Now the 24-year-old, from Knutsford, has joined the Marine Conservation Society as an Ocean Ambassador, supporting the charity in its work to change policy and improve pollution levels in Britain’s seas.

Since graduating from the University of Bath in 2020, Sarah’s rise to the top of her sport has been meteoric, ranking fourth on the Pro World Tour in 2021 and second at the World Championships held in October 2022.

During the pandemic, travel restrictions forced her to train in the UK.  However, Sarah found that she was often faced with sewage pollution at sea due to the releasing of a deluge of raw sewage into our seas, which is often made worse during periods of heavy rainfall.

“This being Britain, where rainfall is very high,” she said, “and because I have to train in all weathers, there were some days when I was basically surfing in a sewer.

“That’s not just unpleasant it’s actually health threatening – but it’s opened my eyes to the problem of pollution in our waterways – not just from sewage but from chemicals and plastics, too.”

Now, to raise awareness of ocean pollution and, hopefully, influence a change in policy, Sarah has become an Ocean Ambassador for UK charity the Marine Conservation Society.

The UK-based charity leads the way in calling for initiatives to protect UK and global waters from overfishing, to protect and restore marine life and to limit pollutants – such as sewage and plastics.

“Because I spend so much time on the water – not just in the UK but around the world – I see at very close quarters the damage the human race is inflicting on the marine environment,” said Sarah, “and that’s why I’m supporting the Marine Conservation Society.”

Nicola Greaves, Head of Marketing at the Marine Conservation Society, said: “We’re so pleased to have Sarah join our Ocean Ambassador team.

“Untreated sewage is being pumped into our seas for hundreds of thousands of hours each year, putting people, planet and wildlife at risk.

“Sarah sees first-hand the problems that our seas face, and we’re grateful for her raising her awareness of our mission for cleaner, better-protected, healthier seas for everyone to enjoy.”

A group of top athletes is tackling one of the environment’s greatest global emergencies – coral reef loss. It is predicted that by 2050 almost all* the world’s coral will have been lost. However, the race is not over.

Each of these athletes is beating the odds by being a champion on the field, track and in the boxing ring – and now in coral restoration.

The champions on land and in the ocean include double Olympic gold medal sailor Hannah Mills OBE; Commonwealth Games gold medallists Lachlan Moorhead, Eilish McColgan and Sophie Coldwell; England Rugby star Marlie Packer; and Kenyan Rugby 7’s great Collins Injera – all represented by The Athlete Media Group (AMG) sports agency.

Photo: The Kilifi coastline n the Indian Ocean is the area where marine conservation is having a positive impact

AMG has teamed up with leading Indian Ocean conservationist and coastal community advocate, Des Bowden and his team at Oceans Alive to make a big splash in coral conservation.

In 2021 the United Nations declared the Decade of Coral Restoration (2021-2030) and AMG with Oceans Alive are doing their bit to champion the way forward.

A new type of ‘Athletes Village’ is being built through the unique ‘Competing For Coral’ initiative. Every time one of its athletes delivers a world-class performance in their chosen sport, AMG adopts a coral nursery table to help restore damaged coral reefs in Kenya.

AMG is initially supporting 14 coral nursery tables and the planting of 3,360 coral juveniles all thanks to the efforts of its world-class athletes.

AMG’s founder Mark Middlemas said: “Athlete platforms are increasingly important at effecting positive change. Damage to coral reefs is a global ocean emergency and we are pleased to support the Oceans Alive Trust through this unique ‘Competing For Coral’ initiative.”

Oceans Alive works with local communities, government, businesses, financial institutions, the science community and environmental organisations to educate and encourage global awareness to support local action. Oceans Alive also works with Coral Reef Care and Platcorp Foundation to support this critically important work.

Oceans Alive Founder and CEO Des Bowden said AMG’s support was “fantastically important and very much appreciated.” He added: “It is very encouraging to see these athletes committing not only to excellence in their field but positive environmental change as well.”

*Recent studies have revealed that 50% of the world’s coral reefs have already been destroyed, and another 40% could be lost over the next 30 years (Source: Google 2022).

For further information visit www.athletemedia.co.uk

And it wasn’t until the 23-year-old changed her form of contraception that doctors discovered she was suffering from relative energy deficiency in sport – or RED-S – and osteopenia; low bone density.

Caused by an imbalance in energy expenditure and nutrition, RED-S can have serious and occasionally fatal effects on metabolism, menstrual function, bone health, immunity and cardiovascular and psychological health.

Now, Issy, originally from Crickhowell and now living in Cardiff, is seeking to warn others of the little-known condition, which strikes without warning.

“Ironically, at the point I was diagnosed with RED-S I was at my absolute peak, both mentally and physically,” she said. “I was recording personal best times and had just completed my Sports Studies degree at Cardiff Met.

“I was on the slim side at 50kg but I had no idea there was anything wrong until I went to have my contraceptive implant removed

“It was only when my periods, which had stopped, failed to resume, that it became clear there was a problem.

“At first the GP and a specialist gynaecologist put that down to my training regime, but I’d read about RED-S and asked them to investigate the condition and sure enough that’s what it was.

”Now Issy, who is studying for a Master’s Degree and preparing for the European Cup in Morocco later this year, is on medication to increase her oestrogen levels and is waiting for the results of nutrition tests.

“Hopefully this has been caught in time and we can correct any damage that’s been done,” she said, “but the frightening thing is not only that it’s such a silent condition but that it’s still a relatively unknown one.

“I share a house with medics and they aren’t taught about it at medical school – every student should be and particularly sports doctors.

