Western Bureau:Double ISSA Western Conference High School basketball champions Herbert Morison Technical are in pole position after Game One of their best-of-three finals on Wednesday, outlasting a spirited Cornwall College in both the Under-16 and U-19 categories at the Montego Bay Cricket Club court.The Dave Black-coached Herbert Morrison stopped Cornwall College by a comfortable 65-50 margin to win the senior match-up.But they were made to work much harder in the junior section by a Cornwall College side that was bent on turning the tables on the Herbert Morrison juggernaut. Herbert Morrison ultimately prevailed by a narrow 53-50 margin for the advantage heading into Game Two of the series.The reliable shooting guard, Ralique Grant, was in awesome form for his team, ending with a game-high 34 points.Grant, who is in line for the season’s MVP award, also had three rebounds, six steals, and three assists.Fellow guard Tafari Vassell added 12 points and 12 rebounds in a double-double effort for Herbert Morrison as Herbert Morrison sped off to a whirlwind 13-point lead (18-5) after just one quarter.Cornwall College rallied through Antonio Spence, especially in the second quarter. Spence eventually ended as his team’s top scorer with 16 points and pulled down 14 rebounds.But it was the defending champions all the way as they dominated all quarters, except in the fourth, as Spence and Leonardo Friginette threatened to wrest Game One from them. Friginette also recorded a double-double, hitting 15 points and 13 rebounds.In the end, Herbert Morrison had enough to post the victory, after posting (18-5, 15-12, 16-11 and 16-22) quarterly returns.It was not so comfortable for them, however, in the Under-16 category as Ojay Marshall and Alwade Thompson of Cornwall partnered superbly in trying to secure the much-needed win.Marshall’s 17 points and three rebounds and that of Thompson (12 points), propelled Cornwall College to within touching distance of a victory, but Herbert Morrison’s star shooter, Shaqueal Benti’s 17 points output, led the way.Benti was supported in the win by Ryheem Barrett, 13 points, while Davaughn Campbell chipped in with a useful 10 points, four rebounds, and eight steals.
Western Bureau:Jamaica has produced several good swimmers over the years, and it would appear that the production line is again being revved up to throw up another potential star in 11-year-old Rin Giles from Mt Alvernia Prep School.The swimming sensation has been creating waves in the pool with a total of 16 medals won in the 2014-15 season, including two records, the first coming at the Mayberry Investments Prep/Primary School Swim Meet in April.There, Giles smashed the 50m backstroke record, posting a fresh time of 37.25 seconds in the 11-12 age-group section. It was his best time in the event. That record would fall, however, as he finished strong to take gold at the NestlÈ Jamaica Limited Prep/Primary School Swim Championship.His 36.75 seconds demo-lished the record he set at the Mayberry meet and helped to catapult him into the hearts and minds of those who witnessed the feat.His personal coach, Joshua Bailey of the Blue Marlin Swim Club, out of Montego Bay, thinks he has a good chance of making the 2016 Carifta team.”He has so much potential and he really is a strong swimmer. His records and overall performances tell the story that he is one to watch out for,” said Bailey.”Carifta is not a dream anymore for Giles. He clearly has the potential to do well and, if he continues doing so, then he could be in line if the qualification times are met,” added Bailey.amazing supportGiles helped his school to a 13th-place finish at the Amateur Swimming Associa-tion of Jamaica (ASAJ) swim meet back in November of last year, taking gold in the 50m backstroke, and returned to again land gold in the 50m butterfly. He grabbed silver in the 50m breaststroke and 200 IM (individual medley).He backed up that performance with his record swim at Mayberry meet and has not looked back since, posting wins also at the Burger King/YMCA Prep/Primary School Swim Challenge, where he helped Mt Alvernia to a fourth-place finish in May, taking the gold in the 50m freestyle and backstroke, before settling for silver in the 50m breaststroke and backstroke.”As a young swimmer, he will need the support of his parents, and we at Blue Marlin are very happy that he has been getting that. His mother gives amazing support and he relishes that, plus, we make sure that he remains focused in academics as well as in the pool,” the club’s head coach, Rosemarie Logan, said.
