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Thursday, May 21, 2026
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Academy Dominates Middle School Badminton Championship
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Somersfield Academy enjoyed a dream outing at the Middle School Boys Badminton Championships, utilizing their home-court advantage to pull off a spectacular clean sweep of all four gold medals on offer at the Somersfield Academy Gym.
The hosts put on a clinic in both the Under-13 and Over-13 divisions, leaving rival schools Warwick Academy and Saltus Grammar to battle it out for the remaining podium spaces.
The star of the show in the Under-13 category was undoubtedly Mason Smith, who walked away with two gold medals after a commanding display of precision and court coverage.
Smith spearheaded an all-Somersfield sweep of the podium in the Under-13 Singles Division. In the grand final, Smith proved too strong for schoolmate James Wallace, securing the title with a comprehensive 15-8, 15-5 victory. Hugo Adams ensured it was a total clean sweep for the hosts, defeating Warwick Academy’s Jahkari Burgess-Samuels 15-6, 15-10 in the third-place play-off to capture bronze.
Smith and Wallace then quickly turned from rivals into partners, teaming up in the Under-13 Doubles Division to capture Smith’s second gold of the day. The clinical duo cruised to a 15-7 victory over Warwick Academy’s Camden Collette and Maxwell Williams in the final.
The bronze medal match saw Saltus Grammar get themselves onto the podium, as Charles Balderas and Joseph Yammine defeated Warwick’s Cole Prior and Burgess-Samuels to take third.
The dominance continued into the Over-13 category, which also featured an all-Somersfield showdown for the singles crown. JitHom Liew showcased his elite net play and baseline power to defeat James Bigley 15-10, 15-8 in a highly entertaining final. Daniel Dalene rounded out another superb division performance for the school, defeating classmate Dominic Slater 15-10 in the third-place match to lock up the bronze medal.
However, Bigley would get his revenge in the Doubles Division. Teaming up with Praroop Srivatava, the pair produced a tactical masterclass to defeat singles champion Liew and his partner Colton Keans 15-10 in a winner-takes-all final to secure the gold medal.
The Over-13 doubles podium was completed by Warwick Academy, as George Peniston and Cayden Lee produced a gritty performance to defeat Saltus Grammar’s Owen Grasso and James Kenahan to secure a well-deserved bronze.
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Thursday, May 21, 2026
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Champions Crowned on Final Night of Memorial Pickleball
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The third annual Kim Burns Memorial Pickleball Tournament came to a spectacular conclusion under the lights at the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium, with a glittering night of finals capping off an emotional and highly competitive week of action.
Held in celebration of the life and legacy of one of Bermuda’s most beloved ambassadors for the sport, the tournament's final night delivered a masterclass in paddle skill, tactical grit, and community spirit. When the dust settled on the courts, a new class of double-gold champions and division winners stood tall.
The premier open divisions generated immense drama, with several of the island's elite players pulling off magnificent multi-medal hauls.
In the high-stakes 4.5 Mixed Doubles Open final, the clinical tandem of Jasper Thomas and Lily Hallett showcased exceptional chemistry to capture the gold medal, leaving Melisa Judd and Ben Jones to settle for a hard-fought silver. Gavin Manders and Patricia Mills completed the podium to take home the bronze.
Thomas and Hallett would both find themselves back on the podium later in the evening. Melisa Judd teamed up with Patricia Mills in the 4.0 Women's Doubles Open to storm to a gold medal finish, pinning the silver onto Naphisa Smith and Hallett’s mixed-doubles partner, Lily Hallett. Rachel Sawden and Lucy Yiasoumi secured a well-deserved bronze.
Meanwhile, Ben Jones bounced back from his mixed doubles heartbreak to claim gold in the 4.5 Men's Doubles Open alongside Gavin Manders, outlasting the formidable duo of Jasper Thomas and Tom Mills.
The 4.0 Mixed Doubles Open saw Naphisa Smith and Rian Michelsen deliver a flawless performance to climb the top step of the podium for gold. They defeated Lucy Yiasoumi and Johnny Singleton in a heavy-hitting final, while Marie-Helene Pare and Ryan Hayward captured the bronze.
In the 4.0 Men's Doubles Open, Aman Sanganeria and Nicolas van der Westhuizen orchestrated a brilliant run to lock down the gold medal, fighting past Rian Michelsen and Neils van der Velden in the final. Xavier James Oly and Scott Redmond rounded out the top three with bronze.
The 3.5 Mixed Doubles Open crown went to the clinical pairing of Julie Matthews-Borchardt and Aman Sanganeria, who defeated Edgar Griffith and Fiona Donaldson to seal gold. Theodosios Caimassidis and Pearl Ingram took home the bronze.
