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Sunday, May 17, 2026
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Trott & McDonnell Dominate as Kim Burns Memorial Continues
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The third annual Kim Burns Memorial Pickleball Tournament continued to illuminate the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium today, with a relentless schedule of doubles and singles action unfolding under bright and sunny skies. The day was defined by a mix of clinical shutouts and high-stakes tie-breaks as the island's top-seeded players battled for a place on the podium.
In the Men’s 3.5 Doubles Open Pool A, the pairing of Don Trott and Damien McDonnell sent a clear warning to the rest of the field. After opening their campaign with a steady 11-6 victory over Owen Stewart and Christopher Hands, they produced the most ruthless performance of the morning in Round Two. Facing Kent Delgado and Jael Ringgenberg, who had earlier dispatched Chris Smith and Malachi O’Leary 11-4, Trott and McDonnell delivered a masterclass in kitchen-line dominance to secure a rare 11-0 shutout.
The action in Pool B proved far more volatile. Edgar Griffin and Sanjay Dhuria started strong with an 11-8 win over Mark Hudson and Dan Stefan Vlad, but their momentum was halted in a grueling second-round encounter. Theodosios Caimas and Harry Andrews displayed remarkable nerves to edge Griffin and Dhuria in an extended 13-11 thriller. Elsewhere in the pool, Israel Sanchez and Duane Simons made a statement with a comprehensive 11-2 victory over Paul Hayward and Ricky Spence.
The singles courts were equally captivating, particularly in the Women’s 4.0 Open division. Lucy Yiasoumi established herself as the tournament favorite with back-to-back victories, overcoming Naphisa Smith 15-7 and Ailish Byrne 15-9. Smith managed to bounce back in the second round, securing a hard-fought 15-13 win against Rachel Sawden in a match that kept the gathered spectators on the edge of their seats until the final point.
The stadium celebrated the crowning of several new champions across a variety of age and skill brackets. The Men’s 3.5 Open gold was fittingly claimed by the undefeated duo of Donn Trott and Damien McDonnell, while the partnership of Theodosios Caimassidis and Harry Andrews secured silver. In the senior categories, Tim McKittrick and Jan Brewer took home the 50 plus 3.5 gold, with Peter Illston and Tom Brown taking silver.
The individual accolades were led by Lucy Yiasoumi, who capped off her dominant run with the Women’s 4.0 Open gold medal. Fiona Donaldson stood atop the podium in the 3.5 Open Singles, while Emma Simmons claimed the top honors in the 50 plus 3.5 division. In the Men’s 3.0 Open, Virbert Virbert and Arthur Begeman secured the gold medal, and Zach Sagers and Kevin Rhyno walked away as champions in the senior 3.0 bracket. With medals now safely in hand, the focus shifts to the final rounds of mixed doubles play set to conclude the weekend.
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Sunday, May 17, 2026
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Bermuda Karate Secure Team Trophy in Miami
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The Bermuda Youth National Karate Team have completed a landmark weekend at the Miami Open International Karate Championships, walking away with a prestigious team trophy and multiple individual medals from Florida Memorial University.
In a definitive statement of the island’s growing martial arts pedigree, Bermuda was awarded the 3rd Place Team Trophy, a major milestone reflecting both the size and the high competitive standard of the delegation at this elite international tournament.
The second day of competition focused on the technical disciplines of Kobudo (weapons) and Kata, alongside the intensity of Kumite (sparring). Talia Fox set the tone early in the Female 16+ Intermediate/Advanced Kobudo division. After a dominant opening performance that saw her cruise into the final, Fox delivered a poised second-round routine to capture a phenomenal Silver medal.
In the Male 16+ Intermediate/Advanced Kobudo bracket, Tony Cabral faced one of the most heavily stacked divisions of the day. Despite a display of remarkable power and technique, the sheer depth of the international field prevented him from advancing past a grueling opening round.
The morning session also saw the youngest members of the squad tested against the region's best. In the Male 10/11 Novice Kata division, Chan Simons and Giovanni Vianello competed in a massive, talent-heavy bracket. While both young athletes executed their forms with precision, they were unable to navigate through to the medal rounds in two of the day's largest divisions.
Simons displayed particular grit by pulling "double duty," transitioning from form to combat in the Male 10/11 Novice Kumite. Though he fell in a tough opening match, his effort and tactical awareness highlighted the fighting heart of the Bermudian squad.
The afternoon was marked by tactical shifts and a series of debated judging decisions. Talia Fox was forced to move into the younger, highly competitive 18-34 Advanced Kata division after being left unopposed in her original category. Despite what many observers considered a technically flawless performance, the judges’ scores left her in a hard-fought 4th place.
Tony Cabral provided the final highlight of the weekend for the Bermuda team in his respective Kata division. Displaying exceptional power and precision, Cabral overcame contentious judging to secure a well-deserved Bronze medal, adding to the island's impressive tally.
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Saturday, May 16, 2026
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Roberts Appointed to Commonwealth Games Committee
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The World Archery Executive Board has officially appointed Bermudian administrator Trina Roberts to serve on the Commonwealth Games Committee, marking another significant milestone for the island’s sports governance.
Roberts, who currently serves as the Secretary General of the National Archery Association of Bermuda (NAAB), continues her rapid ascent through the ranks of international sport. This latest appointment follows her historic election to the prestigious World Archery Ethics and Justice Committee during the 56th World Archery Congress in South Korea last year.
The appointment to the Commonwealth Games Committee is seen as a major endorsement of Roberts’ expertise and her growing influence on the global stage. In her new role, she will be part of the body responsible for overseeing the sport's integration, regulation, and logistical success within the Commonwealth Games framework.
