Serena Williams wins 6th Australian, 19th major title

Saturday, January 31, 2015 | 11:22 AM    

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Serena Williams won her 19th Grand Slam title and continued her unbeaten run in six Australian Open finals by extending her decade-long domination of Maria Sharapova.

She struggled with a hacking cough, she was sick, and she twice celebrated too early, but she held her composure in a 6-3, 7-6 (5) victory on Saturday.

On her third match point, she let her racket go before hearing a let call to what she thought was an ace.

“I thought, ‘Wow this is it, I did it, only to hear let. I was like, ‘OK Serena!"” she said. “I was very disappointed, because Maria was playing so well. I thought she’s going to try to hit a winner now. She’s goes for broke on match point.”

So she fell back on her biggest weapon, firing another ace — her 15th of the set and 18th of the match. This time, after checking it was official, she bounced around like a little child and the celebration was real.

“I’m so honoured to be here and to hold this 19th trophy,” Williams said. “I didn’t think it would happen this fast, to be honest, but it feels really good.”

The 33-year-old Williams became the oldest winner of the Australian women’s title in the Open era and moved into outright second place on the list of major winners in the Open era, behind only Steffi Graf’s 22. Almost immediately, her thoughts turned to the next major.

“I would love to get to 22. I mean, 19 was very difficult to get to,” she said. “But I have to get to 20 first, and then I have to get to 21. It will be a very big task.”

Still affected by a recent cold, Williams controlled the first set around a rain delay when play was stopped for 13 minutes for the roof on Rod Laver Arena to be closed due. Williams came back on court momentarily, but returned to the locker room.

“I had a really bad cough, I ended up throwing up, actually,” Williams said. “I’ve never done that before. I guess there’s a first time for anything. I think in a way that just helped me — I felt better after that.”

She returned to court and fired an ace to start a run of six straight points and, after dropping serve for the only time in the match, broke Sharapova’s serve for a third time to clinch it.

Williams won the first six points of the second set, too, before Sharapova started hitting out.

The five-time major winner had 18 of her 21 winners in the second set, and fended off four break points.

No 2-ranked Sharapova saved two match points, including one in the 10th game when she bravely hit a forehand winner down the line — applauded by Williams — and she calmly held serve twice to stay in the match.

Sharapova saved another match point with a winning service return, but Williams took her next chance to secure the title that lifted her above the career records of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova, who had 18 Grand Slam singles titles.

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Serena Williams wins 6th Australian, 19th major title

Walters stops Donaire in 6th, wins 126-lb title

Saturday, October 18, 2014 | 11:35 PM    

CARSON, California (AP) — Nicholas Walters stopped Philippine-born Nonito Donaire with a second left in the sixth round, winning the WBA featherweight title in dramatic fashion Saturday night.

Walters (25-0, 21 KOs), a fairly unknown fighter from Jamaica, punctuated his breakthrough performance by knocking down Donaire (33-3) for the first two times in the four-division champion’s career.

After Donaire swung and missed with a huge left hand late in the sixth, Walter caught him above the ear with an overhand right. Donaire fell face-first to the canvas, and though he beat the count, he couldn’t continue in his second loss in four fights.

Walters also knocked down Donaire in the third round with an uppercut.

The fight thrilled the sellout crowd for Gennady Golovkin’s middleweight title bout against Marco Antonio Rubio.

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Walters stops Donaire in 6th, wins 126-lb title

Kwiatkowski wins road race world title

PONFERRADA, Spain (AP) — Michal Kwiatkowski of Poland pulled away from a star-studded field to win a gruelling road race at the cycling world championships yesterday.

Catching the race favourites eying one another, Kwiatkowski slipped away from the peloton near the end to join a breakaway group of four riders and didn’t stop, staying ahead of the chasers on the final descent.

The 24-year-old Kwiatkowski had time to stop pedalling and lift his arms in celebration as he won the rainy 254.8-kilometre (158.3-mile) ride that started in the midst of heavy fog in six and a half hours.

“I was feeling right on the last lap,” Kwiatkowski said. “I was just going for the win and I tried to risk it because I saw that some of the riders were still calculating. I didn’t and I won. This is incredible.”

Simon Gerrans of Australia was second in a photo finish, one second behind Kwiatkowski. Spaniard Alejandro Valverde was third for the third straight year.