The Masters divisions proved to be just as intensely contested, featuring subtle kitchen play and veteran composure from the island’s seasoned competitors.
Duane Simons and Wenda Roberts took top honors in the 4.0 Mixed Doubles 50+ division, turning back a fierce challenge from Emma Simmons and Vincent Chaves to claim the gold medal. Jose Barroso and Christine Todd put on a resilient display to win the bronze-medal match.
Simmons would not have to wait long for her golden moment, however, as she linked up with Leslie Jackson in the 4.0 Women's Doubles 50+ division to capture a dominant gold medal. Val Stevenson and Tori Powell fought their way to silver, while Wenda Roberts and Marie-Helene Pare added a bronze to their respective tournament tallies.
The 4.0 Men's Doubles 50+ division reached an explosive climax as Ryon Outerbridge and Muhammad Khan combined brilliantly to capture the gold medal. They bested Vincent Chaves and Jose Barroso in a tactical final, while Michael Burns and Buggy Powell finished their campaign on a high note by securing the bronze medal.
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Wednesday, May 20, 2026
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Semi-Final’s Sets Up Blockbuster Thursday at Memorial
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The W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium was alive and bustling as the third annual Kim Burns Memorial Pickleball Tournament reached its business end. Intense semi-final action took center stage, with pairs across multiple divisions trading heavy baseline drives and delicate kitchen play to book their spots in a highly anticipated night of finals.
With the dust now settled on the final-four clashes, the tournament's marquee brackets are locked in, promising an absolute showcase of elite paddle skill under the lights.
The Four Point Zero Mixed Doubles Fifty Plus division produced a tactical masterclass in the semi-finals, narrowing the field down to the final four trophy contenders.
The clinical tandem of Emma Simmons and Vincent Chaves navigated their way through a bruising encounter to secure their spot in the grand final. Standing between them and the ultimate prize are Duane Simons and Wenda Roberts, who put on a flawless display of precision to punch their ticket to the gold medal match.
The battle for the final spot on the podium will be equally fierce, as Jose Barroso and Christine Todd prepare to lock horns with Val Stevenson and George Thomas in a heavy-hitting bronze medal showdown.
In the ultra-competitive Four Point Zero Mixed Doubles Open category, the tournament favorites lived up to their billing, setting up a tantalizing championship final.
Naphisa Smith and Rian Michelsen showcased exceptional chemistry and baseline power to advance to the gold medal match. They will face the formidable duo of Lucy Yiasoumi and Johnny Singleton, who earned their spot after outlasting their opponents in a thrilling semi-final battle.
Meanwhile, the bronze medal match will see Elin Daniels and Nicolaas van der Westhuizen square off against Marie-Helene Pare and Ryan Hayward, with both pairs desperate to walk away with silverware.
Finally, the crown jewel Four Point Five Mixed Doubles Open division has set up a blockbuster final that promises plenty of fireworks.
Melisa Judd and Ben Jones were in scintillating form during their semi-final shift, displaying the clinical edge needed to secure a shot at the gold. Their opponents in the finale will be the flying partnership of Jasper Thomas and Lily Hallett, who combined beautifully to storm into the championship match.
The podium will be rounded out by either Gavin Manders and Patricia Mills or Courtney Fisher and Neal Towlson, who will battle it out in a highly anticipated bronze medal curtain-raiser.
With national bragging rights and tournament history on the line, the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium is bracing itself for a spectacular final night of championship pickleball.
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Tuesday, May 19, 2026
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High Stakes & Heavy Hitting at the Burns Memorial Tournament
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The W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium was a hive of high-octane energy as the third annual Kim Burns Memorial Pickleball Tournament produced another electrifying night of court action. With players fighting tooth and nail across multiple divisions, the group stages laid down a marker of what is to come, while the knockout brackets took shape ahead of a blockbuster Thursday night of finals.
The Men’s Four Point Zero Open division delivered immediate drama in round one, where the tandem of Rian Michelsen and Niels van der Velden lay down an emphatic statement of intent. The duo dismantled Aman Sanganeria and Nicholaas van de Westhuizen in a ruthless eleven points to one victory. On the adjacent court, Xavier James and his partner Scott Redmond showed plenty of tactical pedigree to slide past Ryan Hayward and Marcin Czarnocki with an eleven to five win. The tables turned dramatically in round two, however, as Sanganeria and van de Westhuizen roared back to life, bouncing back from their opening defeat to overpower James and Redmond eleven to four. Meanwhile, there was no stopping the juggernaut pairing of Michelsen and van der Velden, who marched on seamlessly by mimicking their first-round scoreline with an eleven to one triumph over Hayward and Czarnocki.
