Hanif Brown Sr celebrates with his son, Hanif Brown Jr, after the latter won the The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee finals for St Thomas at the Morant Bay Parish Church. - Ian Allen/Photographer

St Thomas:

"I think I have the gift of spelling." Hanif Brown Jr is sure of that much.

The 11-year-old Airy Castle Primary student won the St Thomas final of The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee com-petition at the Morant Bay Parish Church yesterday, after less than two hours of spelling.

The first to face the spell-mistress, Hanif stood through-out with his hands placed firmly at his sides as if part of an army regiment.

Strong point

Like a soldier, discipline is his strong point, according to those who know him best.

"He is a very disciplined child," said his father, Morant Bay Mayor Hanif Brown Sr.

The head honcho at the St Thomas Parish Council related how he played his part in his son's success.

"I see to it that he studies well and I show him techniques. I train him and teach him to be composed," the elder Brown said, not hesitating to give some credit to his mother, Hyacinth Solomon, a teacher at Airy Castle Primary.

Hanif displayed that composure yesterday to end up at the top, calmly outspelling Demar Adams of Port Morant Primary and Junior High, who fumbled on the word R-E-S-I-N.

Hanif's victory is the third for Airy Castle, which also gained the distinction of producing the champion girl in Kadeen Matherson. They won in 2004 and 2005 as well.

The coach at the school, Sylvia Stanley, explained that the spelling club meets every Friday at 1 p.m. to prepare the students for the finals.

"Hanif works very hard and his mother is behind him," Stanley said of the speller's success.

Last year's winner, Reneica Peart of Middleton Primary, placed fourth after failing to correctly spell n-i-b-b-l-i-n-g.

tennesia.malcolm@gleanerjm.com

Number of schools: 19

Number of spellers: 37

Overall winner: Hanif Brown Jr

Champion girl: Kadeen Matherson

Winning school: Airy Castle Primary

Winnning word: R-i-g-o-r-o-u-s

Top five

1. Hanif Brown Jr, Airy Castle Primary

2. Demar Adams, Port Morant Primary and Junior High

3. Kadeen Matherson, Airy Castle Primary

4. Reneica Peart, Middleton Primary

5. Kadian Lewis, Lystra Primary