Players from The Gleaner's triple-champion division one unit team-up at an appreciation luncheon hosted by the company for its sporting teams at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Monday. They are (stooping from left): Fabian Nethersole, Ricardo Blackstock, Paul-Andre Walker, Andrew Sewell, Lamar Morgan and Kieron Brock. Standing (from left): Kenrick Picknight, Kwesi Mugisa, Ross Shiel, Ricardo Farquharson, Audley Boyd, Jason Brown, John Williams, Sean Fraser, Fitzroy Pickett, Fabian O'Hara, George Stephen (back row), Wayne Marshall, Dwayne Thompson. MIssing are Rudolph Speid, Bernard Blackwood, Oneil Morrison, Michael Williams (coach), Barrington Deer (manager).
MEMBERS of The Gleaner Company's sporting teams were fêted at a luncheon hosted by the company at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Monday.
A number of specially invited guests and the company's top executives, including its chairman and managing director Oliver Clarke who lauded the teams for making him "... and the company proud," shared the occasion with the performers who brandished the company's colours with distinction in recently-concluded Business House competitions.
Winning performances
The football team, which participated in division one, contested all four finals open to competitors in both the league and knockout championships.
They won three titles - the Kingston and St. Andrew Business House FA Knockout - with a victory over Petrojam in the final; the Challenge Shield with a final win against National Water Commission (NWC) and the All-island Champion of Champions Trophy after beating St. Ann's Kaiser.
However, the team lost to NWC in the division one league final.
The domino team won the division one final after rallying from a halftime deficit to beat Air Jamaica and win its fourth title in the past five years.
The female table tennis team placed second in the Business House competition while their male counterparts weren't as fortunate. Ambassador A.B. Stewart Stephenson, president of the Kingston and St. Andrew Business House Football Association (KSAFA) was the guest speaker.
Benefits of healthy lifestyles
In a brief address, Stephenson pointed to the benefits companies stood to gain through healthy lifestyles and relationships while participating in sport and implored more corporate entities to take part in such competitions. He also congratulated the teams.
Other representatives from the respective sporting bodies also in attendance included KSAFA Business House Football Association President Wayne Shaw; Jamaica Table Tennis Association General Secretary Justin Allen; and Georgia Dwyer, secretary/treasurer of the Kingston and St. Andrew region for the national association of domino bodies. Management trainee Jacqueline Henry also attended as an invited guest.
Several other Gleaner executives were present, including Collin Bourne, administrative manager/company secretary, L. Anthony O'Gilvie, industrial relations/personnel manager, Mavis Belasse, information systems manager, John Hudson, overseas publications manager, Mary Dick, training officer, Nordia Craig, deputy advertising manager and Hope McMillan, special projects coordinator for Gleaner On-line.
Popular comedians Ity (right) and Fancy Cat bringing the house down with their witty lyrics as they provided the entertainment package at the appreciation luncheon. - Photos by Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