Challenging, difficult, rough were some of the words that were used to describe the pitch that forced an abandonment of the third Jamaica Scorpions four-day trial match at Sabina Park yesterday.The pitch, which was into its second day when the umpires, in consultation with the national coaching staff decided to call off the match inside the first over, resulted in at least two players receiving body bruises and injury.They are batsmen AndrÈ McCarthy, who was hit on the finger on day one, and had to retire hurt, and Shacaya Thomas, who was hit five times, two to the head, two to the hand, and one on his fingers.”I can’t recall getting hit five times in a game,” said Thomas, who was 56 not out overnight, and was looking to score his first century of the trials on the day.”It was really a difficult pitch batting. I got hit twice on my head, twice on my hand, and one on my fingers.”Few balls bowledThe encounter, which was the third of six scheduled ahead of the start of the upcoming WICB Professional League, was called off after four balls were bowled yesterday by fast bowler Jason Dawes of John Campbell’s XI.Campbell’s XI made a paltry 124 on the opening day, with Paul Palmer’s XI responding with 84 for one when stumps were drawn.Palmer’s XI added another two runs to their overnight total, with young wicketkeeper, Kemar Marshall unbeaten on three when the umpires intervened.”A ball that you would normally look to come forward to, would just pop up, and, bounce over your head,” noted 26-year-old Thomas.”Judging the length of a delivery, as well, was also difficult to predict, in terms of going forward or back.”McCarthy, in the meanwhile, who was hit on the thumb on the first day and had to retire hurt, but was planning to resume batting on day two, said the pitch was a problem from the outset.”Balls were moving around and misbehaving from the first session on the opening day, when my team was in the field,” he explained.”But there was then a lot of rolling of the wicket during the lunch and tea breaks, and after play, and everybody kept anticipating that as the match went on it would play better.”The fourth two-day trial match is scheduled to begin next Tuesday.
Defending ISSA-FLOW Super Cup champions Jamaica College (JC) will face Excelsior High in the quarter-finals of the knockout tournament. In another quarter final, Wolmer’s Boys will line up against reigning daCosta Cup champions Clarendon College while STETHS will lock horns with St Jago High. Reigning Walker Cup holders St George’s College who blanked Petersfield 5-0 at Sabina Park have set up a quarter-final date with Glenmuir High. Five Manning Cup schools qualified for the quarter-finals of the Super Cup following wins in the round of sixteen on Saturday. Super Cup round one scores: Glenmuir 3 KC 2 Hydel 1 Clarendon College 2 Jamaica College 2 Vere Technical 1 St. James 1 Excelsior High School 1 (Excelsior advanced 6-5 on penalties) Wolmer’s 3 Port Antonio 1 STETHS 4 Charlie Smith 1 Petersfield 0 St. George’s College 5 St. Jago 3 Lacovia 1
After two days of fun, drama and skill, the Jamaican pair of Jeffrey Panton and co-driver Mike Fennell Jr were declared provisional winners of the FIA/NACAM/JMMC Rally Jamaica 2015 motorsport event, which concluded yesterday afternoon on the waterfront, downtown Kingston. It underlined another triumphant year for Panton and Fennel, who have had a successful stint in rallying across the region in 2015. The two have had their fair share of successes on the Barbados circuit. “Though it is a win, it is not satisfying for me because one of our main competitors, John Powell, took ill and could take no further part yesterday. We were looking forward to the rivalry,” Panton told The Gleaner, shortly after arriving safely at the Bank of Nova Scotia car park, downtown Kingston. At the lunch halt in Bog Walk yesterday, Panton explained how he had to be extremely cautious negotiating the terrains on the latter stages on Saturday because the course had become slippery as a result of the rain. “We were very cautious, hence we were able to accumulate a comfortable lead coming into this morning (yesterday), said Panton, who drove one of the two WRC Ford Focus cars. According to Panton, he intends to have dialogue with a number of the top drivers in the region, with a view to staging a regional rally championship next year. Up to press time, in second place was the French team of Simon Jean Joseph and co-driver Jack Boyere, driving a 2008 Ford Focus WRC. “It is a pleasure to be here rallying with the boys. The rally has been very good, even though there was not much competition. There was no battle. We had a difficult start on Saturday, but we pulled through. We were expecting a bit more spectators. Among the things that I wanted to achieve today (yesterday) was to demonstrate to the public how we can use a small car like this and do a good job,” Jean-Joseph told The Gleaner during the lunch period. Unofficially, in third place was Jetcon’s Joel Jackson and Dmitri Dawkins, driving a 2008 Subaru STI. Approaching the final stage in Bog Walk, last year’s winners, Kyle Gregg and co-driver Hugh Hutchinson, were occupying third place, but a sudden downpour, combined with other acts of nature, took down a tree, which fell into the path of Gregg’s 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10. They were on to the final leg in downtown Kingston when this happened. That was the end of the rally for them. The organisers are expected to announce the respective winners, officially, this evening, during the prize-giving ceremony at the Knutsford Court Hotel, New Kingston. Happy overall
