Talented Athlete Scheme Allows Isle Of Wight Sporting Stars To Shine

Almost 80 Island sporting stars have been selected for the Isle of Wight Council’s Talented Athlete Scheme for 2025.

Gifted sportsmen and women competing at county level or higher in a non-professional capacity receive support to help them progress within their chosen sports.

Wightlink has sponsored the scheme since its creation in 2013, providing athletes with discounted travel to help with travel to mainland events and training.

Scheme participants also have access to the council’s leisure facilities through 1Leisure and receive discounts with specialist sports and health businesses on the Island: Love Running, Cowes Chiropractic Clinic, RMA Sports Injury Clinic, Physio Care (Isle of Wight), Sports Performance Centre and Amanda Buggy Soft Tissue Therapy & Nutrition.

This year’s scheme supports 78 athletes aged between 9 and 86, with many of those new to the scheme for 2025, in sports ranging from athletics to underwater hockey, and sailing to gymnastics.

After making his debut on the list last year, nine-year-old Finn Husson has again qualified. The talented squash player from Niton has recently broken into the under-11 top 20 at national level and has ambitions to reach the top five in England. He has already competed in the British Junior Championships.

His dad, Chris, said:

“It’s fair to say that the help we receive from The Talented Athlete Scheme is the only way that we can achieve all of this and we are truly grateful that we get the opportunity to compete with those on the mainland.

“We feel like part of a wider community representing the Island and being supported by its businesses is truly something.”

Veterans of the scheme include 86-year-old Jenny Ball from Newport, who remains a formidable competitor in the pool, travelling around the country to take part in British Masters events.

She said:

“I am very privileged to be an Isle of Wight Council/Wightlink sponsored masters swimmer and am proud to represent both the Island and Wightlink.

“The help with ferry costs is especially appreciated, as I travel to the mainland for all but one of my competitions and championships, annually.”

Wightlink chief executive, Katy Taylor, said:

“We know how important this support is for athletes across a massive range of sports and it has been a pleasure seeing athletes on the scheme excel.

“I am looking forward to following the progress of this year’s Talented Athletes and sharing their successes via our social media channels.

“I hope to meet up with many of them in person at our next Wightlink in the Community meet and greet event.”

Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for regeneration, business development, and tourism, said:

“It's great to see our young sportspeople succeeding.

"I'm pleased that the council continues to support the Talented Athlete Scheme with help from our sponsors. This vital support enables our talented sportspeople to continue developing and competing at national and international levels.

"I look forward to hearing about this year's participants; I'm confident they will represent the Island well and meet their personal objectives over the next 12 months.”

A full list of the athletes supported via the Talented Athlete Scheme is available at: https://www.wightlink.co.uk/community/sponsorship