Isle of Wight sports ambassadors supported by Red Funnel

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Aimed at celebrating local talent, the initiative supports athletes, who each live, work and train on the Isle of Wight, as well as artists and performers, on their path to high-level success.

Tennis player Toby Trotman (Image: Red Funnel)

The 2024 cohort showcases the diversity of talent on the Island, from the world of gymnastics to dog sled racing.

Throughout the year, Red Funnel will support the Island ambassadors by aiding their transition from local to national competition and status, with travel sponsorship.

A first time ambassador last year, speedway talent Jack Scully-Syer consistently finished on the podium through the Summer Competition Series. 

Jack was also the only Island-born junior speedway rider asked to take part in the British Youth Championships where he faced some of the best youth riders in the country. 

For 2024 Jack is excited to be able to compete and train across the country, with the aim to finish on the podium at the British Youth Championship.

Passionate about tennis from a young age, Toby Trotman was recently selected for coaching by one of the UK’s top coaches based in Hampshire, as well as being a ‘Road to Wimbledon’ national finalist and getting to play on the courts of Wimbledon.

Toby also qualified for the ‘Winners of Winners Cup’ held in Portugal. 

Regularly on the podium at tournaments, Toby’s goal for 2024 is to move up the ranks within his age group and qualify for further major tournaments.

Top kickboxer, Dominic Marsh (Image: Dominic Marsh)

Kickboxing supremo, British champion Dominic Marsh, competed nationally and internationally in 2023, alongside coaching his local kickboxing club on the Island. 

Part of the Team GB WAKO Kickboxing squad, Dominic was proud to represent his country fighting Croatia at the World Championships in Portugal, achieving bronze at the Turkish

Kickboxing World Cup and winning the Ko Suu K1 title on the Island. 

For 2024, Dom aims to become British Champion once again in a different weight class, as well as competing across the world for Team GB. 

Professional kite-surfer and British champion, Tom Court has had more than 25 podium finishes around the world — winning the 500km Dakhla Downwind Challenge, a kite-boarding race along the Sahara Coast, last year. 

Tom has also been competing on his wing foil board, which saw him crowned E-Foil racing world champion in Dubai. 

He also holds the fastest round the Island record on a wing foil — set last year. 

For 2024, he hopes to win the British Championships in kite and foil.

Pro-kitesurfer Tom Court. (Image: Red Funnel)

Julie Platt driving the Wightflight Siberian Huskies sled racing and showing team. (Image: Red Funnel)

Rubi Harper. (Image: Red Funnel)

British eventer Sarah Holmes (Image: Sarah Holmes)

Junior showjumper Rubi Harper has big ambitions for the 2024 season. 

To date, Rubi has been successfully competing with her pony Porsche in 80-90cm unaffiliated classes, winning her division at the annual Sunshine Tour competition at Hickstead. 

This year, Rubi takes a step up to affiliated showjumping within the Junior British Showjumping League, with her sights set on finishing top ten in the National Pony League and being selected for the British Junior Showjumping Team. 

Rubi's next big competition, in April, is the Bluechip Championships, with the aim of qualifying to compete at the highly prestigious Horse of the Year show next winter. 

Julie Platt, of Wightflight Siberian Huskies sled racing and showing team, made great tracks on competitive circuits last year. 

She is proud of her dogs' achievements since becoming ambassadors, winning the three-dog racing class at the Culbin Rally, while her dogs have enjoyed success in top shows. 

This year, Julie and the dogs will travel to Scotland to compete in the 40th anniversary Aviemore Sled Dog race, as well as other races this coming spring. 

Finally, Sarah Holmes, a five-star events rider, finished her competitive season with her highest ranking on the British Eventing circuit to date — jumping from 39 points in 2022 to 66 points last year. 

Sarah is proud of her horses’ achievements over the past year, with a goal for 2024 of competing at as many major UK events as possible, including the Chatsworth House International Horse

Trials and the Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials in Scotland. 

Sarah will be running at other events across the country, with the aim of competing in the Etoiles de Pau, an annual three-day event, held in France — one of seven five-star events in the world, the highest level of eventing competition there is.