News

Campion pulls out of competition

IF THINGS HAD gone according to plan, the Schools' Challenge Quiz match that was broadcast last night would have been the St. Catherine High - Campion College encounter.

But Campion threw a wrench in the plan on Monday morning. They informed Television Jamaica (TVJ), the producers and broadcasters of the quiz competition, that they were pulling out. The original schedule said that the game would have been taped at 10:30 a.m. This would be followed by the 11:30 a.m. recording of the Glenmuir versus Belair match. However, Campion were a no show.

A source at TVJ told THE STAR that the studio had already been prepared to record the match between Campion and St. Catherine, when Campion informed the station that they would not be coming and were also pulling out of the competition.

Schools' Challenge Quiz producer Michael Gonzales confirmed Campion's withdrawal but said that he could not give a reason for their decision. "I think you should contact Campion and ask them why they pulled out," he said.

When THE STAR contacted Campion, we were told that there was nobody at the school who could comment on the matter.

However, a source inside the school said that the decision was made by the team who felt that they were not prepared enough to put up a suitable challenge to St. Catherine High.

Last year, Campion received a bye into the second round of the competition. However, that was of no assistance to them as they were beaten in their first match 27-22 by St. Mary High.

In an interview after that match, Jean Rose, captain of that Campion team promised they would have done better this year. "We were nervous. This was a first time for us," she had said. "However we got the experience and we will do better next year.

This year, the matches are pre-recorded on a Monday and Tuesday, and then a match is aired daily Monday to Thursday at 8:30 p.m.. To make up for the shortfall, the Old Harbour High - Quality Academics match will be taped Thursday morning and broadcast later that night.

For their part, St. Catherine High have received an automatic bye into the second round of the competition and will play Glenmuir High. That match will be aired on March 8.