The 14 laps of the 18.2-kilometre route on well-paved roads took riders by a Templar castle in the city of Ponferrada and through its hilly surroundings in northern Spain. The course featured two short climbs, but the trickiest part was its long descent back into the city because of the wet surface.

The course was long but not very demanding, meaning that most of the strongest riders arrived in position to challenge for the title.

Even so, former Tour de France winner Chris Froome withdrew with less than three laps to go after falling behind the peloton. The British rider also failed to finish last year’s race in Florence, Italy.

Just when the sun had started to shine after a rainy morning, Tour winner Vincenzo Nibali fell in a low-speed crash involving a handful of riders. The Italian appeared unhurt and was able to join the peloton, but he wasn’t able to battle for the win.

An early group of four escapees opened up an advantage of almost 15 minutes, but it was slowly reeled in by a peloton led for a long stretch by the Polish team.

“I am really thankful for my mates for what they did at the beginning,” Kwiatkowski said. “We decided to continue riding and stay at the front. I said right from the start that there is no time to wait, we have to lead the peloton because that was our best chance.”

Germany’s Tony Martin, dethroned as time trial champion by Bradley Wiggins this week, tried a solo effort with three laps to go. He too was caught by a small group that then relented and let the rest catch up.

Seeing Kwiatkowski speed away, Joaquim Rodriguez attacked on the last climb to try and catch him. Nibali couldn’t keep up, but Valverde, Gerrans and Philippe Gilbert quickly joined in, forming a formidable pack of pursuers.

But even though Kwiatkowski never opened up a gap of more than nine seconds, it was enough time for him to pull off the surprise.

“I knew that it was possible to arrive in a smaller group, especially in the rain, because it was really risky,” Kwiatkowski said.

It was Valverde’s sixth medal in the event. The Spaniard now has two silver medals and four bronze medals, but he again came up short of winning an elusive gold.

“(The course) wasn’t hard enough for me to be able to fight for the win,” said Valverde. “It was very difficult to get a medal and although I would have liked the gold, I had a mission and I accomplished.”

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Kwiatkowski wins road race world title

Jamaica seek boys' 100 metre title at World Junior Champs

Jamaica will be seeking to return to the top of the medal podium in the boys’ sprints at the World Junior Athletics Championships, July 22-27 in Eugene, Oregon in the USA.

But the island’s two fastest junior sprinters are unsure which events they will line up in Eugene.   

Between 2007 and 2010, Jamaica held the distinction of having the gold medal in the World Youth and World Junior Boys’ 100 metres. Dexter Lee became the first Jamaican to win the World Youth 100m title before going on to win back to back titles in the same event at the 2008 and 2010 World Junior Championships.

Jamaica lost the crown in 2012 when Odean Skeen took the bronze in the event in Barcelona, Spain.

Once again it will be difficult task for Jamaica to regain the 100m World Junior title. The American Trayvon Bromelll has already run a world junior record 9.97 this season.  But in Jevauhgn Minzie and Michael O’Hara,  the country has two very capable junior sprinters.

Minzie has a personal  best of 10.16 while O’Hara  has posted a PB of 10.19. Minzie, who lost to O’Hara at the National Junior Championships last month, says he is back to where he was at Boys’ Championships.

In fact he says his aim for the 100 metres is a sub-10 second clocking in Eugene.  The 100 and 200 metre double is always a tough challenge at the World Juniors. But 18 year old Minzie, who ran a personal best 20.37 for the 200 metres at Boys’ and Girls’ Championships, says he is ready for the double. While Minzie is ready for the 100 and 200 metre work load at his 2nd World Junior Champs,  O’Hara is uncertain.

Although he beat Minzie over both distances at the National Junior Trials, O’Hara is eyeing just one flat event in Eugene. And that is the 200 meters, for which he is the World Youth Champion. 

But, the big question is, is the 17 year old ready for the pressure of the World Junior Championships?

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Jamaica seek boys" 100 metre title at World Junior Champs

Hamilton closes gap in title race with British Grand Prix win

Lewis Hamilton wins the British Grand Prix (Credit: BBC)

SILVERSTONE, England, Monday July 7, 2014, CMC – Lewis Hamilton came from behind to win the British Grand Prix for the first time in six years here Sunday, cutting Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg’s lead to four points and reviving his hopes of winning the Formula One driver’s title.

Starting from sixth on the grid following a mistake in Saturday’s final qualifying, Hamilton drove superbly, capitalising on Rosberg’s retirement with gearbox failure, to win the contest at Silverstone in a time of two hours, 26.52 minutes.

