Record-breaking Tornadoes "A" bring curtains down in style

BY SHERDON COWAN

Wednesday, December 17, 2014    

A sensational swim by the Tornadoes ‘A’ team brought the curtains down on the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) Christmas Open Championships in record-breaking style in the ultimate event on Sunday’s final day at the National Aquatics Centre.

The team of Jesse Marsh, Alex Mignott, Sean-Douglas Gooden and Joseph Black smashed the club’s old record of 4:00.94 minutes set in 2011, when they posted 3:53.92 minutes to win the Boys’ 400-metre freestyle relay.

Second-placed Swimaz Aquatics team of Kevaughn Campbell, Kymon Naar, Bryce Butler and Jordan Hines also went below the mark with a time of 3:54.28 minutes, while the Marlins team closed out the top three with a time of 4:13.43 minutes.

The Wendy Lee-coached Tornadoes Swim Club were named overall champions with a tally of 648.50 points. Pace-setters Swimaz Aquatics finished second with 636.50 points, while Y-Speedos (527 points) were third. The six-team table was rounded off by Marlins Swim Club (356 points), Blue Seal Swim Club (171 points) and Wahoo Swim Club (78 points).

Naomi Eaton of Wahoo, who accumulated 75 individual points, was named top girl in the 10-12 category, while Jordane Payne (85 points) of Swimaz won the boys’ category.

Meanwhile, Annastazia Chin (74 points) of Tornadoes was the top girl in the open category with teammate Jesse Marsh (65 points) being named top boy.

Earlier in the day, Chin opened her account in the Girls’ 400-metre freestyle event. The 14-year-old won in a time of 5:05.49 minutes, ahead of Britney Williams (5:15.67) of Swimaz with Angara Sinclair (5:15.81) of Speedos finishing a close third.

Joseph Black took the boys’ equivalent in 4:37.56 minutes ahead of Kymon Naar (4:41.19) and team Jesse Marsh (4:41.62). The 14-year-old Black then followed up with victory in the 50-metre freestyle, which he won in a blistering 25.36 seconds. Jordan Hines (26.27s) of Swimaz was second, followed by Orane Garrick (26.78s) of Marlins in third.

Anjuii Barrett of Marlins took the girls’ event in 28.63 seconds, ahead of Sinclair (29.09s) and Ivana Chang (29.30s) of Swimaz back in third.

Britney Williams of Swimaz won the Girls’ 10-12 event in 30.75 seconds, just ahead of teammate Emily MacDonald (30.91s), and Eaton (30.98s). Jordane Payne topped the boys’ age-group event in 29.12 seconds, with Cameron Brown (30.01s) of Speedos and Adrian Grant (30.17s) of Blue Seals finishing second and third, respectively.

Eaton returned to win the girls’ 10-12 200-metre breaststroke event in 3:17.58 minutes. Thandiwe McDonald (3:26.20) of Swimaz and Paris Clare (3:26.20) of Speedos.

Chad Young of Blue Seals took the boys’ age-group equivalent in 3:04.99 minutes, ahead the Speedos pair of Cameron Brown (3:05.20) and Rajiv Redhi (3:10.75).

Llori Sharpe of Tornadoes easily won the girls open in 3:06.85 minutes. Gabrielle Hopkins (3:10.70) of Blue Seals was second, while Chin (3:11.10) had to settle for third.

Bryce Butler of Swimaz was just outside the 2:45.30 minute record when he won the Boys’ open event in 2:47.42 minutes. Keith Wilkinson (2:52.75) of Marlin took second, ahead of Kevon Findley (3:10.21) of Speedos.

The 11-year-old sensation Eaton also copped the Girls’ 10-12 50-metre backstroke event. She had to stave off the challenge of Blue Seals’ Courtnae Dwyer as they both touched in a time of 36.77 seconds.

However, Eaton gained the top spot with a better seeded time of 35.93 seconds, compared to Dwyer’s 36.26 seconds. Joel Wilkinson of Marlins won the boys’ age-group equivalent in 34.14 seconds, ahead of Payne (37.60s) and teammate Akeem Alleyne (38.04s).

Black won the boys’ open event in a fast time of 30.92 seconds, followed by Garrick (31.32s) and Anthony Morrison-Vincent (31.41s) of Speedos.

