In Your Neighbourhood

The Gleaner advance in Business House basketball

The Gleaner advanced to the second round of the Business House three-on-three Division One basketball league when they defeated former champions Grace Canning 27-24 at the Stadium Courts recently.

The Gleaner qualified for the next round by virtue of having won seven matches as against losing five.

After losing their top player, Omar Wolfe, at the start of the season, The Gleaner struggled in the early matches, but the players gradually improved and with their captain, Keneil Allen, coming up big with three pointers, in recent matches, the team was able to qualify.

Allen scored a game-high 12 points against Grace, whose top player, Andrew Goulbourne, replied with 11. The Gleaner won the Division Two title in 2013 and have been campaigning in Division One since the 2014 season.

Central Manchester netball finals loom

The final of the Central Manchester Sports Development Committee netball leagues will be hosted at the May Day High School grounds next Sunday.

The day's activity begins with the third-place match in the Junior League between Porus and Broadleaf at 2:15 p.m. The Senior League third-place play-off between the Police team and Newleigh All Stars starts at 3 p.m.

The Junior League finals featuring Albion and Pear Tree gets under way at 3:45 p.m. The grand Senior final between Williamsfield and Bombay is earmarked for 4:30 p.m.

As an additional attraction, fans will be treated to the football final of the Knockpatrick Division. That match will kick off at 3:30 p.m. The finalists will be determined soon.

Henriques ready for US Nationals

Mandeville's best-known pistol shooter, Orville Henriques, showed he was in good shape to compete at next weekend's US Nationals as he blew away his clubmates in a tournament dubbed 'US Nationals Send Off''.

Henriques, who is looking to better his current fourth-place ranking among the best Jamaicans who compete internationally, tallied 606 points from seven stages, a whopping 195 more than second-place Sue Ann Henriques, who shot at 67 per cent. It was the highest margin of victory by percentage in a major match at the Manchester Rifle and Pistol Club.

Owen Campbell, who denied Henriques a clean sweep of the stages by winning Stage Seven - valued at 100 points - was third with 382. Ellsworth Dixon and Thomas Jones completed the top five.

Desmond Prince, who finished sixth at 53 per cent, was the most striking lower-placed result.

Prince, who took up shooting seriously only last year, was producing his best finish among more experienced shooters in a major match.

The US Nationals will be staged from October 9-10 in Frostproof, Florida.

McKenzie wins Munro 6.5km walk race

Natasha McKenzie, a Holmwood Technical High School physical education teacher, enhanced her growing reputation as the top female walker in central Jamaica by easily taking the female category of the Munro Top Rock 6.5 km walk race last Sunday.

The event, which is the initiative of the Munro College Old Boys' Association, was being held for the first time.

The route began on the north end of the over 200 acres school property, going downwards into the community before asking athletes to negotiate the famous Chelsea hill, which has an elevation of over 100 metres.

McKenzie's time of 52 minutes and 18 seconds was 15 minutes better than any other female participant but was fourth overall in the men's category.

The two first places in the men's event were taken by Munro College schoolboys Rejeanne McClymont (48 mins) and Dean Witter (50:58.39 mins). Third place went to Richard Bryan, who finished in 50:59:31 and who took the overall over-40 category.

McKenzie will now look to defend her Church Teachers College 5 km title. She is a distant relative of former top road racer Linton McKenzie.

Peter Bunting Football League round-up

Old England stayed on course to make the play-offs of the Knockpatrick Division in the Peter Bunting Central Manchester constituency football competition, by defeating Brokenhurst 2-1.

Other victors were Albion, who were 2-1 winners over Beltiro, Pear Tree, who brushed off New Vision 3-0 and Inverness, who created a major upset in outscoring Knockpatrick 3-2.

Porus remained leaders in their division, blanking Bombay 3-0, while Coffee Grove and Content ended 3-3, virtually killing each other's chances.

However, it was Blue Mountain thatmade the biggest statement in this division, slamming Hope Village 6-0.

In the Mandeville Division, Georges Valley spanked defending champions Hanbury 2-0, while Cedar Grove won 1-0 over Bonito Strikers.

Brixton FC win Ray McIntosh six-a-side football title

Brixton FC, from Braeton Phase Three, won the inaugural Ray McIntosh six-a-side one-day football competition, with a 2-1 penalty kicks win over arch-rivals Braeton Blazers, also from Phase Three, after both teams played out a 0-0 scoreline in regulation and extra-time.

Businessman Rayon McIntosh, a stalwart in the community of Braeton and sponsor of the competition, handed over the trophy and a cash award to Brixton FC at the competition's awards ceremony.

At that same function, held on Seal Avenue in Braeton Phase Three, five girls and five boys were awarded brand-new tablets for their achievements in the 2016 GSAT examinations.

Before the function, there was a treat for children. Everything was sponsored by McIntosh, his wife, and his family.

12 confirmed for Portmore Business House football

Twelve teams, led by three-time defending champions Cable Pro, will compete for top honours in the Portmore Business House football competition, which kicks off next Wednesday, October 5, at the Sunshine playing field in Naggo Head, Portmore.

Newcomers Digicel will have their hands full as they come up against defending champs Cable Pro at 8:30 p.m. in a game that officially kicks off the tournament.

The sponsors are Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) and Charles Chocolates.

Exceptional score stunning win

Exceptional pulled off a stunning 300-299 sudden-death win over Giants as action continued in the Jamaica Domino Council Association Premier League last Sunday.

In other games, Caribbean Classic whipped Naggo Head 300-218; Spit Fyah defeated Memory Lane 300-282; Jade Strikers outlasted Mechanical Strikers 300-296; Soursop Tree beat International 300-290; Braeton All Stars cut down Small Axe 300-265; Bull Bay won 300-274 over Vintage Pub; and Right Stuff crushed Highlight Strikers 300-216.