With the victory – his fifth of the season – Hamilton moved to within four points of Rosberg on 161 points.

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Valtteri Bottas of Williams was second while Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo finished third.

“I think this weekend really just showed that, for one, you never give up. Yesterday wasn’t a case of giving up, I didn’t think I could do the lap, I was really shocked that the last sector was so fast,” said Hamilton referring to his botched qualifying session on Saturday.

“But coming here today I had my family with me [and I was] just focused. The support from the fans, as I said, just spurred me on, and I really couldn’t have done it without them.”

He continued: “Yesterday, after qualifying, it looked so hard. I really was almost speechless when I spoke to [the fans], and it was no one else’s fault but mine. I was just so disappointed in myself. And then to get that result today, to really climb through… the team have just done an incredible job.”

The 27-year-old Brit was off to a great start, moving from sixth to fourth on the first lap and was quickly up to second following a break in the race caused by a crash involving Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen.

Crash involving Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen (Credit: BBC)

He then chased down Rosberg, gaining on every lap before the German’s gearbox failed on the 29th lap, leaving Hamilton in control of the race.

Hamilton, whose paternal grandparents hail from Grenada, is seeking his first World title since 2008.

That same year, he was honoured by the Grenada government for bringing international exposure to the country.

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Hamilton closes gap in title race with British Grand Prix win

Petra Kvitova wins 2nd Wimbledon title

By Patrick R. Anderson

Tick off Wimbledon title number two.

Twenty-four year old Czech player Petra Kvitova executed one of the most dominating performances in the women’s singles final at the All England Tennis Championships at Wimbledon.

She brushed aside Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-0 in 55 minutes, powering her way with big serves and wicked passing shots down either line.

The left-hander did not relent, and left Bouchard a mere spectator at the other end of the grass court awaiting the final whistle.

The 6th seeded Kvitova who won her first title in 2011, made 28-8 winners and won 11 of 14 points she played at the net.

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Petra Kvitova wins 2nd Wimbledon title

P’more Pines cop Portmore T/20 title

An all-round performance by Damion Bryce helped Portmore Pines CC defeat GC Foster College by three wickets in the final of the Wray & Nephew/Portmore Association Club T/20 Championship at Bridgeport on Sunday.

Scores: (GC Foster College 109-all out from 18 overs); (Portmore Pines CC 113-7 from 20 overs).

Ken’s Wildflower took third place after defeating Waterford CC by nine runs.

Winning the toss and electing to bat on a slow, flat pitch, GC Foster got off to a terrible start when Damion Bryce took two key early wickets. He removed Kanayna Barrett (five) and captain Gavin Wallace (seven) to leave the Spanish Town based-team struggling at 33-2 from six overs.

Ransford Henry was then run out for 18 (three fours) before Dervol Green tried to stable the innings when wickets were falling at regular intervals. The aggressive Green scored 55 (30 balls) which included six boundaries and a six, but when he was beautifully caught and bowled by Jonio Beckford, the GC Foster innings came to an end.

Damion Bryce finished with 2-18, Beckford, 2-19, and Andre Bryce chipped in with 2-34 for Portmore Pines CC.

In reply, Portmore Pines got off to a slow start but Damion Bryce led the run chase with a patient 65 from 70 deliveries. His knock included five boundaries, and he also shared in an opening-partnership of 29 with Allando Minott (four) from 9.3 overs.

Captain Terrance Brown then joined the left-handed Bryce at the crease and the pair put on 28 crucial runs that swung the game their way. Brown took 17 runs from Stephan Casey’s fourth over, struck two massive sixes with the latter bursting the ball. He was then bowled by Wallace for 15 (eight balls) at 92-5.

Gavin Wallace (3-25-2) and Odane Vassell (4-9-2) were GC Foster’s best bowlers.

Damion Bryce said that the game went as planned. “As the most senior player in the side the plan was to bat through the innings. We got off to slow start, but I just have to make the team bat around me and as long I am at one end I knew we would have a great chance on winning,” Bryce said.

Meanwhile, Gibbs Williams, coach of GC Foster, said that his team was 20 runs short.

“We failed to bat 20 overs and I felt we were 20 runs short. This is a young team and they made a lot of mistakes in the field, but it was a good team effort and congrats to Portmore Pines, they played a great game today (Sunday),” Williams told the Jamaica Observer.

