DUNBAR

It took a determined effort from Sade Dunbar of Spanish Town Primary School to win the St. Catherine Parish Final of The Gleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee competition yesterday.

Sade overcame a strong challenge from Travis Reid of McAuley Primary, who was second. Both spellers finished in the top five last year, with Sade third and Travis fourth. Travis has finished as Champion Boy both times. Third went to Jordi Dunbar of Spanish Town Primary, fourth to Donique Blake of Portmore Missionary Prep and fifth to Delroy Fong of Spanish Town Primary.

"I wasn't sure I would win," said an emotional Sade after the competition. "I thought the biggest challenge would be in the unseen words." Her winning word was F-R-U-G-I-V-O-R-O-U-S, which means feeding on fruit.

Some spellers delayed

Seventy-one spellers turned out on a hot day in Spanish Town to compete. A few spellers were delayed in getting to the venue due to an accident in the Bog Walk gorge. A lunch break was taken after approximately two hours of spelling, at 1:00 p.m. and by 2:00 p.m., the top 10 were left. For the second consecutive day of spelling, the unseen words had to be used.

The second week of parish finals begins next Tuesday in St. Thomas and Portland. The St. Andrew final, originally scheduled for today, will be held on Monday, October 23.