Red Funnel Supported Teams
Celebrating local talent, our supported teams initiative will assist local Island athletes, artists, and performers on their path to high-level success off-Island.
This year we will support talented teams, all shortlisted for their aptitude, brilliance, and dedication to their vocation. They represent a wide range of talents and careers, from rugby to underwater hockey, each live, work and train on the Isle of Wight.
Meet our Supported Teams for 2025
A well-established local team, Solent play Division 1 in the Isle of Wight netball league and won the league overall in 2023. Alongside their podium position, players at the club were awarded Defence and Attack trophies and were the Isle of Wight Open Tournament winners. Off-Island, the club plays in the Southampton Premier League, a highly competitive division playing the best of Hampshire netball teams. For the 2024, Solent aim to retain their local titles and finish top 3 in the Southampton Premier League.
At the heart of Ventnor Rugby Club is community and inclusion, dedicated to recruiting players from all walks of life and providing a safe environment for training, playing and socialising. Alongside training and matches, the squad regularly fundraise for local charities and were one of only 200 teams worldwide invited to take part in Rugby’s Bicentennial Celebrations in February last year. The teams currently hold first and second XV in the Hampshire League, hope to defend their ranks in their respective leagues in 2025.
The male acapella group has been running for almost 50 years, with male singers from across the Island meeting weekly to rehearse their bass, baritone, lead melody and tenor parts. In 2024, Wight Harmony won three cups in the IOW Music Festival, the Community Choir class, the Folk Song class and taking a joint win in the Barbershop Male Voice Choir class. Wight Harmony also finished 20th at the National BABs Male Chorus Competition in 2024, a position they hope to improve on this year.
The Starlight Academy is a group of young competitive dancers ages 6-16yrs from across the Island. Selected to represent Team England at the Global Dance Finals, the students became World Champions competing against 37 different countries.
The club’s equestrian members and teams qualified to compete in Dressage to Music, individual Dressage, Combined Challenges (mixed disciplines), Arena Evening, Jumping, regional and Area Championships in 2024 and look to do the same in 2025, with several members already qualified to attend various championships in 2025.
Established in 1847 as Undercliffe Cricket Club, Ventnor Cricket Club has a rich history, and they remain a prominent part of the Island’s cricketing community. With members ranging from 6-86 years of age, the club has a thriving youth section, as well as team categories spanning up to U51s! Since becoming a Red Funnel Supported Team, Ventnor Cricket Club have increased in membership numbers, gained promotions in Hampshire and IOW leagues, and welcomed women and girls to take up competitive cricket. In 2024 they hope to maintain league status, introduce a 4th XI team for the Saturday League, and develop coaching opportunities.
The Vics recently celebrated a major achievement by hosting the largest attendance for a Wessex Division 1 league match, defeating local rivals Newport 2-0 in front of 658 spectators. With aspirations being league champions in 2025, securing promotion through a playoff position would equally be a remarkable milestone for the team.
The longest standing Island rugby club established in 1924, the IOW Rugby Club compete in the Hampshire leagues. The first XV recently gained promotion into Counties 2 and were unbeaten at home for all 2024, and the second XV regularly field friendly fixtures across the county. The teams regularly train and play matches at Wootton Recreation Ground and invite anyone to come along and get involved with their local recreational community.
The NAUT Cycling Club & Race Team is a club for anyone looking for like-minded people riders, a community who enjoy social spins & faster efforts. Achieving podium places & wins in multiple categories locally over the last few years, in 2025 we aim to continue that trend. Pursuing events on & off-road, locally & further afield, alongside arranging social rides and a platform for riders of any age who are looking to enjoy pushing themselves and progressing their cycling.
Panther Kickboxing clubs helps to teaching respect and discipline, whilst maintaining the ethos of having fun whilst training. As well as kickboxing coaching, a pathway is available for those who want to follow current Senior and Junior instructors into Team GB. The club’s aim for 2025 is to represent the Island at National, European and World Kickboxing Championships.
The club have three teams playing in the Hampshire Squash League. The first team currently playing the Premier Division aim to maintain their place in the premier league next season (2025). Several players also compete on the Masters circuit, with Adam Dominey's biggest career achievement to date having been selected for his first cap for England in 2024. Adam's aim is to be selected again for the England Squad in 2025. George Shoulder of the First Team made his debut on the Masters Circuit securing a win in the South of England Regional event and hopes to continue the success in 2025. The second team play in Division One and third team in Division Four.