Batting first in a game reduced to 18 overs, Ken’s Wildflower made 128-7. Kirk Brooks topscored with 34, Lascele Davis added 23, and Oraine Williams chipped in with 20 against Shomor Anderson, 3-16, and Damion Foster, 3-31.

In reply, Waterford got off to a strong start but were restricted for 119-9 from their allotted 18 overs. Anderson, 29, and Richard Allen, 26, were the chief runs scorers for Waterford against Myron Chin, 5-36, Aaron Graham, 2-7, and Oshane Wilson, 2-19.

Scores: (Ken’s Wildflower 128-7 from 18 overs); (Waterford CC 119-9 from 18 overs).

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P’more Pines cop
Portmore T/20 title

Manchester claim KW U15 cricket title

Manchester were crowned the new champions of the 24th Kingston Wharves Under-15 Cricket Competition on Friday at Sabina Park, after defeating St Ann by six wickets.

Both teams were playing in the final for the first time.St Ann, who defeated former champions St Andrew in last Wednesday’s semi-final, won the toss and made just 109 all out in 39.4 overs on the back of Shamar Smith’s 23, and Rashand Richards’ 22. The wickets went to Kevon Anniord, who took 3 for 12 in nine overs, Rushane Allen, 3 for 24 in 10 overs, and Ian Codner, 2 for 30 in 10 overs.St Ann lost their first wicket with 19 runs on the board and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings.Manchester, in reply, got off to a shaky start losing their first wicket with just one run on the board, but they recovered after some poor fielding by St Ann, who dropped six catches.The victors eventually overhauled St Ann’s score, making 110 for 4 in 32.5 overs. Javardi Francis, 37 not out, Rushane Allen, 28, and Xavier Burton, 18, were the main run scorers. Shamar Smith was the most successful bowler after getting two wickets for 29 runs in 10 overs.Gary Graham, coach of Manchester, who spoke after the final, said: “We are happy to reach the final for the first time and more so to win it. We have a young team, which we are grooming, so we expect to be able to defend our title next year. We were not worried by the score, as we consistently made more runs than that during the competition.”St Ann’s coach Orville Pennant, on the other hand, said: “We did well to get to the final after taking out the defending champions, but faltered because our boys fielded poorly, having dropped six catches. The target was low and so we had to bowl them out in order to win and we did not. We will come back stronger next year as we will have several players from this year’s team.”Mark Williams, marketing manager of Kingston Wharves, the title sponsor, committed his company’s continued support to the competition for the long haul as well as announced that 30 cricketers would be invited to a camp to be held in October to sharpen their skills.The awards presentation followed shortly after the end of the game. All the members of both teams got gift vouchers to be used to purchase books, while there were three special awardees who also got gift vouchers. The awardees were Rushane Allen of Manchester — man of the final for getting three wickets and making 24 runs; MVP of Manchester — Javardi Francis wicketkeeper, who made 226 runs (average 56.51), and MVP of St Ann — Shamar Smith for his 214 runs (average 71.66) and nine wickets at 10.06 apiece.Manchester cricketers celebrate with the Kingston Wharves Under-15 Cricket Competition Trophy, as Patrick Reid (left), manager of the Manchester team, Milton Henry (second right), first VP Jamaica Cricket Association, and Mark Williams (right), chief marketing manager Kingston Wharves, look on last Friday at Sabina Park. (PHOTO: MICHAEL GORDON)

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Manchester claim KW U15 cricket title

Bunkers Hill lift Summer League title

Sport

BY MARK CUMMINGS Editor-at-Large, Western Bureau cummingsm@jamaicaobserver.com Thursday, August 29, 2013

