray and Nephew-sponsored St Elizabeth Major League.

Leaders Super Action (35 points), Appleton and Tafari Lions, who are both on 28 points, have already secured their places. Black River, who are fourth on 26 points, and Mountainside, who have 24, are in the running for the final, which will be decided in this weekend's final round of return matches.

Black River, who drew 0-0 with Young Brazil last weekend, will host New Holland, while Mountainside, who were the only winners from last week's games, host Burnt Ground. In other games, bottom-place team Treasure Beach will fight to avoid relegation when they host Tafari Lions. Parottee United, who are also facing relegation, will also have a tough encounter when they play away to Super Action, while Young Brazil entertain Braes River, and Appleton play away to Vineyard.

In last week's penultimate round, Super Action and Vineyard drew 2-2, Appleton and Tafari Lions ended 1-1, Braes River and Burnt Ground battled to a 1-1 draw, while Mountainside upstaged New Holland 2-1. Treasure are likely to claim full points against Parottee, who failed to show.

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Power of Faith 20/20 Cricket League

Defending champs Faith Temple New Testament bowl off their 2011 campaign with a match against Gregory Park New Testament in the third week of the Power of Faith Ministries 20/20 Church Cricket League this morning, in the first of two games at 9:30.

In the second game at the venue, Power of Faith Development team bow into action against Elim/Victory Open Bible at 1:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, in last week's round of matches, history was created as Nicholas Richards of the Seniors (over-40 select team) smashed an astonishing 98 runs off 62 balls. Richards hit 14 fours and four sixes as his team defeated Portmore Gospel Assembly by 76 runs. Power and Light, through Garfield Moore's 43 runs, and Mario Walters 3-13 effort, defeated Miracle Open Bible by eight runs. Lushane Black, with 3-36, and Oneil McFarlane's 21 runs were the best performers for Miracle.

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Westport set to regain lead

Second-place club Westport (18 points) look certain to regain the lead atop the table in the LIME-sponsored Portmore Division Two football league as they play inconsistent Queen's Park in a feature match of a double-header at the Passagefort field tomorrow; kick-off time 3 p.m.

Leaders Watson Grove are idle this week and Westport will want to take full points from this fixture. In the curtain-raiser at 1 p.m., third-place East Portmore Portals (15 points) will fancy their chances against winless cellar dwellers Daytona, who have garnered only two points all season. In another game, fourth-place Hellshire United (13 points) should have the upper hand when they meet second-to-last Braeton United (four points) at the Hellshire field. Match time is 3 p.m.

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Major League heats up

The LIME St Catherine FA Major League is interestingly poised going into the final three rounds of matches.

Of the 11 participating teams, only Black Lions have secured their semi-final berth. Black Lions lead with 41 points, with Portsmouth in second on 32 points, Spanish Town Police 31, Royal Lakes 30, and Rodwood 29, round off the top five. Royal Lakes, who had their rest week the last round, should come out firing on all cylinders, as they have in their midst two of the most dangerous strikers in the league - Duane Howell and Orville 'Villa Vil' Mullings. They have combined to score 21 goals this season.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth did not escape the upset jinx that plagued the previous round and were humbled 3-0 by DB Basovak. Black Lion came back from a horrible 2-1 loss to mid-table Wanderers in their last outing and blanked McCook's Pen 3-0; Rodwood had a similar 3-0 win over Dunbeholden; Wanderers clipped Albion 3-2; while in the most lopsided match of the season, Police swamped a hapless Cumberland 12-0. The competition continues tomorrow.

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One spot left for Division One semi

Only one semi-final spot is yet to be filled in the LIME St Catherine FA Division One league, following last week's round of matches.

Three teams - overwhelming favourites Frazer's Whip (31 points), Treadways (25 points) and Christian Pen (24 points) - have booked their semi-final spots with two rounds to go. As a result, the teams in fourth, fifth and sixth positions will jostle for the one spot. They are Upfront (18 points), Waterford (17 points) and Travellers (16 points).

In last week's round of games, Christian Pen, through their prolific striker Devon Wilson, scored a 1-0 win over Travellers. There is also a relegation battle going on between Racing United (13), Pen Acres (13) and bottom club Invaders (12). Pen Acres are almost certain of being axed as they have only one match left, while Racing and Invaders will fight to avoid the drop with two matches in hand. Three teams will be demoted to Division Two.

Meanwhile, four crucial games are on tomorrow for different reasons. They are Christian Pen vs Upfront at Pollyground Oval, Frazer's Whip vs Invaders at Frazer's Content, Treadways vs Racing at Treadways, and Waterford vs Travellers at Cheesefield. All games begin at 3:30 p.m.