By Daviot Kelly, Staff ReporterTHERE ARE only six parish champions left to be decided as two more girls triumphed in The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee Competition yesterday.
On a rainy morning in Falmouth, 31 spellers tried to become the Trelawny parish champion. After approximately 90 minutes, Alyssa Powell of Granville All-Age topped Whitney Scarlette of Waldensia Primary, having correctly spelt the word 'jacuzzi'. Third place went to Clinton Hunter of Bounty Hall Primary, and he had the honour of being crowned Champion Boy as well.
The final spelldown between Powell and Scarlette was prolonged for a few exciting extra minutes as both missed 'illuminated'. The small crowd in the William Knibb Church Hall was very pleased with the efforts of both girls.
Alyssa said she was confident that she would win. Her victory was a little sweeter as her father, a fireman, was able to come and share her joy.
The climate was much warmer in Montego Bay as the Mount Alvernia High School was the scene of spirited spelling. Fifty-one spellers, other students and just curious onlookers crammed into the cafeteria to watch the competition. Spell mistress Ivin Logan had to tell an enthusiastic audience more than once to keep their mutterings from disturbing the spellers.
In the end, 12-year-old Mikhail McLeod of Catherine Hall Primary kept her nerve to become parish champion for St. James. She also was the Champion Girl. She bettered Zachary Williams of Mount Alvernia Prep, who, at nine years old was one of the younger competitors in the field. He ended up being Champion Boy.
Third went to Garrett Fairclough of Catherine Hall Primary, fourth to Daniel Campbell of dethroned school Howard Cooke Primary and fifth to Marissa Cottrell of Mount Alvernia Prep.
"I feel very good but my feet are aching," said Mikhail after the contest. "I did not know if I would win but I knew that I would be proud of myself." She went on to say that even knowing she was champion girl did not make it easier in the final moments. Representatives from National Commercial Bank and Jamaica National Building Society presented certificates to the champion boy and champion teacher.
The Gleaner team departs from Breezes Montego Bay today to journey to the parishes of Hanover and Westmoreland to see which two students will book their tickets to Kingston for the National Finals next year.