BUNKERS HILL, Trelawny — Bunkers Hill gained their first hold on the Bunkers Hill Summer league trophy and was awarded a cash prize of $25,000 for their efforts, after an exciting 1-0 win overMasters in the finals of the inaugural staging of the Clancy Strickland and Strickland Foundation football competition played at the Unity Primary School grounds on Sunday. A goal in the 20th minute of play by Rashawn Martin was enough to secure the victory for Bunkers Hill.The two teams had earned the right to meet each other in the finals of the seven week-long competition after contrasting wins over Cross Roads and Top Road in the semi-finals, a week earlier. Eight teams entered the competition which saw Dromilly being named the Most Disciplined team. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Adrene Strickland, a representative of the Clancy Strickland and  Strickland Foundation, thanked the gathering for an incident- free tournament and congratulated the Bunkers Hill team for winning the inaugural competition. She stressed that the foundation plans to make the league an annual affair.  Head of the foundation Clancy Strickland, a native of  Bunkers Hill, who now resides in the Unites States, later  told the Observer West that the competition was aimed at  fostering unity and harmony in the Bunkers Hill  community.  “The inspiration to do it also came about because one of  our uncles, Emerson Strickland, who had a shop in the  community, always gave back to the district, so we really  wanted to continue in that vein,” he added.  League coordinator Dale Walker said he was very pleased  with the outcome of the competition, noting that the  objectives of the leagues were met.Adrene Strickland presents the cheque for $25, 000 and trophy to the Bunkers Hill team after they emerged winners in the Clancy Strickland and Strickland Foundation Summer League Football Competition.STRICKLAND…the competition was aimed at fostering unity and harmony in the Bunkers Hill community.

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Bunkers Hill lift Summer League title

St George"s College claim first preseason title

Sport

Sunday, August 25, 2013

ST George’s College took a maiden hold on its preseason invitational tournament after completing back-to-back wins over Manning Cup rivals Calabar High and daCosta Cup champions Glenmuir High last weekend.The Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell-coach team, which lost out on the previous two editions of the St George’s College Invitational, defeated Calabar 2-1 last Saturday and followed with a 1-0 win over Glenmuir a day later for maximum six points and the top prize of $75,000.Clarendon College, who drew 1-1 with parish rivals Glenmuir on the opening day before blanking Calabar 4-0, finished second with four points and pocketed $50,000.St George’s are the Manning Cup and all-island Olivier Shield title-holders.Bell said the third staging of the event was a success and a useful competition that provided insight for the coaching staff ahead of the start of the schoolboy football season, which is set for September.“It was good and it came off beautifully and it’s an official tournament, so there were official referees, and so forth. There was total sponsorship to the tune of about $200,000. We had good teams coming in and it was certainly good for us and we got what we wanted out of it,” he told the Jamaica Observer.Sports gear outfitters Macron/Kitstar were the major sponsors of the tournament.Wolmer’s Boys’ beat St George’s College 3-1 in the deciding match of the inaugural tournament in 2011, while Jamaica College won last year’s competition.

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St George"s College claim first preseason title

Gayle leads Jamaica Tallawahs to first CPL title

Sport

Sunday, August 25, 2013 | 12:52 AM

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Another exhibition of power hitting by captain Chris Gayle and the consistent Andre Russell guided the Jamaica Tallawahs to a commanding seven wicket win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors that gave them the first hold of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League Saturday night. The pair smashed an unbeaten 62 from 34 balls as the Tallawahs rattled up 129 for three in 17.3 overs in reply to the Warriors’ 128 for five off 20 overs. Gayle finished unbeaten on 47 off 48 balls with six boundaries, while the belligerent Russell stroked 33 off 18 balls including five fours and one six.Earlier Chadwick Walton hit a six and one boundary in nine balls before going leg before wicket to Tillakaratne Dilshan for 13 and Kumar Sangakkara lofted Christopher Barnwell for James Franklin to run in and take a catch low down when the Sri Lankan was on 13.The only other Tallawah wicket to fall was that of Jermaine Blackwood for three. He was deceived by a slower delivery from Lasith Malinga whom he offered a tame return catch.Sent in to bat, the Guyana Amazon Warriors were choked in the front end of their innings languishing on 46 for two after 10 overs. They lost William Perkins caught at mid off by Danza Hyatt from a David Bernard Jnrd elivery for 14 and the prize wicket of Dilshan who played on to a sharp in swinger from Bernard Jnr without scoring.Lendl Simmons who started uncharacteristically slow top-scored with 40 off 44 balls with three fours and two sixes before holding out to Kumar Sangakkara trying to launch Nikita Miller over long off.  Simmons featured in a 50 run partnership with Denesh Ramdin who contributed 29 from 34 balls including two fours and one six.The Amazon Warriors innings got a much needed boost as James Franklin and Christopher Barnwell realized 20 runs in the final over bowled by Chris Gayle. Franklin was undefeated on 17. He faced nine balls and struck two sixes in the final over. David Bernard Jnr., was the most successful bowler for the Tallawahs with two for 18 off four overs.Chris Gayle (Jamaica Tallawahs) was named man-of-the-match, Krishmar Santokie, (Guyana Amazon Warriors) man-of-the-series and Sheldon Cotterell (Antigua Hawksbills) — future star.RUSSELL… in the semis slammed 29 off six balls with four sixes, one four and a single

