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Florida Netball Classic a good outing for Police Nationals

Published:Wednesday | November 23, 2022 | 12:09 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
The Jamaican Police Nationals finished among the top eighth made a winning start at the 28th Florida Netball Classics at the Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater. The other members of the delegation (from left) team manager Jason McKay; coordinator Coreen Hi
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The Jamaican Police Nationals finished among the top eighth made a winning start at the 28th Florida Netball Classics at the Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater. The other members of the delegation (from left) team manager Jason McKay; coordinator Coreen Hill; Fay Campbell, Members of the Police Nationals outfit (from left): Brendeen Anderson, Jacqueline Williams, Pauline Drummond, Crystal Brown, captain Rhoda Moulton, Michelle Kelly ,Kenesha Beckett,Calecia Temple,Sandra Williams, Graceann Graham, Precilla Thompson, Emla Bennett, Sophia Brown, Tenesha Stewart, Donna Brown, coach Joan Benjamin and security liaison Michael Beckford.

JAMAICA’s POLICE Nationals emerged the only team without national players to place in the top eight at the Annual Florida Netball Classic International Invitational Tournament at the Miramar Regional Park Amphitheater.

The Police Nationals, selected from members of the constabulary, auxiliary force and civilians from youth clubs, placed seventh after wins over Florida’s Fab Nation and Trinidad and Tobago’s Fire Department.

The Police Nationals first defeated Florida’s Fab Nation 17-5, led by goal attack Marcella Thompson’s 14 points.

Part-sponsored by American Jewellery Company Limited and Agnew Property Management, the Police Nationals is one of two teams representing the Jamaican police force, coached by Joan Benjamin and led by captain Rhoda Moulton.

The Police Nationals smashed their way into the final eight by defeating Florida Fab Nation. After bravely battling national-player laden teams, the Police Nationals had to settle for seventh place.

The team was founded in 1978 as part of a community outreach programme, allowing participation by police, civilian members of the force and police youth clubs.

The Nationals are joined on the 10-day tour by the Jamaica Constabulary Force netball team at the 28th staging of the tournament, the largest and most competitive netball carnival in North America. The JCF team, selected from divisions across the island and the auxiliary force, has Assistant Commissioner of Police Gary McKenzie as team manager.

Last held in 2019, the tournament, returning from a break after the COVID-19 pandemic, regularly hosts 40-50 international teams each year with visitors emanating from all regions of the world – including Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom, alongside the Caribbean and Americas – vying for the Grace Bailey Memorial Trophy.