The organisers of the Central Hurdles and Relays have announced that Deon Hemmings-McCatty will be its first honouree.

This will be done during today's opening ceremony of the Central Hurdles and Relays at G.C. Foster College.

Hemmings-McCatty was the first female from Jamaica to win an Olympic gold medal, having won the 400m hurdles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when she ran 52.82 to set a new Olympic and national record, which was broken by fellow Jamaican hurdler Melaine Walker at last year's Olympics in Beijing, China.

Hemmings-McCatty also copped a silver medal at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Hemmings-McCatty is a product of the central region - the power house of athletics in Jamaica.

Titchfield launch t&f campaign

Port Antonio's Titchfield High School will host an official launch party for its track and field programme at the school grounds next Saturday.

The institution, which is in its 214th year and has seen such outstanding sporting stewards as former headmasters Sam Brown, Mortimer Geddes and Lloyd O. Chin, recently took up an offer from veteran track and field enthusiast Laurie Foster to "raise the bar" in the sport, given the Jamaica College Old Boy's post-Beijing fervour. Foster will be assisted by technical director Carlos Samuels, the former outstanding STETHS athlete, head coach Delroy Johnson and his assistant, Julian Ivy. The programme's patron is Member of Parliament Dr Donald Rhodd.

Next weekend's function, which kicks off at 2.00 p.m. and goes into the night, will take shape as a fun evening with a cocktail of attractions for adults and children. The popular local sound system, Stone Love, will provide music.

Bejon's, Gold Club final showdown

Bejon's and Gold Club will contest tomorrow's final of the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS) Community Domino Competition to be played at the INSPORTS car park, National Arena, starting at noon.

It will be a repeat of the December 28 encounter played at Bejon's home turf, where the hosts defeated Gold Club 300-268.

Gold Club are keen on exacting revenge on their arch rivals, but Bejon's will be equally devoted to prove their victory a month ago was no fluke.

The winner of the competition will receive $25,000, with the runner-up pocketing $15,000.

This competition is a precursor to the INSPORTS/JN Money Transfer Domino League, set to begin next month with a bigger cash incentive awaiting the champions.

In last Sunday's semi-finals, Bejon's, who topped the preliminary round standings, demonstrated their superiority over Starlight at Jacisera Park with a 300-230 triumph.

At Bejon's Sports Bar and Grill, situated at 111B Molynes Road, Gold Club came out strong, particularly in the second half, as they rolled over High Light 300-239.

KC top rivals in chess tourney

Kingston College 'A' topped the play-off tournament involving teams vying for the four remaining quarter-final places in the RBTT Corporate Area Schools Chess Championship last Saturday at the RBTT Bank head office in New Kingston.

Going into the final round, KC 'A', on 11 points, held a comfortable 3.5 points lead over Campion 'B' on 7.5, who were followed by Campion 'C' on seven, Kingston College 'B' on six, Charlie Smith on 5.5 and Calabar B on three.

In the final round, KC 'A' got past Campion 'C' 3.5-0.5, Campion 'B' romped past Charlie Smith 4-0 and KC 'B' defeated Calabar 'B' 4-0. With only four berths in the quarter-finals available, KC 'A' on 14.5, Campion B - 11.5, Kingston 'B' - 10 and Campion C - 7.5 advanced.

In the quarter-finals scheduled for next Saturday at the RBTT head office in New Kingston, Kingston College 'A' will face Wolmer's Girls, Campion 'B' will be up against Calabar, KC 'B' will tackle Campion 'A' and Campion 'C' will challenge defending champions Camperdown. Teams named first will play white on board one with colours alternating down the order.

JDF march past UTech

Defending champions Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) defeated The University of the West Indies (UWI 3-1) while former champions University of Technology (UTech) tagged Hy-Performance 3-1 in recently played Division One matches of the Jamaica Table Tennis Association's club league.

In another Division One match-up, Athletico Port Antonio blanked hosts Pembroke Hall 3-0.

