Christie

Patrice Christie of St. Mary High won her second parish title yesterday as theGleaner's Children's Own Spelling Bee competition completed its fifth round.

Patrice, now a Grade Eight student, won when she was in Grade Five at Highgate Primary and Junior High. She did not compete the following year in order to focus on her GSAT exams and St. Mary High did not enter spellers last year.

"I really wanted to enter this year because I'd missed two years. I think I'll do well at the National Final because I have the experience," she said.

Her winning word was I-m-p-e-n-e-t-r-a-b-l-e. Patrice beat nine-year-old Samantha Rhule of Clonmel Primary and Junior High.

The top five were all girls as Monifa Young of Marlborough Primary was third, Deneisha Campbell of Iona Prep was fourth and Toni Maxwell of Retreat Primary and Junior High placed fifth. Champion Boy Lesean Grant finished sixth.

St. Ann

Bromfield

In St. Ann, Anna-Kaye Bromfield of St. Hilda's Diocesan High School took the parish title when she spelled a-g-g-r-I-e-v-e-d to defeat an equally excellent Janice Alexander of Inverness Primary and Infant. Both girls showed true spelling prowess and set themselves apart from the other 44 spellers. Third went to Champion Boy, Oberto Peart of York Castle High (the only boy in the top seven); fourth to Shatasia Barrett of Bethany Primary, and fifth to Bernadine Walker of Ocho Rios Primary.

"All I can say is hard work brings true joy," said an excited Anna-Kaye, who finished 13th in last year's competition.

Spellers from Trelawny and St. James will compete in today's contests.