Red Funnel’s Island Ambassadors have ended the first quarter of the year with a series of remarkable achievements, competing and performing across the water.
The Island Ambassadors group is part of Red Funnel’s Proud to Support programme, which sees the company offer talented Isle of Wight residents ferry travel sponsorship over a 12-month period. The aim of Proud to Support is to help aspiring local athletes and performers take their vocation to the next level off Island, aiding travel to regional, national and international events.
Recent Island Ambassador successes include Freestyle Dancers Isabel and Jasmine Dominey, showcasing their talents at the Sussex Freestyle Championships near Brighton.
18-year-old Isabel was crowned the winner in her Freestyle Fast Solo and Freestyle Slow Solo and finished second in the Adult Street Dance Class. Her younger sister Jasmine finished 4th in 2 dances – at 14 years old, Jasmine is one of the younger competitors in the Under 16 division. Together, the sisters secured 3rd place in their pairs performance, returning home with plenty of silverware between them from this high-level regional competition.
On an international front, Isle of Wight-based Jank Punk girl duo, The Pill, are set to open for Green Day at Luxexpo Open Air in Luxembourg this June. The band had a defining year in 2024, performing across the UK and Europe, releasing their first three singles and signing their first record deal with AWAL. Opening for the globally revered punk rock band is amazing recognition for the talents of Lily and Lottie, both looking forward to an exciting year ahead.
Reflecting on their journey, The Pill, stated:
“We feel incredibly lucky to be opening for Green Day this June. Only a year ago, we were watching them close the Isle of Wight Festival, just after releasing our first single only a month prior. It’s been a whirlwind year, and we’ve been travelling non-stop since January, with much more to come! We’re so grateful to Red Funnel for their support through the Island Ambassador Scheme, which has allowed us to seize every opportunity.”
The Ambassador Programme has also celebrated successes in the canine world. Dog Agility competitor Abs Whittington and her Border Collie Dash have a busy competition schedule for 2025, competing in Agility, Jumping and Steeple Chase and finishing on the podium multiple times already this year.
This series of top results has seen the pair move up a level to compete at Grade 3 standard – which also means they are now eligible to take part in the Crufts Novice Cup Qualifiers for the 2026 show. The pair are now training hard for their final indoor show of the season, before returning to outdoor events this summer where they hope to continue their success.
Fran Collins, CEO of Red Funnel, commented:
“It’s truly inspiring to see the high levels of success our Island Ambassadors have achieved just three months into the year. The programme was developed to strengthen our commitment to nurturing the remarkable talent within our Island community, and it’s wonderful to see the achievements that follow.”
To keep up to date with the successes of Red Funnel’s Island Ambassadors and Supported Teams, visit www.redfunnel.co.uk/proud-support.