Last Sunday, Windalco Kirkvine Sports Club hosted Pembroke Hall in four rescheduled matches. Defending champions Pembroke Hall turned back the hosts 3-1 in a women's contest and Pembroke Hall I blanked Windalco Kirkvine II, 5-0 in Division Three. In two Division Four matches, last year's beaten finalists Windalco Kirkvine Sports Club I drubbed Pembroke Hall 4-1 in one while Pembroke Hall clipped Windalco Kirkvine Sports Club II 3-2 in the other.

After these results, JDF now lead the Division One standings with 10 points, followed by Athletico Port Antonio and Hy-Performance (nine points each), UTech and Pembroke Hall (eight points each) and UWI (three). The top four finishers will qualify for semi-finals.

Church Teachers' hosts badminton players

Church Teachers' College, the Mandeville-based co-educational residential teacher training institution, is inviting badminton players to its doubles tournament scheduled for next weekend.

According to a release from the Jamaica Badminton Association (JBA), the tournament serves off on January 30 but any entries from Kingston will not be scheduled to play until the 31st.

The release also stated the tournament of Kings (singles only) will be held on February 21 and 22 and the Doubles Mania on March 21 and 22.

Schools knockout and schools junior leagues are also scheduled to start next month but the dates have not been finalised.

It was also announced that the junior training will start soon, this in preparation for the Pan Am Juniors, scheduled for San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 17-23.

St Patrick's take netball rally title

St Patrick's defeated August Town 7-2 to emerge champions of the 2009 Institute of Sports (INSPORTS)/Juciful-sponsored Kingston and St Andrew schoolgirl netball rally at the Leila Robinson Courts recently.

In earlier results, St Patrick's edged dethroned champions Mona 4-3 and August Town beat Clan Carthy 3-0 in the semi-finals.

In quarter-final action, St Patrick's defeated Maxfield Park 9-2; August Town beat Rousseau 3-0; Clan Carthy outscored Harbour View 4-1 and dethroned champions Mona got by St Benedict's 3-1.

At the completion of the preliminary rounds, Mona came out unbeaten to top Zone 1 with 15 points ahead of August Town with 12 points; Clan Carthy were the winners of Zone 2 with 15 points from St Benedict's.

Twenty-four schools participated in the rally with third place going to Mona, who defeated Clan Carthy 6-3 in the third and four place playoff.

Customer appreciation pool tournament

Hot Shots Pool, 103 Constant Spring Road, will stage its customer appreciation pool tournament today and tomorrow starting at 3:00 p.m. on both days.

First prize is $15,000 and a trophy, second $7,500 and trophy and third $2,500 along with a trophy. Entry fee is $500. For early bookings call 391-4666.

Meanwhile, Palm Court Bar and Car Wash will sponsor the Western Singles pool tournament in Negril on the weekend of February 14 and 15.

The winner will pocket $50,000 and a trophy, second $25,000 and trophy, third $10,000, fourth $5,000 while players finishing from fifth to eighth will each receive $2,500. Entry fee is $2,500.

Tryall, Southside clash in semis

Tryall and Southside will face off tomorrow in the second semi-final of the NCB-sponsored Southeast St Elizabeth knockout cricket competition.

In the match set for Tryall ground, action is to get under way at 10:30 a.m.

Heidie Bent, Damion Bryce and Courtney Witter will lead Tryall's quest for victory against Southside who feature Jim Brown, Yohan Anderson and Durant McLeod.

The winner will meet Todd Town in the final match, scheduled for February 15, at the Harper Miller Oval, located in Neif Mountain, St Elizabeth, starting at 10:30.

In semi-final one, which was played last Sunday, Todd Town defeated Ballards Valley by 10 runs.

Todd Town, electing to bat, scored 276 all out in 33.4 overs. Jason Walters and Chase Powell led the way with half centuries, 56 and 52 respectively, for the winners.

Tyrone Vassell with 2-31 and Howard Powell 2-59 were the most successful bowlers for Ballards Valley.

In reply, despite knocks of 57 from Tyrone Vassell, 52 from Carlos Nelson and Howard Powell's 41, Ballards Valley surrendered at 266 in 35 overs.

Ricardo Dacres, who just missed out on a Jamaica senior team selection, took 3-58 while Trace Powell chipped in with 2-48.