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St Catherine, Domtar vie for Wray & Nephew Masters T/20 title

Sport

Sunday, August 25, 2013

A new champion will be crowned today in the Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum Masters T/20 Cricket Competition when undefeated St Catherine take on Domtar in the final to be played at Kensington Cricket Club in Kingston at 2:00 pm.St Catherine defeated last year’s winner MICO Masters in a low-scoring match last Sunday to maintain their unbeaten status and book their place in the final. The strength of the St Catherine team lies in its bowling department, which is spearheaded by Lascelles Davis, who is known as the ‘hat-trick bower’, having taken the only hat-trick in the competition to date. He should get good support from Leighton Brown, the team’s other productive bowler.Domtar, on the other hand, overpowered the formerly unbeaten May Pen Lions by 40 runs to get into the final against St Catherine.The third place play-off between MICO Masters and May Pen Lions will get under way at 10:00 am. May Pen Lions lost at the same stage last year and are looking to make amends this time around. MICO, on the other hand, want to maintain some pride, having already lost the competition.The winner will walk away with $75,000, the runners-up will get $50,000, while the third place team takes $30,000, and the fourth place team gets $15,000. There will be cash prizes for most runs, most wickets, best wicketkeeper, most catches by a player other than the wicketkeeper, as well as for the most disciplined team, bowlers taking five-wicket hauls, hat-tricks by any bowler, and century makers.

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St Catherine, Domtar vie for Wray & Nephew Masters T/20 title

Flow NBL stars gunning for MVP title

Sport

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

THREE of the biggest names in the 2013 Flow National Basketball League are among the players vying for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award slated to be announced at the end of the soon-to-be-completed season.Spanish Town Spartans’ Lynford ‘Shooty’ Brown, Majesty Gardens Legends’ Havando Dunn and Baldon Todd are in the running for the prestigious title.Leading the trio is Spanish Town Spartans shooting guard Brown, who has amassed 332 points at an average of 18.4 per game. The national representative has been an instrumental player for the Spartans, as they bid to secure the Flow National Basketball League title, after going down to the Urban Knights in Game One of the best-of-three finals last Friday.Brown’s impressive numbers have put him in good stead for the MVP crown, having recorded an average 39.2 points. It is, however, his range from beyond the arc that has raised the eyebrows of the league’s hierarchy. Brown has knocked down 50 three-pointers this season, more than any other player in the league. The quick-handed ball handler has also recorded the most steals, 33.Another player who will stake a strong claim for the MVP honours is Dunn. The 24-year-old, who also plays the point guard position, has scored 326 points in the season at an average of 21.7 per game.Dunn, who once played for Jamaica’s Under-19 team, has thrown down 99 two-pointers to lead all players. Having a reputation of showcasing some massive dunks, Dunn is also known to be an outstanding defender, registering eight blocks. The player who stands at six-feet four inches has also forced 47 turnovers.Also vying for the MVP accolade is Dunn’s teammate, Todd. The Majesty Gardens Legends team captain has been the consummate leader at the shooting guard position, racking up 296 points at 19.7 points per game.Todd has been regarded as one of the best free throw shooters in the league, having made 88 in the season thus far. Defensively, the skipper has made his mark as an all-round player, leading the league with 176 rebounds, almost doubling the number of his nearest rival Dunn.The 31-year-old has also been dishing out assists, posting 32 to top the competition. He also leads the turnover stats with 53 for the season.Brown will be in action again today at the National Stadium as the Spartans face off with Urban Knights in Game Two of the finals.(L-R)DUNN … has scored 326 points in the season at an average of 21.7 per game. TODD… has been regarded as one of the best free throw shooters in the league. BROWN… has amassed 332 points at an average of 18.4 per game

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Flow NBL stars gunning for MVP title

Shelly Ann regains World Champs 100m title

Sport

Monday, August 12, 2013 | 12:58 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce reclaimed the 100 metre World Championship title in Russia Monday outclassing the field in a world leading 10.71.The threat from Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare never materialised as Fraser Pryce ran Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast (10.93) into second and defending champion Carmelita Jeter(10.94) into third American English Gardner was fourth in 10.97 seconds, followed by Jamaican Kerron Stewart who ran 10.97.