“I just want other athletes, to be aware that if they are keeping up a heavy training schedule they must keep their calorie intake high and if their periods stop for any reason they must ask to be investigated for RED-S.

Following a string of successes, Alice Walsh, 25, from Hever, made the reserve for the GB Ladies Team’s recent tour of South Africa (Sept 2022).

And now she’s not only preparing her two ponies Mabel and Margery for the upcoming polo season, but she is working flat out to raise the money she needs to add to her stable.

One of the world’s oldest known team sports, the costs involved in polo – from owning, training and stabling at least four and up to 10 horses and travelling around the world – make it generally inaccessible to anyone other than the seriously rich.

But Alice, who lives with her mum in a rented flat, is determined not to let money – or the lack of it – hold her back.

She was able to buy Mabel and Margery cheaply as they were bred for racing but didn’t grow tall enough and has trained them for polo herself.

“I’m not your typical polo player by any stretch of the imagination,” she said, “as I simply don’t have the funds.

“But I know I’m at the top of my game – and so are Mabel and Margery – so I’m determined to give it my best shot.”

Alice’s love of horses started in childhood  – and her skill at handling them took her to the New Forest Polo School.

A stint in Argentina – whose players are world famous within the sport – then followed and brought the opportunity to work with 10-goal player Sebastian Merlos.

In order to fund her progress through the sport Alice worked in London as an IT consultant after graduating from Warwick University and set up her own business, Lineup Polo, which supports players and clubs worldwide by streamlining tournament management and sharing data for spectators to follow the sport.

“I know how hard it has been – and still is – for me to keep going in this sport,” she said.

“And not only is the business an income stream but it also enables me to encourage other young players – men and women – to take up polo and progress within it.

“It’s my whole world and although it’ not easy, I’m proof that you don’t need to be rich or privileged to enjoy it and succeed.”

A PRISONER turned paddleboarder is to return to gaol – to plant trees. 

David Haze, 37, turned his back on a life of crime after serving a three year stretch for burglary and handling stolen goods at HMP Guys Marsh, Dorset.

Instead, he took to the water in a bid to reconnect with the natural world and has since gained seven world paddleboarding records – and is preparing for his eighth.

On 14 October, he will fly to Reykjavik and on to Egilsstaðir in a bid to cross Iceland’s longest lake, Logurinn, in less than six hours.

And to offset the 322kg of CO2 emissions created by his 3800km return flights, he is teaming up with The Woodland Trust to plant 70 trees in the grounds of HMP Leyhill, Gloucester.

He will plant a variety of species, including alders, common beech, common osier and field maple, in the prison grounds “to create a green space in an environment surrounded by so much failure and negativity to inspire growth, rehabilitation and connect with nature.”

A former forex trader in London, David turned to crime and drugs after losing his lucrative City job, ending up with two stints in prison.

However, after enrolling in a prison reform programme, he turned his life around and he said the decision to plant trees in the grounds of a prison “will give hope to others who are in the same position I was.”

David, from Bournemouth, said: “The great outdoors and nature have completely transformed my life and I hope I can pass this on and help others get through some of the most difficult times in their lives.”

His Icelandic challenge comes hot on the heels of his recent 70m circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight – which was entirely carbon neutral – and is sponsored by leading UK-based environmental technology company Oscar Propulsion.

Its patented unique slitted design on his paddles have enabled him to paddle for longer while reducing the risk of injury.

Duncan Troy, CEO at Oscar Propulsion said: “Having Oscar Propulsion’s blade technology validated by such an inspirational young man is incredible.

“David Haze is a truly remarkable role model and it’s great to be contributing to his adventure and wellbeing.”

As Bluewater continues its rapid growth as a significant global hydration force, Aldridge is now teaming up with the brand that fully aligns with her own commitment to end the use of throwaway plastic bottles. The partnership is geared to last at least two years and will hopefully see the British Sailing Team sportswoman successfully represent Team GB at the 2024 Olympic Games in France.

Under the partnership Ellie will appear at relevant Bluewater events, support Bluewater in its anti-single use plastic bottle messaging via social media and publicity, and showcase Bluewater branding on her training and competition and racing equipment where possible.

Ellie’s status as a one of kite foiling’s most successful international competitors and a pioneer for the sport has been confirmed by a raft of wins in the KiteFoil World Series and other events where she regularly places in the top three.

“Kite foiling is grippingly fast and furious and not for the faint-hearted, but it is also all about enjoying a sport that embraces getting closely involved with the two natural resources of water and wind which makes it deeply connected to the environment and its life giving elements,” said Ellie, with a broad smile. She added that nothing angers her more than seeing the plastic litter that frequently pollutes ocean waters in so many parts of the world where she competes.

Bluewater founder and CEO, Bengt Rittri, said: “As a company that has put ending the need for single-use plastic bottles at the very heart of our business, the new relationship with Ellie Aldridge is a landmark moment for us. At a time as we evolve as a company hydrating people in their homes, workplaces and at public events, festivals and venues, Ellie represents a new, younger generation of sporting athletes who captivate fans with their brilliance, commitment, and love for a healthier planet.”

Bengt added: “With the honours she has already achieved, we believe Ellie is on a path to greatness in a thrilling new sport built on speed, commitment to excellence, and an authentic thirst shared with us at Bluewater to leave the planet a cleaner place for future generations. We cannot wait to build the partnership with Ellie to help in stopping the insanity of a million single-use bottles being produced every minute with most ending up in landfills or the oceans.”