IN THE SPOTLIGHT

LATE “BANKY” GORDON: BRILLIANT SPORTSMAN, CORPORATE EXEC
By Sanjay Myers | Jamaica Observer
Sunday, July 21, 2023

BANCROFT “Banky” Gordon, who passed away suddenly on Tuesday during a visit to Jamaica, was regarded by people who knew him well as a “great” man with an astute mind, a kind heart, and a humble soul.

Yet he was talented enough to have excelled in various sporting disciplines, not least football. He was 66.
Read More: https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/late-banky-gordon-remembered-as-brilliant-sportsman-corporate-exec/

THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT REGGAE GIRL DENEISHA BLACKWOOD
Sunday, July 30, 2023

As the Reggae Girlz continue to be the small axe to the big trees of the major women football powers, Jamaica’s defense, which has yet to concede a goal, has come in for much commendation.
Deneisha “Den Den” Blackwood, the former Excelsior High School girls football captain has been at the heart of that defense. The tenacious Blackwood and her peers have built a virtual steel wall in front of the Jamaica goal which has resulted in the Reggae Girlz being one of only seven team with a clean sheet after the first two games of the first round.

BUT WHO IS DENEISHA BLACKWOOD?
The former Cooreville, St Andrew is an alumna of Excelsior High School and represented the school at football between 2015 and 2020. At one point as the captain of the team which has dominated schoolgirls football over the past two decades

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Deneisha Blackwood and her Reggae Girlz teammates made history for Jamaica’s national women’s football team in the first match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on 23 July 2023. Her outstanding performance led to the team securing a draw (0 – 0) against France. This achievement marked a historic moment for Jamaica as it was the first time the all-woman team earned a point in the prestigious World Cup tournament. Following the historic draw against France, Blackwood earned the title ‘Player of the Match’.
She and the Reggae Girlz continued to create history in securing a further three points yesterday with a colossal victory against Panama. The 43rd ranked Reggae Girlz now sit on the threshold of an appearance in the second round the World Cup, requiring only a draw against 9th ranked Brazil to advance

HER IMPRESSIVE MATCHES
Blackwood’s journey as a professional footballer has seen her play in several significant matches. She has showcased her skills in matches against Australia, Czechia, Spain, Korea Republic, Costa Rica, Canada, the United States, and Mexico women’s football teams. Her performances continue to earn her recognition and respect from fans and peers alike.

ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONES
One of the major highlights of Deneisha’s career was when she played a pivotal role in helping Jamaica qualify for the Women’s World Cup in 2018. In the match against Panama, she stepped up during the penalty shoot-out, scoring a goal that led Jamaica to victory and secured their spot in the prestigious tournament.

JAMAICAN ROOTS
Deneisha Blackwood’s love for football was nurtured in her hometown, Kingston. Her talent and dedication caught the attention of local coaches, eventually leading her to pursue her passion professionally.
Currently Living in Houston In recent times, Deneisha Blackwood calls Houston, Texas her new home as she plays for the Houston Dash, a prominent football club in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL),

Known for her skills as a left-back, Blackwood has also demonstrated her proficiency with her left foot,…

DEPUTY HEAD GIRL TO ATTEND KEY CLUB CONVENTION
By Duane Coombs
Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Audine Mcintosh, a Deputy Head Girl of Excelsior High School, left the Norman Manley Airport earlier today to attend the Key Club International convention in Anaheim, California. She will represent her school and country. scheduled for July 4 to July 12, 2023.

Her trip, sponsored by a coterie of alumni in the South Florida Excelsior fraternity in collaboration with the Excelsior Alumni Assocation of Florida, with some additional funding from the school, will mark her very first time on an airplane.

Prior to boarding her flight at NWA for th3 first l3g of her trip, she expressed excitement to be accorded the honour of representing Jamaica and Excelsior High School at the prestigious gathering of young students from across the globe.

Audine, an upper sixth form student, who plans to study nursing at UWI come September, currently serves on the Key Club Jamaica district board as a Lieutenant Governor.

She is a pioneer of sorts as the second Excelsiorian in history to hold this august title. While in California, Audine is scheduled to accept many distinguished Awards for Excelsior’s key club along with other schools for which she is responsible.

As a side trip, she is also scheduled to vist the world famous Disney World Amusement Park prior to returning to Jamaica on Wednesday July 12.

At the conclusion of today’s second day of Champs, Excelsior had placed 8 athletes in finals. Michael Graham became the first Class 3 XLCR boy to make it to a 100m final at Champs in decades. He produced a lifetime best of 11.26s to advance to the final. He returned 2 hours later for the finals where he once again churned out another PB, finishing 7th in 11.17s, thus securing 2 points for the Eagles, who are now 15th on the points table.

Michael Graham Earns Eagles First Points Champs ’23

Breana Brown put out a very controlled run to take the second of three semifinals in the 400m Class 3. Her time of 55.45 was good enough for the second fastest of all the semifinalists. She will run out of lane 5 in tomorrow’s final which goes off at 8:52pm.

Breana Brown

The 400m programme at Antrim continues to produce some fine young long sprinters. In addition to Breana, both Gregory McFarlane and Kishawn Hoffman made it to their respective finals with personal best (PBs) performances. McFarlane 53.45 the 8th fastest in the Class 3 Boys 400m. Hoffman who ran a lifetime best in the heats upped the ante completed the oval at the national stadium in 49.14 for the 6th fastest overall time. McFarlane will run out of lane 2 in Thursday’s 9:00pm final, with Hoffman going from lane 7 in his final 15 minutes later.

Gregory McFarlane

Kishawn Hoffman

The other finalists were all in the field events:

1. Girls Class 1 Shot Put – Prelims

3rd: Kahllah Bailey – 11.56m
7th best overall – advanced to the finals on Sat @ 2:12pm

2. Girls Class 3 Discus Throw · Prelims – Flight 2

3rd: Kayla Honeywell – 33.5m
6th longest overall – advanced to the finals on Fri @ 6:03pm

3. Girls Class 3 – High Jump Prelims

Shauntai Pryce – 1.50m Q
advanced to the finals on Thursday @ 12:02pm

4. Girls Class 4 – Long Jump Prelims

8th longest: Sheneil Stewart – 4.79m PB
advanced to the finals on Thursday at 5:17pm

In the Class 2 Boys 100m semifinals, Malike Nugent ran a spirited 10.92 for a PB, which proved to be the 11th fastest of all the semifinalists, placing him outside of the finals. Damor Miller likewise produced a lifetime best of 10.63 in his semifinal of the Class 1 Boys 100m, but as the 9th fastest he just fell short of the top 8 and out of the finals.

Tomorrow’s programme will see the 200m sprinters take the track for their preliminary rounds. Also there will be the heats of the sprint relays and the 800m run, with the finals of the one lap events closing out the programme on Thursday….

ALUM NOMINATED FOR BRITISH MUSIC AWARD
By Duane Coombs
Monday October 10, 2022

LONDON, England: United Kingdom- based Brenda Duncan – Emmanuel(XLCR ’79) has been nominated for a music award in the in that country
Her song Claim It (It’s Already Yours) has been shortlisted for this year’s Reggae Song Of The Year in the Gospel genre fledgling Step FWD Awards in the UK.
Reacting to News of her nomination rhe former Harbour View resident said, “I don’t take this nomination lightly and thank God that I am able to reach out to others with the Good News.”
Voting is currently under way for the award which will be presented at an Award show, November 22, 2022at the Gaumont State Theatre in London, England.

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