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Shelly Ann regains World Champs 100m title

Shelly Ann regains World Champs 100m title

Latest News

Monday, August 12, 2013 | 12:58 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce reclaimed the 100 metre World Championship title in Russia Monday outclassing the field in a world leading 10.71.The threat from Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare never materialised as Fraser Pryce ran Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast (10.93) into second and defending champion Carmelita Jeter(10.94) into third American English Gardner was fourth in 10.97 seconds, followed by Jamaican Kerron Stewart who ran 10.97.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Shelly Ann regains World Champs 100m title

Title talk too early - Hamilton

By Andrew Benson Chief F1 writer at the Hungaroring Lewis Hamilton says it is “far too early” to talk about challenging for the championship this year after his win in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix.

Hamilton, 28, dominated at the Hungaroring despite the high temperatures, which have tended to trigger tyre problems for Mercedes.

“I know the guys [at the team] are working hard… but we’ve got a lot of tough races coming up.”

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

“When you have a win like this, you get excited and think anything is possible and this shows it is,” said the Briton.

“But it is still too early to say whether or not we can challenge.”

Hamilton is still fourth in the title race following his first win of the season, but he has reduced the deficit to leader Sebastian Vettel to 48 points, with 225 still available over the remaining nine races.

Kimi Raikkonen finished second in his Lotus in Hungary to move up to second in the standings, 38 points behind Red Bull’s Vettel, who was third at the Hungaroring.

Raikkonen is now one point ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who finished fifth on Sunday.

Hamilton, world champion in 2008, said: “I know the guys [at the team] are working hard so that we can close the gap and I hope today is the first step in doing so, but we’ve got a lot of tough races coming up.

“I just hope that’s not the last time my tyres work for me.”

Mercedes have been suffering with heavy tyre usage all season, experiencing problems at nearly every race.

Hamilton joy at first Mercedes victory

But the hot weather in Hungary, where the track temperature was more than 50C in the early part of the race, has given the team encouragement they might finally have got on top of the problem.

The introduction of a new design of tyre in Hungary to prevent the multiple failures at the British Grand Prix – one of which robbed Hamilton of a potential win – is also thought to be a factor.

Hamilton said: “If we can be quick here in a race with these track temperatures, then I’m very hopeful that we can be competitive everywhere else, so this could be a really good turning point for us.”

Alonso, meanwhile, insisted he can take the title fight to the end of the season despite Ferrari’s disappointing form in Hungary.

The double world champion, who has not won since the Spanish Grand Prix in May, insisted his title chances were “not gone” after Vettel could only finish third in Hungary, but he admitted Ferrari needed to “win three or four consecutive races”.

Alonso coy on Red Bull rumours

The Spaniard added: “Lotus, Red Bull and Mercedes are quicker than us and it is extremely difficult.

“But it’s no different to other years in which we fought until the last race, so I’m sure we will fight until the last race.”

Alonso, who sources claim has approached Red Bull to say he is available to drive for them next season, admitted Ferrari had been struggling to develop their car.

New parts were introduced for the British Grand Prix two races ago, but these were removed after they failed to work.

Following more problems in Germany, the car was reverted to what Alonso described as a specification from “some races ago”.

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Title talk too early - Hamilton

Smith cops U19 title as J"can juniors blaze at Carib Squash Champs

Jamaica’s Junior team captain Ashante Smith pulled off a spectacular come-from-behind win on Wednesday night to claim the Under-19 Boys’ title at the Caribbean Area Squash Association’s (CASA) Junior Championships currently under way in Trinidad and Tobago.

