Category: Sports

Atkinson cites sponsors, such as Rainforest Seafoods, as key to her success

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MONTEGO BAY, St James — FINA Short Course world record holder Alia Atkinson has lauded the assistance from her sponsors Rainforest Seafoods and the Amateur Swimming Association of Jamaica (ASAJ) in helping her reach to the top of word swimming.

At a luncheon held in her honour yesterday at the offices of Rainforest Seafoods in Freeport, Montego Bay, Atkinson, who won three medals at the recent FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships in Windsor, Canada, presented her sponsors with one of her medals from the World Cup held in Doha, Qatar. She told them she would not have been able to accomplish most of her targets this year without their help.

“Swimming was not that big here in Jamaica and I needed the finance, I needed the help,” she admitted. “Not only did it help me reach to meets that I could not reach before, but it made me feel somewhat like I was on the same level playing field as the rest of the world.”

Atkinson, who suffered a major disappointment after finishing last in her pet event, the 100m breastroke at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August, said the swimmers from other countries got everything they needed to enhance their performances. “The silliest things that you can even think of,” she said, before noting that even the arrangements by the world governing body for swimming favoured those from the more developed countries.

“At the last World Championships, there were six different hotels and all the countries that were expected to medal were in the best hotels, and the others were in the rickety ones around the corner. Everything, from the food and the environment, was a step down.”

It was the support from her sponsors and the ASAJ, she said, that made the difference for her. “If it was not for the support from Rainforest and from Jamaica swimming and Jamaica itself, I would not be able to bring myself up to that level and know that I could do well,” she said.

“It’s not just about you giving someone money…it’s hard to say, but it embodies who I am and it keeps me fighting.”

This season has seen ups and downs, she said, from the Olympics let down to breaking a World Short Course 100m breaststroke record and finish the season strongly. But she said she will fight on.

“There have been ups and down; life is a fight and we can’t give up because life throws you a curveball when you are expecting a straight one,” she said. “I want to build up swimming for people of colour, and for Jamaica; I want to build up children’s characters and teach them that they must try to excel and not just to give up.”

Roger Lyn, marketing manager for Rainforest Seafoods, called Atkinson a “true ambassador, the type of person we want to align our brand with, not just being an athlete, but the example that you set”.

In his welcome he said the alignment between the swimmer and the brand was perfect. “We are seafood and all about the ocean, so we are happy to make the partnership happen this year.”

Ernest Grant, general manager of Rainforest Seafoods, said Atkinson had raised the profile of the sport. “You are now a household name and have inspired many others,” he said, as he reminded Jamaicans that athletes are not just those who run and jump.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Atkinson-cites-sponsors-as-key-to-her-success_83728

Kirk Brown Turns Digicel Imagine Run 5K Into Own Street Party

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KIRK BROWN is turning the Digicel Imagine 5K Night Run into his own little spectacle.

For the third time, Brown proved to be master of the streets and alleyways of downtown Kingston and in cool conditions on a wet road, he decimated the field to take the men’s title in the fifth staging of the annual event, which raises funds for ‘special needs’.

The 29-year-old, who also won last year, was 11 seconds faster than 23-year-old Oshane Archibald, the second-place finisher. Dwayne Graham clocked a respectable 17 minutes and three seconds to take third place in the men’s category.

“My aim was to come out here and win it another year. The wet roads made it a bit more challenging, but I’m glad I made it though.”

The women’s segment was dominated by teenagers, two of whom placed among the top three.

JUNIOR TEAM

Llori Sharpe, only 16 years old, but distinguished as a junior Team Jamaica triathlete, crossed the finish line at 21 minutes and 47 seconds, ahead of her closest rival, 14-year-old Chantay Chamberlain. Road race veteran Arieta Martin, who is 36 years old, was third in 22 minutes and 48 seconds.

“My objective was to make sure that I got out ahead of the pack that usually forms early in the race and then get into my rhythm, increase my pace and cross the finish line,” said Sharpe.

The win, she says, gives her confidence to go farther as a triathlete.

There were over 13,500 participants, the largest number ever for the fast-growing event.

In the coming weeks, Digicel will announce the total sum raised from the 5K and will hand over the monies to the nine beneficiaries, namely, the Jamaica Autism Support Association, Jamaica Down’s Syndrome Foundation, Early Stimulation Plus, Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities, Mustard Seed Communities, Special Olympics Jamaica, Jamaica Paralympic Association, Abilities Foundation and the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf/Deaf Can Coffee.

The Digicel Imagine Night Run was sponsored by Mello FM, Marksman, PayPak, Jamaica Producers Group, Urban Development Corporation, Express Fitness, Logo Stitch, Main Event, National Outdoor Advertising, Dairy Industries Jamaica Ltd., Honeybun, Innovative Signs, Jamaica Producers, ARRC Media, ProComm, The Lab, Courts Ready Cash, Courts Optical, Running Events, Urban Development Corporation, Pure National Ice, Logostitch, Gatorade and KSAC. The media sponsors are Bess FM, Irie FM, Zip FM, Loop, Nationwide News Network, Love, Suncity, Sportsmax, and members of the RJR Group, including Power 106, Hitz 92 and TVJ.

Source: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/sports/20161026/kirk-brown-turns-digicel-imagine-run-5k-own-street-party

Brown, Sharpe top Digicel Imagine 5K Night Run

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Amidst cool conditions and a wet course, 29-year-old Kirk Brown and 16-year-old Llori Sharpe emerged the men’s and women’s champions, respectively, at the fifth staging of the annual Digicel Imagine 5K Night Run for Special Needs in downtown Kingston on Saturday.

