The pickleball community came together last week to remember a former top players in the Kim Burns Memorial 2025 tournament.

Burns was instrumental in getting the sport started on island before passing away as a result of cancer a couple of years ago, with Pickleball Association Bermuda beginning the tournament last year

George Thomas, president of PAB, outlined the importance of the tournament and is thankful that his organisation annually remembers a local pickleball legend

“Kim was probably one of the best pickleball players on the island, man or woman,” Thomas said.

“She was a highly accomplished athlete, originally from Canada, and played in one or two Canadian national teams before winning the very first pickleball tournament we had on the island.

“She unfortunately passed very young, in her late fifties, of cancer a couple of years ago. She was a critical part of the whole fabric of the sport getting going here and this tournament is a very important way of us honouring her every year.

“Before every day of competition we had a moment of silence and her surviving daughter actually spoke at the medal ceremony to remember her. Kim did so much for the community and worked for Agape House, so she worked with families going through what her family ended up going through.

“We have a national rankings competition and we give out points depending on the level and the level of the tournament. There is an extra boost to this tournament in terms of number of points and that is to honour her spirit and competitive nature, making it the second most important tournament after our national championships.”

More than 100 entries were received for the tournament with the age range testament to to the attraction of pickleball to all ages.

“We had 106 entries and our youngest player was aged 11 and we had people over 70 play,” Thomas said.

“One of the great things about pickleball is it’s a sport where you can probably have some success in terms of playing points and having rallies within 15 to 20 minutes of getting started.

“Whereas in tennis it can take you months to be proficient. We have a challenger series for beginners getting introduced to the sport and our tournaments always start with a round robin so you always get multiple matches.”

It was no surprise that Gavin Manders, Bermuda’s best player, was among the winners on the final day of competition. Manders won the 4.0 mixed doubles with Imani Phillips and the 4.0 men’s doubles with Michael Way. Patricia Mills and Melisa Judd picked up the 4.0 women’s doubles crown.

Naphisa Smith and Wenda Roberts claimed the 3.5 women’s doubles title, with Niels van der Velden and Ryan Hayward lifting the 3.5 men’s double trophy. Leslie Jackson and Vincent Chaves won the 3.5 mixed doubles competition.

Julie Matthews-Borchardt and Pearl Xapchaleun were successful in the 3.0 women’s doubles, with Xapchaleun also victorious in the 3.0 mixed doubles alongside Theodosios Caimassidis. Xavier James and Paul Hayward won the 3.0 men’s doubles.