Shari-Jo Miller, first-form student at Bishop Gibson High School for Girls in Manchester, holds the coveted trophy after winning the 2009 Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee competition, held at The Jamaica Pegasus yesterday. Shari-Jo is the first winner from that school in the competition's 50-year history. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

SHARI-JO MILLER, first-form student at Bishop Gibson High School for Girls in Manchester, triumphed yesterday in the 50th edition of The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee competition. She correctly spelt a-p-p-o-g-g-i-a-t-u-r-a, which is an embellishing note, usually one step above or below the note it precedes.

Shari-Jo's victory means that for the first time since 1992, a speller from outside of the Corporate Area and St Catherine was winning the cup. The significance of the feat was not lost on the audience, as many of the members said afterwards that it was good for the competition.

Certain of win

"It feels good to know that all the hard work paid off and it was not in vain," said a tired Shari-Jo. She revealed that she knew the word,but was slightly miffed by its pronunciation. But Shari-Jo's father, Stephen, had no doubt how the ending would go.

"I thought she would spell the word because that's how prepared I knew she was," he said. "I told everybody I knew she was going to win." Her coach, Primrose Swaby, was perhaps even happier than her student.

"This is my first national champion after 27 years of doing this. You wouldn't understand how I feel right now," she exulted.

Of the five boys who made it to the all-island final, three made it to the final seven, with Champion Boy Tremaine Dixon of Kingston placing third. Fourth went to Janielle Walters of Clarendon, fifth to Daviesh Mills of St Ann, sixth to Andrew Williams of St Elizabeth, and seventh to Davian Stewart of St Catherine.