Created: Mar 21, 2026 11:38 PM
Team Bermuda pose with the trophy after retaining their Caribbean Pickleball Championship crown (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Bermuda maintained their grip on the Caribbean Pickleball Championship trophy in dominant fashion after sweeping Cayman Islands in a rain-affected team final at WER Joell Stadium on Saturday.
The island’s team of Gavin Manders, Benjamin Jones, Sasha Fisher and Patricia Mills capitalise on home court advantage to overpower their opponents 4-0 in a contest interrupted several times due to passing showers.
Bermuda prevailed 2-1 in the women’s and men’s doubles as well as the two mixed doubles matches, dropping only four games on the way to winning the regional championship for the second straight year, much to the delight of co-captain Manders who was thrilled to have successfully defended the title on home soil as the island hosted the event for the first time.
“The first success was beautiful and is always going to be great, but to do it in front of the home crowd is even sweeter,” he told The Royal Gazette.
“We have a great team and it’s been a tough week. But to come out on top shows that we are still a leader in the region.”
Bermuda’s players celebrate after beating Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Pickleball Championship team final to retain their title (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)
Fellow co-captain Fisher was equally as delighted to see the island retain its title.
“The region has improved since last year and it was really incredible that we could do this for a second year and hold the title,” she said.
“We have a lot of great players on our team and I am really proud of everybody’s effort.
“Bermuda is trying to lead the charge in the Caribbean and beyond, and so it’s really great to have success.
“It is much sweeter to do this on home soil because when we are competing here we have the community here, have our Pickleball community here and also our family and friends.
“It was a tough game against Cayman Islands. We’ve seen them a lot and they played out of their minds.
“I think we have experience now doing this over the years through our tennis careers that we have brought into pickleball and were able to overcome.”
Jones was nearly lost for words after helping his team to glory.
“It’s really hard to put it into words and I am so proud of our team,” he said.
“Being able to perform in a place like this in front of all your friends and family really gets me going, and you can tell just from the energy around here.
“Spirits are high, we played a really great match and secured all four points that we wanted to get the sweep.
“I was confident in our line-up because we played them in the group stages and got the same result. So I believed that if we came here prepared to battle we would be able to get the job done two times in a row.
“That’s what we came to do and with the home turf and seeing all the crowds with the friends and family, I would say this victory is a little bit sweeter this year.”
Mills could barely contain her excitement after all was said and done on the court.
“I’m so pumped we were able to retain the title but more importantly how well we played and came together as a team. Both as individual teams on court but also Bermuda as a whole,” she said.
“The energy was great and really powered us through. It was really cool to be a part of and I’m proud of us and myself.”
Pickleball Association Bermuda president George Thomas hailed the island’s success.
“I am over the moon and so proud of the team,” he said. “I am just so proud of the everything that they did.
“We had great participation and I just loved having all of the countries here. We have a real camaraderie with the island’s, which you can feel.”
Cayman Islands’ Stephen Thompson was proud of his team’s showing having played the entire tournament with only four players on their roster.
“It definitely was tough with four of us taking the burden of playing every match against all the countries and late nights and early mornings and weather and not,” he said.
“But happy to come home with at least the silver, and it’s nice to make it to the final and have another exciting championship. I can’t wait until next year.”
Jamaica beat Trinidad in the bronze medal match to round off the podium finishers in the team event.