Controlling bodY weight is really a matter of controlling body fat. The most important consideration for health is not total weight, but body composition (proportion of fat to lean mass). Many persons who are ‘overweight’ are also ‘over fat’ and the health risks faced are due to the latter condition.The secret to managing body weight is eating moderately and getting regular physical activity. This adoption of healthy and sustainable habits will maximise energy and reduce the risk of chronic diseases. It will also boost body image as persons are becoming obsessed with weight and shape. However, this is sometimes associated with dangerouseating patterns and disorders.Body weight and body composition are determined by multiple factors that may vary with each individual. Such factors include genetic, physiological and lifestyle trends.Genetic factorsGenes influence body size and shape, body fat distribution and metabolic rates. Genetic factors also affect the ease with which weight is gained and where on the body it is added. If both parents are overweight, it is very likely that their children will be overweight.Physiological factorsn Metabolism this is a key physiological factor. It is the sum of all the vital processes by which food energy and nutrients are made available to the body. The largest component is the Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR). High RMR burns more calories and hence less weight is gained. The vice versa is true for low RMR.n Energy balance if the energy equation is balanced, an individual burns the same amount of calories as he/she consumes and no weight is gained. If more calories are taken in than expended, weight will increase.n Hormones hormonal changes, especially in females, play a role in the accumulation of body fat. For example,hormones during puberty initiates the development of breasts, wider hips and a fat layer beneath the skin. The hormone leptin is said to be linked toobesity.n Weight cycling repeatedly gaining and losing weight (yo-yo dieting) makes the body more efficient at storing calories and more difficult to lose weight.Lifestyle factorsn Eating increased energy intake and decreased physical activity may increase risk for excess body fat and obesity down the line. For example, eating calorie-dense foods of high fat, high sugar and fast foods low in nutrients, sodas and beers. Consider also the proportion sizes of high calorie meals.n Physical activity modern conveniences such as motor vehicles, remote controls, power machines, etc., have reduced daily physical activity. The lifestyle of men has become sedentaryn Psycho-social persons use food as a means of coping with stress and negative emotions. For many, eating provides a powerful distraction from loneliness, anger, boredom, sadness, and feelings of inadequacy. It can be used to combat low moods, low energy levels and low self-esteem. When food and eating becomes the primary means of regulating emotions, binge eating and other unhealthy eating patterns develop. Such practices may lead to obesity or anorexia.It is clear that most weight problems are lifestyle problems. Controlling weight is a matter of adopting healthy behaviours that can be maintained throughout life and will lower the health risks associated with overweight and obesity.Health risksn Being overweight or obese isn’t something to take lightly. These conditions greatly raise risks for other health problems. Excess body fat increases a person’s risk of developing numerous diseases and unhealthy conditions. Obesity is one of six controllable risk factors for heart disease. It also increases risk for other forms of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancers, diabetes, gall bladder disease, respiratory problems, joint diseases, skin problems, impaired immune function and sleep disorders.n Obese people have an overall mortality rate almost twice that of non-obese people. Studies have shown that women who gain more than 22 pounds since they were 18 years old have a sevenfold increase in the risk of heart disease. Studies also confirmed that overweight and obesity shorten lives.n Scientific evidence shows that the way people store fat affects their risk for disease. Statistics show that obese individuals with a lot of abdominal fat are clearly at higher risk than others with a similar amount of body fat stored in other areas (hip, thigh, gluteal). Evidence also indicates that those whose fat deposits around internal organs have an even greater risk for diseases than those with fat deposits beneath the skin.Risk assessment techniquesIt is clear that most weight problems are lifestyle problems. A few management techniques include:n Changes in diet and eating habitsn Increase physical activity and exercisen Get psychological helpn Manage emotionn Develop healthy stress coping skillsn Positive thinking
