Lucea, Hanover:

What do you get when you have a parish championship spelldown in Hanover and no defender? Why, a healthy dose of competition, of course.

Lucea Parish Church came alive last Friday as 40 students lined up to compete for the title of The Gleaner's Children's Own parish champion.

The champion was decided quickly as Joanna Turner of Hanover Pre and Prep stole the competition with the winning word, P-E-N-S-I-O-N-E-R.

Steady worker

"I knew that she would do it!" principal of the school, Tiffany Grant-Smith, said. "She is a steady worker and very dedicated."

This quiet 11-year-old admits that she was nervous about the competition but stuck to what her mother told her before the spelldown.

"I spoke to mommy this morning and she told me not to worry because I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

When asked how she felt about going to the national finals, she smiled and said, "I feel so happy I'm going to Kingston, but now it's off to KFC."

Mother, Dr Sonia Caruth-Turner, wasn't in attendance when her daughter won, but was being updated on her progress in the competition.

"I am so proud of her," she said when she found out her daughter had won.

Top Five

Joanna Turner - Hanover Pre and Prep

Samantha Aung - Esher Primary

Jaheem Thomas - Hanover Pre and Prep

Cheveane McKenzie - Pondside Primary

Shanika Howard - Greenland Primary