Lois Robinson, the St Elizabeth winner, holds her trophy yesterday. - Photos by Ian Allen/Photographer

St Elizabeth:

A bellyache forced Lois Robinson to sit throughout the final few minutes of The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee competition in St Elizabeth yesterday, but it did not prevent her from taking home the title of champion speller.

Earlier, standing in line at the St Matthew's Anglican Church hall in Santa Cruz, with tears streaming down her face, nine-year-old Lois put on a brave face and spelled each word fluently and assuredly. When she sat down, it was no different. But then it wasn't her first time. The slightly built Glen Stuart speller had taken the champion girl title last year behind her school-mate Andrew Williams. This year, however, instead of being pitted against another schoolmate, she battled it out with Sacheen Swinton from Burnt Savannah Primary. After a two-hour spelldown, Lois accomplished what she didn't last year. She beat out all the best spellers in 'St Bess'.

Gruelling preparation

A win, she says, which was the result of gruelling preparation.

"I live with Mrs (Maxine) Barrett, so I study morning, noon and night," Lois said. Part of that preparation includes going through the Spelling Bee book and the dictionary.

Her coach/guardian concurred.

"I work hard at school with the other students, but I took her two years ago from her father, so I'm able to work with her at home," said Barrett, who proudly holds the title of coach of the winningest school in St Elizabeth. Glen Stuart Primary, a relatively small school, in the sleepy town of Maggotty, has taken the Spelling Bee title more than any other in the parish.

Though Lois had no butterflies in her stomach while competing at parish level, she identified one challenge which she anticipates at the national level.

"It's hard to beat Glen Archer," she says of the reverend who has been coach for many winners, including Jody-Ann Maxwell, who won the international Scripps National title in 1998.

Barrett was also apprehensive and would only bet on the following.

"She's a brilliant nine-year-old, so she should be among the top five in Kingston."

tennesia.malcolm@gleanerjm.com

St Elizabeth

Overall winner: Lois Robinson, Glen Stuart Primary

Champion boy: Oshaine Stephenson, Burnt Savannah Primary

Winning school: Glen Stuart Primary

Number of schools: 19

Number of spellers: 38

Top five spellers

1 Lois Robinson, Glen Stuart Primary

2 Sacheen Swinton, Burnt Savannah Primary

3 Oshaine Stephenson, Burnt Savannah Primary

4 Wuzenique Williams, Glen Stuart Primary

5 Keeana Senior, Giddy Hall All-Age.