Funds raised by a charity set up by the late young event rider Hannah Francis will go towards exploring new and kinder treatment options for cancer patients.

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity has joined forces with The Bone Cancer Research Trust to award a grant to Dr Jun Ishihara at Imperial College London for research into a new immunotherapy approach to osteosarcoma.

Hannah was diagnosed with bone cancer in May 2015 and died the following year aged 18. She founded Willberry Wonder Pony to raise money for bone cancer research and to grant horsey wishes to those with serious illnesses. This initiative is the latest in a number of other research projects the charity has supported.

“When Hannah was ill, we investigated all the potential treatment options available, although these were few and far between,” said Hannah’s parents, charity trustees Rachel and James Francis.

“One area of rapid development for other cancers was in immunotherapy, but no such options existed for osteosarcoma. So we are hugely excited about jointly funding this new grant, which will explicitly investigate this exciting area of science.

“We’re equally pleased to be working with the Bone Cancer Research Trust as we both share the same vision and a determination to provide brighter prospects for those diagnosed with this dreadful disease in future.”

A protein named interleukin-12 (IL-12) is known to successfully activate anti-tumour immune cells against several cancers. But it also induces severe toxicity to other tissues. Dr Ishihara has been able to reduce the effect on healthy tissue, while delivering the protein to the tumour.

The project aims to extend the results found in other cancers to a full range of laboratory models of osteosarcoma. It will also look at whether combining this with part of the current chemotherapy regime can have additional benefit.

Dr Zoe Davison, head of research, support and information at the Bone Cancer Research Trust, said: “Immunotherapy is emerging as an effective treatment in many cancers and works by helping the immune system find and attack cancer cells.

“With treatment options for osteosarcoma patients remaining unchanged for decades it’s vital that we investigate options such as immunotherapy for our patients and try to translate the progress being made in other cancers to osteosarcoma.

“We’re delighted to be able to do this in collaboration with Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, which wholeheartedly has the same aim as us, to offer osteosarcoma patients kinder and more effective treatments.”

This project is also supported by the Albert Gubay Foundation.

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Hannah’s legacy: Willberry charity funds sixth bone cancer research project

“Hannah would be amazed to see that her charity is already funding six projects and we’re so proud of her

Willberry Wonder Pony backs new Happiness Horsebox to help disabled and the seriously ill enjoy the ‘magic’ of horses

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A purpose-built horsebox that will enable people with life-changing injuries and illnesses to enjoy “magical” rides with horses has launched its services around the UK.

The not-for-profit Happiness Horsebox is the brainchild of British Horse Society and Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) coach Liz Morrison. Liz came up with the idea five years ago as she had become more aware of the variety of disabilities and illnesses affecting people throughout their lives, including some of her friends.

The lorry, built by Haynes Horseboxes, has been fitted with a hydraulic platform to allow disabled riders to be lifted on to a horse, so they can enjoy rides in “special places” such as the countryside, instead of being restricted to arenas. The box also offers a warm living space, which can be overlooked by two horses, aimed at hospice and care-home visits, during which individuals can spend private time with horses. It can also be booked by para riders for competitions.

Liz started fundraising for the project, and although Covid delayed the build of the horsebox, it has now been completed and was unveiled at the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Lambourn open day in April. More than £80,000 was raised for the horsebox, including funding from the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Charitable Trust, Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, the Greenham Trust, the Country Land and Business Association and Sport England – with support from WTTL driver training.

“Through my RDA coaching I became really interested in what we can do to help people with disabilities. I realised one of the biggest issues is getting people on to a horse, unless you have a lifting platform like you get in some of the bigger RDA centres,” Liz told H&H.

“Enjoying a lovely ride in the countryside is one of these magical things, but it’s the most inaccessible thing if you’ve got a disability so I said ‘Let’s put a lifting platform in the lorry’.”

Liz hopes the project can expand in the future to include more horseboxes based in different regions.

“We are interested in partnerships so we can get more funding and make the horsebox as cheap as possible for people to use when they need it,” she said. “We would like to be able to subsidise it for someone who, say, has cancer and wants to have a last magical ride with their horse somewhere beautiful and private.”

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony donated £12,000 to the Happiness Horsebox.

“Before Hannah was so tragically lost to us she was invited by many leading equestrians to go and have a horsey experience riding their horses or visiting their yards, from the likes of Piggy March to many others,” Miles Toulson-Clarke, a Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony trustee, told H&H. “Hannah found during her darkest time those experiences gave her some light and hope, and made her forget all about her horrific illness. When Hannah set up the charity she wanted to be able to provide similar experiences under ‘Willberry’s wishes’.

“Often we’re asked by people who are extremely ill to have a horsey experience but quite often they might find the physical act of riding a horse extremely difficult, so when Liz got in touch with us we were keen to support it because it sounded like a fantastic initiative and we knew it would be very complimentary to our Willberry’s wishes programme. We always have Hannah on our shoulder, thinking whether she would approve or not, and we know she would approve of this.”

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Tokyo Olympic team gold medallist Laura Collett turned hairdresser this week as she shaved a rider’s head with horse clippers for charity, under the careful supervision of London 52.

Rachael Mason pledged to shave her head for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, the charity set up by event rider Hannah Francis who died from osteosarcoma aged 18. Rachael reached out to Laura through mutual friend, equine photographer Laura Ness, and asked her to do the honours.

“Three years ago I was involved in a charity event for the Blow for Bradley campaign and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony kindly donated some prizes for our raffle. In return I said I would shave my head to raise money for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, but I’d always had short hair so I had grow it first or I would have felt a bit like a cheapskate!” Rachael told H&H.

