Mr. Speaker, On Saturday, March 14th, 2026, the Ministry of Tourism & Transport, Culture & Sport, through the Department of Sport and Recreation, proudly hosted the 44th Annual Sports Awards at the Hamilton Princess Hotel.
This year’s Sports Awards recognized the distinguished achievements of Bermuda’s top athletes, officials, and supporters
for their contributions to sport during the 2025 calendar year. The theme of this year’s ceremony, “Elevating Sports Together,”
reflected the collective effort required to strengthen and advance sport across our island.
Mr. Speaker, Our National Sports Policy guides us with a five-year commitment to elevate the value of sport in Bermuda. The Annual Sports Awards serve as a powerful example of the Government’s dedication to celebrating excellence, perseverance, and leadership within our sporting community. Several awards were presented across a number of categories to honour individuals and teams whose accomplishments have brought pride to Bermuda.
Mr. Speaker, Allow me to briefly outline the selection process for these awards. Each December, the Department of Sport and Recreation launches a public call for nominations. Submissions are welcomed from members of the public and from National Sports Governing Bodies. Once the nomination period closes, all applications are forwarded to a selection committee for review.
The committee evaluates nominations across all categories and determines award recipients based on established criteria. This
committee is appointed annually by the Minister responsible for Sport and conducts its work through a ballot process overseen by the Committee Chair, utilizing a point-based scoring system.
The selection committee comprised of representatives from several sectors of the sporting community:
• The Director of Sport and Recreation – Chairperson
• Two representatives from the sports media (press, radio, or
television)
• Two representatives involved in Olympic sports
• Two representatives from non-Olympic sports
• The Senior Sport Development Officer – serving as Ex-officio
Secretary
Mr. Speaker, The highest honour of the evening, Athlete of the Year, is reserved for athletes who have demonstrated a consistent level of excellence throughout the year.
The 2025 recipients were:
• Male Athlete of the Year – Sebastian Kempe (Sailing)
• Female Athlete of the Year – Caitlyn Bobb (Athletics)
• Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Elijah Daley (Swimming)
• Junior Female Athlete of the Year – Robin Selley (Archery)
These outstanding athletes have once again demonstrated that sport matters, delivering exceptional performances on the
international stage and serving as inspiration for the next generation.
Mr. Speaker, As Minister responsible for Sport, I have the distinct honour of selecting and presenting awards for Bermuda’s National Sports of Football and Cricket.
The recipients were:
Football
• Male – Jonte Smith
• Female – Jenay Edness-Gomez
Cricket
• Male – Kevon Fubler
• Female – Brianna Ray
Mr. Speaker, Awards were also presented in several additional categories as follows:
Senior Achievement Award – recognizing athletes who have demonstrated high standards of performance in national and
international competition.
Male Recipients:
• Sebastian Kempe
• Jack Harvey
• Jaydon Roberts
• Nicholas Narraway
Female Recipients:
• Caitlyn Bobb
• Erica Hawley
• Emma Harvey
• Jessica Lewis
Junior Achievement Award
Male Recipients:
• Elijah Daley
• Oliver Betschart
• Miles Outerbridge
• Cameron Adkins
Female Recipients:
• Robin Selley
• Tatiana Sousa
• Charlotte Millington
• Marleigh Howes
Mr. Speaker, The Appreciation Award recognizes clubs, organizations, or companies that have demonstrated sustained community support through sport programming for a minimum of five years.
This year’s recipients were:
• Fat Tire Massive
• Shotocup Bermuda
The Special Achievement Award honours individuals who have made a significant and sustained contribution to sport beyond
athletic participation.
Recipients were:
• Katura Horton-Perinchief
• Juanita Blee
• Ross Roberts
The Sport Citation Award, recognizing individuals who have distinguished themselves in sport both past and present, was
awarded to:
• DeVon Bean
• Leopold Kuchler
Mr. Speaker, The Special Recognition Award acknowledges individuals or teams who have achieved special distinction in sport.
Recipients included:
• Thomas Cechini
• Bermuda Senior Men’s National Football Team
• Scott Barnes
• Bermuda Triathlon Youth & Junior CARIFTA Team
Finally, the Team of the Year Award, presented to teams that have distinguished themselves internationally during the calendar year, was awarded to:
• Bermuda Women’s National Netball Team
• Bermuda Davis Cup Tennis Team
Mr. Speaker, The Ministry was delighted to once again host this prestigious event, celebrating the best and brightest within Bermuda’s sporting community. The camaraderie, pride, and spirit displayed throughout the evening were a true reflection of the strength of sport in Bermuda.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the Sports Awards Committee, the dedicated staff of the Department of Sport and Recreation, and all those who contributed to the success of this year’s event.
Together, we continue to recognize excellence, celebrate achievement, and elevate sport in Bermuda.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.