Community Investment & Corporate Social Responsibility

Founder Sharon and Director Jools both have achieved success in sporting fields in and for the Isle of Man, and the positive benefits that has had on both of their lives underpins their motivation and commitment to supporting island sport now and into the future.

Sharon is a keen cyclist and competed in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. She was also a member of Isle of Man Sport formerly the Isle of Man Sports Council for 12 years.

Thornton Chartered Financial Planners proudly sponsor Manx Professional Cyclist Tom Mazzone, who said:

“For 2023, I have re-signed with the Saint Piran team for another year and after a tough end to the year in 2022, due to injury and illness, I am excited to get back on the start line in good health and condition.”

Tom was selected for the Isle of Man team at the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Listen here to Tom Mazzone in episode 58 of Island Influencers, where he explains how he got into cycling and found an elite team to join, some of the challenges he needed to overcome in his career to date, and his big goals.

We are also pleased to support cyclist Adam Kelly, who is racing in Belgium for a team called Urbano-Vulsteke Cycling Team and this is our 3rd year of sponsorship.

We are also delighted to support junior cyclists for a further year Jess Pickavance and Sophie Smith.

Jess is excited to see where cycling takes her in the next few years.

From the early days of cycling around the NSC on Tuesday nights to competing at national races, my passion for cycling has grown exponentially. Now in my final year of youth racing as a U16 rider, I have set ambitious goals to make my mark in the national series and even venture into international stage races. Balancing training, racing, and exams can be challenging, but with dedication and effective time management, I’m determined to progress.

Cycling has been a part of Sophie’s life for as long as she can remember.

From the moment I hopped on my first bike, the thrill of the ride captured my heart. However, it wasn’t until age 8 that I decided to venture into the realm of competitive cycling. Initially, it was all fun and games, but my love for the sport grew stronger as the years passed, propelling me to train harder and aim for more significant challenges. Recently, I had the exhilarating opportunity to compete in my first Junior National race. While I was content with my performance, I’m determined to push myself further in the upcoming races this year.

New additions to the list of Thornton supported athletes is Jess Carridge who is riding for the Hutchinson – Brother UK team this season.

It all started in 2018 when I hopped on my bike and began participating in local races. Little did I know that this would be the beginning of an incredible adventure in competitive cycling. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of progressing to UK National Series events and even representing the Isle of Man Commonwealth team in the time trial and road race. The thrills, challenges, and victories along the way have shaped me into the cyclist I am today.

We are also thrilled to introduce Ruby Oakes, an impressive 16-year-old cyclist from Peel, Isle of Man, who is making a name for herself in the cycling world. Ruby’s goals for this season include representing the Isle of Man in the Island Games, achieving consistent top 10 finishes in National races, and gaining more race experience in European races. Her long-term goal is to ride for a pro team; we believe she has the talent and determination to make it happen.

Away from 2-wheel sport! we are supporting Nickolas (Nick) Ellis. 2023 will see Nickolas in an exciting transition with his debut car-racing season in the prestigious Ginetta Junior Championship.

We are following all our supported athletes’ seasons closely (we hope you can too!!) and are encouraging them every step of the way! We’re so proud of the commitment they make to their chosen paths and in so doing help raise the profile of the Isle of Man.

Over the years, the Isle of Man cycling club structure has driven a very healthy competitive environment which has generated much success on both national and international level. Indeed Thornton sponsors a number of up and coming potential future stars!

However, there comes a time in life when the desire (let alone ability) to compete as a cyclist recedes somewhat, just like average speed! This does not mean we are ready to hang up our wheels.

Many academically researched peer-reviewed articles have shown that recreational sport and community play an important part in well-being, hence our decision to sponsor the design and production of the Alternative Fast Group (AFG) kit.