Jamaican Michael Gardener, representing the Caribbean team in the Wray and Nephew Contender 2016 Series, makes his debut as a professional boxer tonight. Gardener will face USA boxer José Guzman, over five rounds in the fifth week of competition at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium. Fight time is 9.30 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast live on Television Jamaica. Last week the series heated up considerably when Guyanese boxer Revlon Lake fought a bruising battle against Anthony Woods from The Bahamas to take a majority decision, and tonight’s fight promises to be in the same vein. The 22 year-old Gardener is faced with a huge task, in this his debut, but he and his camp have stated that they are very confident of victory, despite the fact that Guzman, who is 27, is a seasoned professional with 20 fights on his rÈsumÈ. It is not an impressive one, as he has won six, lost 13, and had one draw, but the fact is that he has been a professional since 2006. He last fought on March 5, losing to John Hernandez in New York over six rounds. Gardener has been one of Jamaica’s best amateur boxers and has been a champion in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions. He has represented Jamaica in overseas competitions several times and is known to be a hard-hitting boxer. His major fault as an amateur was that being primarily a counter-puncher, he had the tendency to react and fight back rather than lead and be aggressive. As a result, he was usually coming from behind, and in a three-round fight, he therefore, found himself in trouble on several occasions. Over five rounds, he has some more time, but he still cannot afford to lose the early rounds as catching up would be difficult. The tactics that he uses tonight will be very important if he is to make a successful debut. He has good punching power, but his opponent, who was born in Puerto Rico and who has been living in the Bronx, New York, for some time, is quite likely to be very aggressive, so the ingredients are there for an exciting contest. The winner tonight moves into the quarter-final, and will be one step closer to the Contender 2016 title and first prize of $2million. The runner-up takes home $500,000, third place $250,000 and fourth place $200,000. In the next stage of the competition, the boxers will still challenge each other over five rounds, but the semi-finals will be over seven rounds, and the final in July will be a 10-round contest.
MAN CITY OUT LONDON (AP): No Jamie Vardy, no problem for Leicester. Even with their top-scorer suspended, the Premier League leaders still overpowered Swansea 4-0 yesterday to move another step closer to collecting the trophy. The only team which can now catch Leicester is Tottenham, but the preseason 5,000-1 outsiders have their destiny in their own hands. Tottenham are eight points behind Leicester in second place going into today’s game against West Bromwich Albion. Regardless of what Tottenham do in their last four games, Leicester will be guaranteed the top flight for the first time in its 132-year history by collecting five points from their remaining three fixtures. Leicester dismantled Swansea with their biggest win in three months. Vardy’s replacement, Leonardo Ulloa, scored twice after Riyad Mahrez’s opener and Marc Albrighton completed the rout. “I talked to my players before the match and I said we had a dream so far, now make a dream reality,” Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri said. “Now is the right moment to push. If Tottenham are better than us, OK, but we have to fight because we will never have this fantastic moment (again). “Now there are only three matches, we know they are very important for our history but for this reason we give everything. We play with our hearts and it’s difficult to beat those who play with the heart and soul.” The attacking threat provided without 22-goal Vardy will have reassured the Foxes they can cope without him for longer. The England striker is waiting to discover from the English Football Association if his one-match ban will be extended over the angry reaction to being sent off in last weekend’s draw against West Ham. “Without Jamie, everyone makes something more and it was a fantastic show to see my players fight and play together,” Ranieri said. By extending their unbeaten run to nine games, Leicester officially knocked Manchester City and Arsenal out of the title race a year after the central England team’s priority was fighting relegation. Fourth-place Arsenal, who have gone 12 years without winning the league, were held 0-0 by Sunderland in yesterday’s other game. It was a valuable point for Sunderland, who climbed out of the relegation zone by going above Norwich on goal difference. “It is frustrating because we play to win the title,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. Arsenal’s season now rests on holding on to fourth place and qualifying for the Champions League, with Manchester United five points behind in fifth place. United also have an FA Cup final to look forward to. Louis van Gaal’s side discovered yesterday that they will face Crystal Palace on May 21 in a repeat of the 1990 final. In a semi-final overshadowed by Leicester’s game, Palace beat Watford 2-1 with all three goals coming from headers. Yannick Bolasie’s opener was cancelled out by Troy Deeney but Connor Wickham restored Palace’s lead. United also beat Everton 2-1 on Saturday.