Brown, the 2015 champion and three-time winner of the event, was 11 seconds faster than 23-year-old Oshane Archibald, who was the second-place finisher, while Dwayne Graham clocked a respectable 17 minutes and three seconds to take third place in the men’s category.

Although the 2016 win was not one of his best winning times, Brown focused. “My aim was to come out here and win it another year. The wet roads made it a bit more challenging, but I’m glad I made it though.”

His female counterpart, Sharpe, who is also a junior Team Jamaica triathlete, crossed the finish line at 21 minutes and 47 seconds ahead of her closest rivals, 14-year-old Chantay Chamberlain and 36-year-old Arieta Martin, who came in 22 and 48 seconds later, respectively.

The teen was undaunted by wet surface conditions and held her composure all the way to the finish.

She reflected: “My objective was to make sure that I got out ahead of the pack that usually forms early in the race, and then get into my rhythm, increase my pace and cross the finish line.”

The win, she said, gives her confidence to go farther as a triathlete.

Brown and Sharpe lead a field of over 13,500 participants — the highest-ever for the fast-growing annual event.

In the coming weeks, Digicel will announce the total sum raised from the 5K and will hand over the monies to the nine beneficiaries, namely, the Jamaica Autism Support Association, Jamaica Down’s Syndrome Foundation, Early Stimulation Plus, Jamaica Association on Intellectual Disabilities, Mustard Seed Communities, Special Olympics Jamaica, Jamaica Paralympic Association, Abilities Foundation, and the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf/Deaf Can! Coffee.

The Digicel Imagine Night Run was sponsored by Mello FM, Marksman, PayPak, Jamaica Producers Group, Urban Development Corporation, Express Fitness, Main Event Entertainment, National Outdoor Advertising, Dairy Industries Jamaica Ltd, Honeybun, Innovative Signs, Jamaica Producers, ARRC Media, ProComm, The Lab, Courts Ready Cash, Courts Optical, Running Events, Pure National Ice, Logostitch, Gatorade, and Kingston & St Andrew Corporation.

Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Brown–Sharpe-top-Digicel-Imagine-5K-Night-Run_78191

GK-Sponsored Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce Pocket Rocket Foundation Celebrity Auction a Huge Success

Event raises some J$4M for Pocket Rocket Foundation Education Fund

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Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce with the memorabilia auctioned.

On Thursday, May 5, GraceKennedy supported Jamaica’s first ever silent auction put on by its Ambassador Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. The auction featuring mobile bidding for signed sports memorabilia exceeded its intended target of $3million, raising a whopping $4 million plus for the scholarship fund for Shelly-Ann’s Pocket Rocket Foundation. The event, held at The Spanish Court Hotel Hall, was supported by GraceKennedy’s FGB, GKRS, GK General Insurance and GraceKennedy Corporate brands.

With Dr. Michael Abrahams as MC and President of the Pocket Rocket Foundation Bruce James guiding the mobile bidding process, regular updates on the popular items were provided to encourage the audience to submit their best offers. The 14 items available fetched impressive bids, with a jersey from superstar footballer Neymar Jr., shoes from LeBron James and spikes from Shelly-Ann attracting the highest individual bids. A precision timepiece by Swiss watchmakers Ernst Benz and a signed 2014 PGA Championship Valhalla flag donated by PGA Golfer Rory Mcllroy, also attracted impressive bids.

Guest speaker, Olympian Sherone Simpson shared stories of her success, despite the pressures of a demanding athletic career and her focus on her academics.

Guests included Shelly-Ann’s sponsors, Board Members of the Pocket Rocket Foundation, MVP Track & Field Club teammates and sports enthusiasts.

GraceKennedy Makes Champs Dreams Come True

This year, GraceKennedy will give away more than $10 million in cash and prizes to Jamaicans islandwide between January and March. This campaign gives Jamaicans the opportunity to chase their dreams with the winnings. Each month, one lucky shopper will become a millionaire. Additionally, other lucky shoppers can win weekly cash prizes, Champs tickets and phone credit.

 

Customers will benefit from this promotion by popping the can, peeling the label, or tearing the packet of select Grace products so as to identify a code which they can text in to win prizes. The specially marked labels can be found on Grace Cock Soup, Vienna Sausage, Tomato Ketchup, Baked Beans, Butter Beans, Corned Beef, Classic Mackerel, Tropical Rhythms, Lishous, and Jus Quench. Entries for the Pop, Peel and Tear campaign are entered by texting the codes to 44GRACE or 444-7223.

Images sourced via Google Images

Customers can also submit any five Grace labels to be entered in the competition. Labels may be dropped off at the supermarket, or mailed in to GraceKennedy, 73 Harbour Street. All purchases of Grace products contribute to the Grace Athletic Fund.

A unique aspect of the promotion is the Grace Athletic Dream Fund, where Grace Foods will donate $5 million to be shared equally among the three winning schools, one per county. This money will go towards the development of their athletics programmes.

The Grace Athletic Dream Fund offers a level playing field for high schools to have the opportunity to win. Once entered in the GraceKennedy ISSA Boys and Girls’ Championships, each school has an equal chance to benefit from the fund.

 

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Source: Jamaica Gleaner Online

 

The grand draw for the three winning schools will be held on Saturday, March 19, at the National Stadium on the final day of Champs.

“With more than $10 million being given away in cash and prizes, I am happy that so many Jamaicans will be able to get a piece of the pie,” said Gilroy Graham, senior general manager for Grace Foods and Services.

Source: Jamaica Gleaner online – Monday, February 8, 2016