The in-form teenager grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat, rallying from a two-game deficit to stun local hero Mandela Patrick. Battling his opponent and a boisterous home crowd, Smith dug deep to beat Patrick 5/11, 8/11, 13/11, 11/7, 11/4. The victory allowed Smith to end his junior playing career on a high note, claiming his first regional title before officially moving to the senior ranks.“I couldn’t be more proud of Ashante,” said Rene Denis, national junior squash coach. “It took heart and guts to come back from two down and when he scored the winning point, if I hadn’t been screaming so loudly I would have been crying.”Buoyed by Smith’s win, the Jamaican boys delivered a series of blistering performances to trample regional kingpins Guyana in the first round of the team competition yesterday.All Jamaica Under-17 champion Jake Mahfood roared back from early elimination in the individual competition to defeat the newly crowned Under-17 Caribbean champion Nyron Joseph 11/5, 11/5, 7/11, 12/10.In a similar vein, All Jamaica Under-19 champion Julian Morrison beat Stephen Xavier 11/6, 11/8, 15/13 to avenge his defeat earlier this week in the individual competition at the hands of the Guyanese player.The victories continued with team captain Smith, who again showed his grit, battling through another gruelling five-setter to beat JC Jeffrey 17/15, 9/11, 8/11, 17/15, 11/9.All Jamaica Under-15 champion Tahjia Lumley lost 4/11, 5/11, 8/11 to Ben Mendecki, and Under-13 champion Adam Ardito went down to Shomari Wiltshire 11/9, 6/11, 5/11, 4/11.However, with wins from Smith, Mahfood and Morrison, Jamaica claimed top points and bragging rights over their age-old rivals.Another round of victories came in the Girls’ team competition where Jamaica easily beat the OECS. Reigning All Jamaica and Caribbean Under-15 champion Alyssa Mullings barely broke a sweat to dispatch Thani Myers 11/2, 11/3, 11/4, while Mira Handa trounced Giovanni Alexander 11/2, 11/3, 11/1.Ashley Lynch bulldozed Deiriar Myers 11/6, 11/1, 11/1 and team captain Jessica Perkins defeated Gianna Alexander 11/4, 11/7, 11/5.The team competition continues today when the Jamaican boys will face the OECS and the girls will take on Cayman and Trinidad & Tobago.

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Smith cops U19 title as J"can juniors blaze at Carib Squash Champs

"Bootie" Harris inducted as Constant Spring cop Masters title

Sport

By Hurbun Williams Observer writerSaturday, July 20, 2013

Warren ‘Bootie’ Harris, a former Cush Masters player and long-standing member of the Kingston and St Andrew Masters League Association (KSAMLA) was on Sunday inducted into the Masters League Hall Of Fame.The induction ceremony took place at half time during the playing of the KSAMLA Champions of Champions Trophy final between holders Constant Spring and challengers Santos at the Constant Spring playfield.Constant Spring won the 80-minute game 2-0 with second goals from substitute Brenton Smith and Fabian Watkins.The victory gave Constant Spring their third hold on the trophy that was first played for in 2009. Barbican FC won the first two editions, while Constant Spring won the next three editions with their last victory on Sunday. Santos earlier beat Nautico 2-1 in a play-off at National Water Commission playfield to set up Sunday’s showdown.Kingston and St Andrew Master’s League Association president Errol McDonald (left), presents Warren ‘Bootie’ Harris with his Master’s League citation during a presentation ceremony on Sunday at the Constant Spring playing field. (PHOTO: HURBUN WILLIAMS)

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"Bootie" Harris inducted as Constant Spring cop Masters title

Wray & Nephew land KO domino title

Sport

Friday, July 19, 2013

WRAY & Nephew Limited won the 2013 National Association of Domino Bodies (NADB) Kingston and St Andrew White Overproof Rum Knockout competition when they defeated Jamaica Brandy 73-66 in the final played at the National Housing Trust Parking Lot last Friday.Wray & Nephew Limited had earlier dismissed Jamaica Observer 80-55 in the semi-finals, while Jamaica Brandy got the better of National Baking Company 76-60 to advance to the final.The knockout format of the league competition serves off today at the National Housing Trust Parking Lot at 6:30 pm.In Division One, National Baking Company take on Kingston Wharves; Berger Paints Jamaica Limited oppose Jamaica Gleaner Company; Wray & Nephew Limited oppose Seprod, and Jamaica Brandy entertain Social Development Commission.In Division Two, Ministry of Finance face Jamaica Observer; Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) oppose Bank of Jamaica; Caribbean cement Company challenge National Housing Trust and Cari-Med take on Nutrition Products Limited.Today’s winners will advance to next week’s quarter-final.Humbert Davis (left), first Vice-president NADB and co-ordinator of the League, presents the 2013 Wray & Nephew White Overproof Run Knockout Trophy to Roger Simmonds (centre), captain of the Wray & Nephew team, as manager Patrick Johnson looks on after they defeated Jamaica Brandy 73-66 in the final of the Knockout competition last Friday at the National Housing Trust Parking Lot.

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Wray & Nephew land KO domino title