Angara Sinclair won the girls’ event in 32.48 seconds, ahead of Chin (35.29s) and Barrett (35.37s).

Meanwhile, Saturday’s penultimate day was highlighted by Swimaz Aquatics ‘A’ team, who erased the record in the Boys’ 400-metre medley relay. The team of Kymon Naar, Bryce Butler, Kevaughn Campbell and Jordan Hines stopped the clock at 4:24.65 minutes to erase the six-year-old mark of 4:28.27 minutes set in 2008 by Tornadoes Swim Club.

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Record-breaking Tornadoes "A" bring curtains down in style

Take Style Out sees 20% boost in number of stores

KARENA BENNETT Business reporter bennettk@jamaicaobserver

Wednesday, October 01, 2014    

Annual shopping event, Takes Style Out, has seen a nearly 20 per cent rise in participants over last year’s staging.

The night of sales, which is hosted by the Jamaica Observer and which will take place tomorrow, has approximately 2,000 stores registerd across the island, of which 300 outlets are new participants.

Over the last six years, retailers have reported doubling of sales figures and increased product awareness on the night.

“The past couple months have been extremely slow compared to normal activities, so let’s hope that this makes the difference,” owner of Signatures Boutique, Patricia Williams said. “So far, the store has doubled its profit at this time every year and we are looking forward to it again.”

“Our customers have grown accustomed to the sale every year and we again hope to see sales figure double for the day,” sales and marketing manager at McIntosh Bedding, Annette Farquharson told the Business Observer.

Discounts under the event ranges from five to 80 per cent across participating outlets.

Local retail store Eurowear, is looking to offer up to 75 per cent discount on clothing items as it gears up for the launch of the Jamaica Observer’s hosted event – Takes Style Out.

The company hopes to close the gap between European priced designer clothing wear and what the Jamaican market can afford with up to US$364 ($41,132) discount on its clothing items to boost its competitiveness.

Takes Style Out was introduced in Jamaica by the Observer’s Senior Content Editor for Lifestyle and Social Content, Novia McDonald-Whyte after observing the impact that the one-night-only sales bonanza event had on department stores overseas , back in 2009.

The event started as a test to boost the slowed post back-to-school sales of retailers and to revive the fashion industry.

Popular stores taking part in the event includes American Jewellery Company, Answers for Children, Action Sports, Payless Shoes Stores and Courts Jamaica Limited.

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Take Style Out sees 20% boost in number of stores

District constables retire in style

Horace Fisher, Star Writer

Sergeant D. Powell (left) presents an award to District Constable (DC) Lebert Lloyd of the Mocho Police Station for serving the JCF for 23 years. – Horace Fisher

In 1978, Hubert ‘Mr MC’ McDonald joined the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) as a District Constable (DC). Thirteen years later, his colleague, Leebert ‘Mr Lenny’ Lloyd, also enlisted, and with close to 60 years of exemplary service between them, both men served the JCF with dedication.

However, as the saying goes, ‘all good things must come to an end,’ and for DCs McDonald and Lloyd, theirs come in a lavish and well appreciated retirement dinner at the Lennon High School in Mocho, Clarendon, recently, where they were lauded by the community, their families and peers.

“On behalf of the Mocho police, let me say a special thank you for almost 60 years of dedicated, loyal service to the JCF and the community of Mocho that you served with honour, dignity and selflessness,” Sergeant D. Powell told both retirees.

Sergeant Powell, the sub-officer in charge of the Mocho police, invited the retirees to continue to lend their support in the fight against crime by imparting their years of experience to the younger DCs.

In a humble acknowledgement of gratitude, the retirees said when they first enlisted, they did so with the sole intentions of giving service to their country, but have got so attached and accustomed to their job, that leaving is somewhat a bit regretted.

“It has been 36 years since I became a DC, and I get so use to getting up and coming to work, leaving the people I served with for so many years is a bit sad, I tell you. and the body feel like I could do another 36 years,” DC McDonald said with a sad shake of his head.

Lloyd also expressed a desire to continue serving: “I still believe I could do another 26 years, but when mango ripe, it have to fall, nuh true?”

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District constables retire in style