Former jockey and champion trainer Kenneth Mattis is dead

Saturday, October 18, 2014 | 1:55 PM    

ST CATHERINE, Jamaica – Former top notch jockey and many times champion trainer and the only horsemen to be inducted in the illustrious Hall of Fame twice, as a trainer and as a jockey, Kenneth Barrington Mattis passed away earlier today.

Mattis who was retired is best remember for his riding association with the great None Such and for training horses the likes of Royal Dad, the first horse to win the much vaunted Triple Crown series of races at Caymanas Park, Legal Light – who many racing pundits believe to be one of the best ever horses to race at Caymanas Park, Khadullah, and Persian Invader.

Only recently Mattis was at the track to present the trophy named in his honour.

Mattis was 78 and is survived by his widow, Yvonne.

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Former jockey and champion trainer Kenneth Mattis is dead

Ohuruogu 400m World champion, Montsho just missed it

Sport

Monday, August 12, 2013 | 12:32 PM

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Great Britain’s Christine Ohuruogu took gold in the women’s World Championship 400M finals in Moscow, Russia today in a photo finish 49.41 seconds, a national record.Former world champion Amantle Montsho of Botwana was second in the same time as both athletes crossed the line together. Russian Antonina krivoshapka was third in 49.78.Jamaican Stephanie McPherson was fourth in 49.99, while her teammate Novelene Williams-Mills finished eighth. Americans Natasha Hastings and Francena McCorory was fifth and sixth respectively.

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Ohuruogu 400m World champion, Montsho just missed it

PHOTO: Champion farmers

News

Tuesday, August 06, 2013 | 9:15 AM

Winners of the Jamaica Agricultural Society’s (JAS) Sir Arthur Farquharson Champion Farmer Award Lester Murray (second right) and Champion Youth Farmer Nicholas Powell (third right) pose with Governor General Sir Patrick Allen (left) and President of the JAS Norman Grant following yesterday’s presentation at the Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show in Clarendon. Both farmers are from the parish of Manchester. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)See more photos in our online Photo Gallery

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PHOTO: Champion farmers

Chrisinti has the Heart Of a Champion

Entertainment

Howard CampbellFriday, July 19, 2013

GIVEN the personal challenges he has faced in recent times, singer Chrisinti says it was not difficult finding inspiration for his latest song.That song, Heart Of a Champion, he stressed, comes straight from the heart.“After being through a lot of disappointments I had to do a song like this,” he told Splash from New York City. “It’s all about perseverance.”Chrisinti, who suffered another setback this week with the death of his father, has been working out of the United States since last year.Heart Of a Champion is produced by Mightiful 13, a label based in the New York City of Queens. Another song, Joy, was produced by Nat’s Records in Philadelphia.Won’t Go Changing, scheduled for release in August, is produced by Kingston’s Ajang Music. Chrisinti addressed the significance of him having a presence on the Jamaican airwaves and charts.“It’s very important. Yuh get to earn a living when you’re abroad, but I got my start in Jamaica an’ there is still the foundation,” he said.Chrisinti’s last solid hit in Jamaica came in 2005 with a cover of soul singer Angie Stone’s My Sunshine.Born Paul Hudson, Chrisinti was raised in the Kingston community of Waterhouse, stomping ground for many roots-reggae artistes including Black Uhuru and Junior Reid.Since making his recording debut in 1997, he has recorded for various producers including Colin ‘Iley Dread’ Levy, Bobby ‘Bobby Digital’ Dixon and Lloyd ‘King Jammys’ James.

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Chrisinti has the Heart Of a Champion

Confed dream final: Host Brazil vs world champion Spain

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Confederations Cup has the final many wanted: a long-awaited matchup between world champion Spain and host Brazil.

