The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company is sponsoring local archery champion, Rusty Kneale-Barrow, by giving her free ferry travel for her weekly training sessions.

Rusty, of St Johns, has been travelling to the UK every Friday since September to train in the paralympic village at Stoke Mandeville, and returning here every Monday. In November, Rusty approached the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company to sponsor her expenses for one event, but when Chief Executive Mark Woodward discovered her rigorous travel schedule, he offered to sponsor all Rusty’s ferry expenses. 

This support has been invaluable to Rusty and the progression of her archery career, as it would have otherwise been almost impossible to accomplish her training goals.

“I was finding it so difficult to finance my training and was ecstatic when Mark offered to be my sponsor and provide free ferry travel,” Rusty said. “It has made such a huge difference. Without the ability to train using the facilities at the paralympic village, and without meeting with my UK-based coach, I would not have been able to achieve as much as I have. I want to say a huge thank you to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for this support. It has meant the world to me.”

Rusty, who has been using a wheelchair since 1996, has achieved a remarkable amount, competing on behalf of the Island at both a national and European level.  Her next event is the National Archery Championships in Dunstable in May, where both abled and disabled archers compete, then at Stoke Mandeville in July for the European Championships. At both events Rusty will be proudly displaying the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company logo on her wheelchair.

Mark Woodward said: “We are immensely proud to be Rusty’s sponsor and to be associated with such a talented, determined and admirable person. It’s wonderful to be able to help in this way and to see the difference it makes to Rusty’s life.”

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