BERLIN (AP): Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller says his club is happy to have signed Jamaican forward Leon Bailey on the last day of the transfer window. The 19-year-old Bailey arrived from Belgian club Genk and signed through 2022, ninth-place Leverkusen said yesterday. “This lad was also high on many other European clubs’ wish list,” Voeller said. “That’s why we’re even happier that we could see off such strong competition.” Bailey is eligible for the club’s Champions League campaign despite playing in the Europa League for Genk this season. “He is an extraordinarily fast and tricky player who will boost our attack,” Voeller added. FEE NOT DISCLOSED Leverkusen did not disclose a transfer fee but German media reported the club was paying some US$12.8 million for the player. Bailey’s transfer came in a window that saw Bundesliga clubs spending almost US$100 million. The 18 Bundesliga clubs invested more than US$96 million in new players in this transfer period, easily beating the previous record of $65 million set two years ago, news agency dpa reported. Higher revenue from TV deals means the big-spending trend is likely to continue. Bailey, who is yet to make his debut for Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz, has impressed during his time with Genk, scoring 15 goals and providing 21 assists in his 77 league games for the Belgians. Bailey also tallied seven goals and three assists in his 12 European outings for the team and will be looking to make a similar mark with his new German club.
“The platform was laid for a person like me with a little bit of power,” said Powell. “What I did therefore was to just take a few balls first and get going, and then after get going I could explode and go big.” Entering the fray with the Scorpions well-placed at 269 for two in the 36th over on the back of a record-equaling opening wicket stand of 174 between Chadwick Walton and Steven Taylor, and joining the then on-the-go Jermaine Blackwood, Powell went on to slam nine sixes and six fours in his electrifying act. The recent West Indies one-day debutant then returned to bowl with accuracy and variation to bamboozle the Red Force. The 31-year-old Walton topscored with 117, Taylor got 88, and Blackwood, an unbeaten 108. “The wicket kind of suited me,” he said of his bowling.” It was a not a fast wicket, and once the wicket is not fast, medium pacers, who bowl a lot of cutters and use their fingers on the ball can get a lot of assistance. I,therefore, just went out there to execute. He added: “I also would like to do same in the final, as the team is peaking at the moment, and I would like us to return home with the trophy.” The final is set for a 12:30 p.m. Jamaica time start, and is scheduled to be aired on cable television network, ESPN. -J.L. PLATFORM LAID Enterprising all-rounder Rovman Powell says execution was the order of the day for him against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the semi-finals of the WICB Regional Super50 Tournament and come today, he hopes to replicate this against Barbados Pride in the final at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda. A revelation for Jamaica over the past two seasons, the 23-year-old Powell smashed a whirlwind career-best 95 off a mere 45 balls, and claimed a career-best five for 36 off eight overs to help guide Jamaica to a record-breaking 292 runs win over the dethroned champions. The Scorpions batted first and made 434 for four before dismissing Trinidad for 142.