The news comes on the heels of a busy period for Roberts, who recently obtained her World Archery Level 2 International Coaching Licence in Lausanne, Switzerland. This blend of high-level technical knowledge and governance experience has made her a key asset for World Archery as they look to expand the sport's footprint across allied nations.
For Bermuda, having a local official in such a high-capacity role provides a direct link to the decision-making processes of international competition. Roberts’ dual presence on both the Ethics and Justice and the Commonwealth Games committees places a Bermudian at the heart of the sport’s integrity and developmental future.
Alongside her international duties, Roberts remains a cornerstone of the NAAB executive, working alongside President Ross Roberts to prepare the island's elite archers for the upcoming Pan Am Qualifiers in Mexico this June.
Her appointment reflects a wider trend within Bermudian sport of administrators moving beyond local competition to influence the standards and administration of the game globally. Further announcements regarding the committee’s first 2026 sessions are expected following the conclusion of the continental qualifiers.
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Saturday, May 16, 2026
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Kim Burns Memorial Pickleball Tournament Ignites
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The courts at the W.E.R. Joell Tennis Stadium were a hive of high-speed activity today as the third annual Kim Burns Memorial Pickleball Tournament got underway in spectacular fashion. With the largest field in the event’s history, the opening day delivered a masterclass in tactical precision and competitive spirit across multiple Women’s Doubles Divisions.
In the Women’s 3.0 Open Division, the pairing of Ni Suwari and Savira Wahy emerged as the dominant force of the morning. They opened their account with a hard-fought 11-7 victory over Kirsten Wademan and Ana Abend before following up with a commanding 11-4 win against Amanda Stewart and Cheria Morgan. Their clinical performance was mirrored in other early rounds, with Melanie Claude and Raveena Nayyar securing a swift 11-3 win, while Pamela Bardill and Amy Haynes fought through a tight encounter to defeat Wademan and Abend 11-7.
The 3.5 Open and 50+ A Division provided some of the day’s most intense rallies. Kelly Reeves and Fiona Donaldson laid down an early marker by edging out LaVerne Stowe and Cayla Cross in a 11-9 thriller. Meanwhile, the duo of Angie and Alexis Lodge demonstrated their chemistry with an 11-6 victory over Beckie Bart and Julie Matthew Borchardt. The momentum shifted in the second round, as Stowe and Cross bounced back with an 11-6 win of their own, though they could not prevent Reeves and Donaldson from repeating their success with another 11-6 triumph over the Lodge pairing.
In the 3.5 B Division, the podium battle was equally fierce. Pearl Ingram and Ivanne Demiar established themselves as the team to beat, navigating a tough bracket that included a standout 11-5 victory over Sarah Fox and Sue Chiappa. Earlier in the session, Fox and Chiappa had shown their own title credentials with a comprehensive 11-2 win over Natalie Chaves and Niamh Mac Namara.
As the sun began to set over the stadium, the first set of medals were presented to the day's top performers. In the 3.0 Open category, Ni Made Suwariani and Savira Qonital Wahyuning stood atop the podium to claim gold, with Wideman and Abend taking silver and the duo of Bardill and Hayes securing bronze. The 50+ age bracket in the same division saw Kerri McKittrick and Frances Kyrikos crowned champions, followed by Ruth Stovell and Angela Edwards.
The 3.5 Divisions saw Pearl Ingram and Ivanne Demiar celebrate gold in the Open category, fending off Sarah Fox and Sue Chiappa, who took home the silver, while Stowe and Cross secured a well-deserved bronze. In a busy day for Fox and Chiappa, the pair also claimed gold in the 3.5 50+ division, with Julie Matthews-Borchardt and Becky Bart finishing the day with silver medals. The tournament continues tomorrow with mixed doubles action expected to take center stage.
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Saturday, May 16, 2026
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Smith-Richardson Claims Bronze as Bermuda Impress in Florida
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The Bermuda Youth National Karate Team faced a trial by fire today at the Miami Open International Karate Championships, securing a podium finish and vital international experience at Florida Memorial University.
Facing off against the region's elite martial artists, the young Bermudians delivered a series of technically sound performances that signaled the growing depth of the island's karate program.
The undisputed highlight of the opening day belonged to Davonte Smith-Richardson, who marked his international tournament debut in emphatic style. Competing in the 16/17 Male Kata division, Smith-Richardson remained composed after a first-round bye to deliver a powerful semi-final performance.
His execution earned him a brilliant Bronze medal, an impressive feat for an athlete making his first-ever competitive appearance on overseas soil.
While the scorecards were not always in Bermuda’s favour, the squad’s technical execution drew praise from observers. In the 10/11 Intermediate Female Kata division, Zoe Talbot was involved in the most dramatic matchup of the morning. Her rock-solid performance forced a split decision from the judges, narrowly dropping the result in a razor-thin vote.
Other notable performances included:
Dash Bailey: Displayed excellent form in the 14/15 Advanced Kata division but fell to a difficult first-round draw.
Amarriah Vaughans: Delivered a sharp showing in the 12/13 Intermediate bracket.
Talaya Sousa & Alessia Vianello: Both executed powerful routines but were unable to advance past highly competitive opening rounds.
"Even though every outcome wasn't exactly what we hoped for on the scorecards, we view this elite international platform as a crucial stage for learning," said team leadership. "The experience gained today is invaluable."
The action continues tomorrow, Sunday, May 17, with Bermuda set to expand their medal hunt into weapons and sparring categories.
Kobudo & Kata: Talia Fox and Tony Cabral will compete across both disciplines in the male and female divisions.
Novice Kata: Giovanni Vianello takes to the mat in the 10/11 Male division.
Double Duty: Chan Simons faces a busy schedule, competing in both the 10/11 Novice Male Kata and the Kumite (sparring) divisions.
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