Corporate Area teams Pembroke Hall and St Patrick’s were crowned INSPORTS primary schools national football and netball champions, respectively, each walking away with $200,000 on a rainy day at the Discovery Bay Community Centre in St Ann recently.

Pembroke Hall Primary of St Andrew defeated St James’ Corinaldi Avenue Primary 1-0 courtesy of substitute Nathan Hudson, while Kingston’s St Patrick’s defeated defending champion Bethabara Primary of Manchester 18-15.

Both Corinaldi Avenue and Bethabara collected $125,000 each for second place.

St Catherine’s Bridgeport defeated Holland Primary of St Elizabeth 3-1 for third spot in football, Corinaldi Avenue beat White Horses of St Thomas 13-8 for third spot in netball. They received $75,000 while the fourth-placed teams got $50,000.

Meanwhile top female player Tianna Clarke of Pembroke Hall, wearing the number 10 shirt, won the MVP for the football competition and Danelia Clarke of St Patrick’s won the netball equivalent.

In addition, the winning coaches received gift vouchers valued $10,000 each.

Minister of Sports Olivia Grange made the trek to Discovery Bay and she was not disappointed with the quality of play and was quick to congratulate the champions.

“All you young athletes today is a special day for you. Remember this competition saw over 200 schools start the competitions, and the fact that you are all here as the leading teams means that you have worked hard and trained hard to be here today,” said Grange before handing out the winners’ trophies.

“I want to congratulate Pembroke Hall for being the champion in the football competition and I want to congratulate St Patrick’s for netball. But I want to tell the others, you are all winners the fact that you are here today,” she noted.

Major Desmon Brown, INSPORTS acting executive director, noted that these competitions are all about unearthing and harnessing talent at the grass-root level.

“These schools look forward to these competitions. A lot of senior athletes came through these competitions, so it is very important. It is important that these kids have an outlet for sports and this is what it is all about,” said Major Brown.

“During COVID when we didn’t have these competitions and camps we got calls from a parent that Brown revealed.