Sade Dunbar of Immaculate Conception High is congratulated by coach Glen Archer, for being The Gleaner Children's Own Spelling Bee All-Island Champion 2008, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

One misplaced consonant can change the world.

That proved to be the undoing of Janielle Walters yesterday as Sade Dunbar of Immaculate High School took The Gleaner Children's Own Spelling Bee All-Island title. This, after second-place Walters of Clarendon tripped up on s-y-n-d-r-o-m-e.

Sade seized the opportunity and, after spelling that word, got f-a-s-c-i-s-m, to send the audience into rapture.

"When I had no handicaps left, I was really worried, but they told me to trust in God," said a relieved Sade. Her family's joy was even greater as her brother Jordi, St Catherine champion, finished third and as champion boy. Sade's win makes it 21 national champions for Rev Glen Archer. Sade will now represent Jamaica at the Scripps National Spelling Bee later this year in the United States.

Early jousting

In the morning's semi-final round, the 14 parish champions began their battle. A contemplative audience watched the early jousting as the nervous spellers tried to find their rhythm. But, by 2:00 p.m., the top eight were summoned to continue the quest for the title. As the finale neared, only the most ice-veined gambler would predict a winner. One by one, the spellers began to drop out as the words seemed to get harder. Fourth place went to Shari Jo Miller of Manchester; fifth to Kingston's Tremaine Dixon; sixth to Kimone Davis of St Elizabeth; seventh to Monifa Young of St Mary and eighth to St James champion, Andrene Hutchinson.

The spellers' week continues tomorrow with a tour of the Corporate Area, including courtesy calls on Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall, Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Minister of Education Andrew Holness.

Spelling Bee sponsors: Jamaica National, Kraft Foods, GraceKennedy, Courts Jamaica, Lasco, Kirk Distributors, Mall and Tropical Jewellers, Jamaica Flour Mills, Air Jamaica, Caribbean Education Company, SuperClubs, Jamaica Teachers' Cooperative Credit Union, Sangsters and RJR.