The Three Point Five Mixed Doubles Open division was equally fierce as pool play got underway. In Pool A round one, Mary Rose Sebastian and Chris Smith combined beautifully to ease past Michael Burns and Jessica Burns eleven to two. Pool B was packed with intriguing battles, starting with Sanjay Dhuria and Michelle Jackson holding their nerve in a tightly contested eleven to seven win against Natalie Chaves and Harry Andrew. On the very next court, Julie Matthews Borchardt and Aman Sanganeria put on a clinic, refusing to drop a single point as they swept Kelly Reeves and Paul Hayward eleven to zero. Pool C proved to be a real dogfight, headlined by LaVerne Stowe and Josh Bang edging out Nicholas Butterfield and Tschana Wade eleven to eight, while Theodosios Caimas and Pearl Ingram relied on a late surge to defeat Edgar W. Griffith and Fiona Donald eleven to seven.
Silverware has already been dished out in the Three Point Five Mixed Doubles Fifty Plus category. Lisa Maule and Jan Brewer put on a masterful display of composure and precision to capture the coveted gold medal, while Tracy Shott and Terry Madeiros fought admirably to secure a well-deserved silver. Elsewhere, the podium is also partially set in the Men’s Four Point Zero Fifty Plus division, where Michael Burns and Buggy Powell have officially locked up the bronze medal, leaving Vincent Chaves and Jose Barroso to battle Ryon Outerbridge and Muhammad Khan for the gold on Thursday. The Men’s Four Point Five Open division has also found its podium finishers before the main event, with Mical Russell and John Singleton safely securing the bronze medals, setting the stage for a grand final showdown between Benjamin Jones and Gavin Manders against Jasper Thomas and Tom Mills.
The stadium is now bracing itself for a massive Thursday evening schedule where championships will be decided across the board. The Three Point Five Mixed Doubles Open semi-finals will see the flying duo of Theodosios Caimassidis and Pearl Ingram square off against Edgar Griffith and Fiona Donaldson, while Mara Sebastian and Chris Smith collision with Julie Matthews-Borchardt and Aman Sanganeria promises fireworks. In the Men’s Four Point Zero Open, Michelsen and van der Velden will look to repeat their pool stage dominance against Ryan Hayward and Marcin Czarnocki, while Xavier James and Scott Redman brace for a fiery rematch against Sanganeria and van der Westhuizen.
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Monday, May 18, 2026
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Drama & Deuce-Point Thrillers Ignite Kim Burns Memorial
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The third day of the third annual Kim Burns Memorial Pickleball Tournament reached a dramatic crescendo at the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium, with a glittering day of finals bringing a breathless week of high-octane action to an end.
With playoff spots decided after a grueling group stage that tested the island's top talent, the knockout rounds produced a tactical showcase of baseline grit and high-intensity volleys as the medals were decided across multiple divisions.
The Men’s 3.5 Singles Open division saw group-stage heavyweights clash in a spectacular podium battle. Having dominated Pool A with a ruthless fifteen to two opening win against Micah Dottin and a hard-fought triumph over Jack Walsh, Donin Trott maintained his stellar form all the way to the final match. Trott captured the coveted gold medal after navigating a stellar field, while his pool rival Nicholas Butterfield took home a well-deserved silver. Owen Stewart, who had set the pace in Pool B with consecutive victories over Julian Borchardt and Eldon Trimingham, capped off an impressive individual tournament by clinching the bronze medal.
The elite Men’s 4.5 Singles division treated the spectators to a masterclass in power and precision. Ben Jones emerged as the class of the field, delivering a clinical performance under pressure to secure the gold medal. Jones was pushed to his absolute limits by Jasper Thomas, who took a highly commendable silver medal after a fierce battle at the kitchen line.
More silverware was decided in the ultra-competitive Men’s 4.0 Singles division, where Rian Michelsen reigned supreme. Michelsen demonstrated flawless court coverage throughout the final rounds to claim the gold medal. Nicolaas Van Der Westhuizen fought valiantly to push Michelsen all the way, ultimately settling for the silver medal, while Aman Sangareria won a tense third-place playoff to round out the podium and secure the bronze.
The podium success followed an exhausting preliminary stage that had defined the tournament’s competitive spirit. The veterans in the Over 50 Division had set the tone for the final day’s drama, with Xavier James, Duane Simons, and Edgar Griffith trading grueling three-set comebacks. That baseline resilience echoed through to the final day, ensuring that the third edition of the memorial tournament concluded as a true celebration of the rising standards of local pickleball.
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