Diamond Vale Government Primary School claimed the top prize of $5,000, and a challenge trophy at Saturday's Schools' National Jump Rope Championship at the Jean Pierre Complex.
The Diego Martin school was determined to win after students and teachers gave up their lunch hours for the past three months to prepare for the tournament. They not only claimed the big prize, but also had a number of stand-out skippers, such as Toni Murray and Raquel Richards.Kadeem Sydney of St Dominic's Primary School and Kees Gomes of Montrose Government were the top individuals in the Pearls category.
Sydney is ten years old while Gomes is six. They stood out in the three minute speed, 30-second speed, double-unders and freestyle events and placed among the top three in each. They will both be shortlisted among a squad of 20-plus individuals to train ahead of the coming World Jump Rope Championship in Portugal and Sweden next year. The squad will eventually be trimmed to 12.
Yesterday, vice president of the Jump Rope Federation, Mahalia Duncan-Regis said she was particularly pleased to see the large turn-out of participants and supporters as well as the high standard on display. "There were a number of really good performances but I think what made the difference with Diamond Vale was the total commitment from both teachers and students," Duncan-Regis explained.
The lads of Diego Martin stood out among some 20 schools. They amassed a total of 88 points as their athletes placed among the top three in nearly every event.
Students competed in the Girls Crosses, Alternative Speed, Double Unders, Chinese Wheel, Freestyle and the Pioneer Division which comprised Double Bounce Speed, Single Bounce Speed and One Foot Speed, and was designed to get students interested in the sport. Bryan Mawr Private Primary secured the runner-up spot with 70 points while Bossierre Roman Catholic was third with 63 points. Duncan-Regis said her executive had taken the decision to have a cash incentive to increase the participation of the schools.
Meanwhile, the top skippers from Diamond Vale and the other schools will also be chosen today to prepare for the Pan American Jump Rope Championship in Orlando Florida next year.