Spelling away on a cold day

Correction & Clarification

In this article, St. Elizabeth Spelling Bee champion was identified as Lois Williams of Glen Stuart Primary School. Her correct name is Lois Robinson.
We regret the error.

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Forty-two spellers braved non-stop rain, traffic snarls and flooded roadways yesterday to turn out for the first parish final of the 2010-11 Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee competition in the Breadbasket Parish of St Elizabeth.

Some clad in blazers, others in sweaters or anything to keep their small bodies warm on an uncharacteristically cool day in the major commercial town of Santa Cruz, they spelled their way to the winning word, CORPUSCLES, which means red and white cells in the blood.

To the steady lull of the consistent showers outside the St Matthew's Anglican Church, the students pronounced, enunciated, spelled and misspelled, all with the same enthusiasm. With their numbers ever decreasing, after two and a half hours there were two.

Twelve-year-old Ossani Brooks of Burnt Savannah Primary was having his first taste of the Bee, but one could never tell. His technique - he repeated each word at least three times before attempting to spell - did not reveal his lack of experience and, when quizzed as to why he took so long to show his skill, he simply said: "Because they had someone else to spell last year."

He finally stumbled on CYSTITIS, to take the title of champion boy.

Sweet victory

Ten-year-old Lois Robinson, last year's champ, was to experience sweet victory for the second time, having outspelled 41 others, including her schoolmate and spelling partner, Wuzenique, who placed third yesterday.

Though many might not have heard the word CORPUSCLES, Lois was not fazed by it; after all, she had heard it before. So she made light work of the spelling to walk away with the Spelling Bee trophy, a gift basket from newest associate sponsor, Capri-Sun, along with prizes from other sponsors.

Winning coach Maxine Barrett said they put in more hard work to take the title again, adding that Lois' downfall in last year's national final, where she placed fifth, was because she had not gone through the dictionary fully.

This year was different.

"We went through most of the dictionary and, hopefully, we'll get to the top three."

But it's not all work and no play for Lois who, apart from playing and watching TV, also represents her school, Glen Stuart Primary, in athletics.

The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee is presented in association with Jamaica National Building Society and Capri-Sun as associate sponsors, National Commercial Bank, Kirk Distributors, the Victoria Mutual Building Society, JTA Co-operative Credit Union, SuperClubs, Wisynco, Tastee, Franklyn D Resorts, Sangster's Book Stores and media partners Television Jamaica.

Top 5

1. Lois Robinson, Glen Stuart Primary

2. Ossani Brooks (Champion Boy), Burnt Savannah Primary

3. Wuzenique Williams, Glen Stuart Primary

4. Kwesiann Regent, Mayfield All-Age

5. Rodesha Baker, Bethlehem All-Age