The most dominant national team in recent years and the most successful team ever in international play will meet Sunday at Maracana Stadium for the title of the eight-nation warm-up tournament for next year’s World Cup.It will be the first meeting between the nations since 1999 and their first competitive match since Brazil’s 1-0 win on Socrates’ goal in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.“It’s the match everyone wanted to happen,” said 21-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar, the star of the five-time world champions. “The entire world wanted it and everybody will be watching it.”With more than 70,000 Brazilian fans packing the iconic venue, Brazil will be seeking its third straight Confederations Cup title. Spain enters unbeaten in a world record 29 competitive matches over three years since losing its 2010 World Cup opener to Switzerland.“For us it’s a dream game,” Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque told FIFA.Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two World Cups and hasn’t won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. Spain won the 2010 World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.“They are the current world champions, they have to be praised,” Brazil captain Thiago Silva said. “But anything can happen in a final, and I’m certain that Brazil will be fully prepared for the matchup.”Spain hasn’t lost in 26 matches overall since a 1-0 defeat against England at Wembley in 2011. Brazil struggled after coach Luiz Felipe Scolari replaced Mano Menezes in November, winning only one of its first six matches. Scolari, who coach Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title, enters the final with a five-game winning streak.“There is no doubt it will be an even match,” Brazil right back Daniel Alves said Saturday. “There is mutual respect between these two national teams.”Brazil beat Japan, Mexico and Italy in the group stage before defeating South American champion Uruguay 2-1 in the semi-finals. Spain defeated the Uruguayans in its opener, then routed Tahiti and beat Nigeria before getting past Italy on penalty kicks in the semi-finals.“It’s the match everybody has been waiting for,” said Brazil assistant coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led the national team to the 1994 world title. “We all know how good Spain is, but Brazil is going through a sensational moment and is full of confidence.”While the host hasn’t played since Wednesday, Spain endured overtime and the shootout in the semi-final against Italy in the heat of Fortaleza on Thursday. Del Bosque has said Spain will not use fatigue as an excuse, and Scolari also downplayed the issue.“They were able to rest all of their starters when they played Tahiti, so basically they had to play one game less than we did,” he said.Both coaches will have all of their top players available for the match at the renovated Maracana.Four players who will be in Sunday’s final were nominated for the Golden Ball award handed to the best player at the Confederations Cup: Brazil’s Neymar and Paulinho and Spain’s Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Confed dream final: Host Brazil vs world champion Spain

Confed dream final: Host Brazil vs world champion Spain

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Confederations Cup has the final many wanted: a long-awaited matchup between world champion Spain and host Brazil.

The most dominant national team in recent years and the most successful team ever in international play will meet Sunday at Maracana Stadium for the title of the eight-nation warm-up tournament for next year’s World Cup.It will be the first meeting between the nations since 1999 and their first competitive match since Brazil’s 1-0 win on Socrates’ goal in the first round of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.“It’s the match everyone wanted to happen,” said 21-year-old Brazilian forward Neymar, the star of the five-time world champions. “The entire world wanted it and everybody will be watching it.”With more than 70,000 Brazilian fans packing the iconic venue, Brazil will be seeking its third straight Confederations Cup title. Spain enters unbeaten in a world record 29 competitive matches over three years since losing its 2010 World Cup opener to Switzerland.“For us it’s a dream game,” Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque told FIFA.Brazil was eliminated in the quarterfinals in the last two World Cups and hasn’t won a significant title since the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa. Spain won the 2010 World Cup along with the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.“They are the current world champions, they have to be praised,” Brazil captain Thiago Silva said. “But anything can happen in a final, and I’m certain that Brazil will be fully prepared for the matchup.”Spain hasn’t lost in 26 matches overall since a 1-0 defeat against England at Wembley in 2011. Brazil struggled after coach Luiz Felipe Scolari replaced Mano Menezes in November, winning only one of its first six matches. Scolari, who coach Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title, enters the final with a five-game winning streak.“There is no doubt it will be an even match,” Brazil right back Daniel Alves said Saturday. “There is mutual respect between these two national teams.”Brazil beat Japan, Mexico and Italy in the group stage before defeating South American champion Uruguay 2-1 in the semi-finals. Spain defeated the Uruguayans in its opener, then routed Tahiti and beat Nigeria before getting past Italy on penalty kicks in the semi-finals.“It’s the match everybody has been waiting for,” said Brazil assistant coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who led the national team to the 1994 world title. “We all know how good Spain is, but Brazil is going through a sensational moment and is full of confidence.”While the host hasn’t played since Wednesday, Spain endured overtime and the shootout in the semi-final against Italy in the heat of Fortaleza on Thursday. Del Bosque has said Spain will not use fatigue as an excuse, and Scolari also downplayed the issue.“They were able to rest all of their starters when they played Tahiti, so basically they had to play one game less than we did,” he said.Both coaches will have all of their top players available for the match at the renovated Maracana.Four players who will be in Sunday’s final were nominated for the Golden Ball award handed to the best player at the Confederations Cup: Brazil’s Neymar and Paulinho and Spain’s Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos.

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Confed dream final: Host Brazil vs world champion Spain