“Last year the shave didn’t happen and everyone kept asking when I was going to do it. I was working at Bicton Horse Trials recently doing stable security and had hoped to do it there, but Laura wasn’t competing so I waited and we did it at her yard on Monday (20 September).”

Laura put Rachael’s hair into a plait before shaving it with horse clippers while London 52 watched over proceedings.

“Laura Collett was absolutely lovely and the team at her yard were such good sports. We were joking at the start if I would need twitched first! I wanted Laura to do it because I’ve always admired her – she is such an amazing rider and role model,” said Rachael.

“My hair was down to the middle of my back so it’s certainly very cold now and I’ve never been one for wearing hats. My daughter Sarah is getting married in April and said ‘Mum, I hope you have hair for my wedding!’.”

Rachael is hoping to raise £500 for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony and donations can be made via Rachael’s JustGiving page.

“I’ve done fundraising for the Wiltshire air ambulance and other organisations before and I always try to give something back,” she said.

“I knew Hannah through the Wyle Valley Pony Club. She was a very inspirational young lady and never gave up. The charity works so hard to keep her legacy going. It was nice at Bicton to still see some of the event riders still have their Willberries on and even the police horses had a Willberry too.”

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Hannah Francis’s legacy is as strong as ever, as the charity she founded announces its sixth research project into bone cancer.

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity is funding a PhD study, based at Middlesex University. The research, led by senior lecturer Helen Roberts, will investigate the way rare cancer osteosarcoma spreads to other tissues and organs.

The charity was established by eventer Hannah in March 2016, five months before she died aged 18 from the aggressive cancer.

“Hannah was determined to ensure that no-one with a diagnosis of osteosarcoma in the future would have to endure the bleak prospects and archaic treatment regime that she experienced,” a spokesman for the charity said.

Survival rates in osteosarcoma patients have not changed, partly owing to a lack of research into why the cancer spreads, and what causes this.

Dr Roberts said: “I am delighted that Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity has given me the opportunity to investigate why osteosarcoma tumours metastasise to the lungs. Along with our collaborators at the Royal Veterinary College [RVC; University of London], we plan to use cutting-edge cell-based assays to define not only the role of the bone cells, but also the lung environment.”

The project will draw on the tissue engineering experience of Scott Roberts, senior lecturer in translational skeletal research, RVC, who has spent years developing laboratory-grown tissues that can be used for regenerative medicine and investigation of disease processes.

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Dr Roberts said: “I am very excited to collaborate on this project. We have built up a great deal of knowledge of how to replicate disease processes using tissue engineering which, along with our current understanding of osteosarcoma biology, should allow us to identify drug targets that specifically suppress tumour metastasis.”

The team has recruited student Daniela Paternina, who will join Middlesex University in April.

Rachel Francis, of the charity, said: “We’re very excited to be announcing this new project, which is our sixth and the first PhD programme that we’re fully funding. It also represents our first engagement with Middlesex University and we look forward to working with Helen, Daniela and the team.

“Hannah would be amazed to see that her charity is already funding six projects and we’re so proud of her and her continuing legacy.”

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The sport of dressage often comes with certain stereotypes, but outside the pristine white boards of the arena, there are plenty of dressage riders getting up to antics you might not expect...

1. An Olympic gold medallist goes hedge-hopping

Olympic gold medallist Laura Tomlinson has been known to swap the dressage arena for a spot of hedge-hopping recently aboard her trusty hunter Dan. And, perhaps unsurprisingly given that she is married to England polo player Mark Tomlinson, Laura also enjoyed indulging in some polo over the summer, explaining that a change of scene helped her remember what a blessing it is simply to spend time with horses in any capacity.

2. A different type of horsepower

Gareth Hughes is not quite your typical dressage rider in many ways, having grown up in Australia and having a passion for reining, and this year he tapped into his wild side again by introducing a new ride – this time in the shape of a Harley Davidson motorbike!

3. Combining eventing with dressage – literally

Dannie Morgan juggles eventing with grand prix dressage, so it was inevitable that sooner or later he would combine the two sports. Dannie famously began a trend among dressage riders of attempting a line of tempi-changes into a fence, and also took it a step further himself, with this impressive canter zig-zag into a skinny.

4. Swapping the arena for the hunting field

Dressage legend and five-time Olympian Carl Hester enjoyed a change of scenery when he spent a day out trail-hunting with the Heythrop last year, and wrote about it afterwards in H&H. Although he admitted it had been 10 years since he last left the ground, Carl said his day out with hounds was “totally exhilarating”.

5. Dressage rider to jockey

Dressage rider and trainer Ali Dane took on a huge challenge in 2017 when she took part in the Champions Willberry Charity Race at Cheltenham. Ali swapped her Pikeur breeches and dressage saddle for racing colours and short stirrups and after only 60 days of training finished the 1 mile 5 furlong race well riding Miss Inga Sock.

6. Taking on a marathon

Several well-known riders have added the impressive achievement of running a marathon to their sporting CVs, with a fair few dressage riders among them, such as Andrew Gould, Judy Reynolds and Olivia Oakeley. Grand prix rider Alice Oppenheimer (pictured during a training race) is set to run the postponed London Marathon in October 2021, raising money for Brooke.

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Riders of all levels who want to “dream big, fight hard and never give up” are being recruited for a new initiative by the founders of the Wobbleberry Challenge.

The Wobbling for Willberry – 7 Goals for 2020 will run in addition to the original challenge, which involved riders aiming to complete a British Eventing BE80(T) to raise money for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

A spokesman for the Wobbleberry Challenge, which began in 2016, said hundreds of riders have completed the challenge so far raising more than £300,000 for the charity.

“This new initiative came about because there are people who have completed the original challenge; and some that for various reasons who will never be able to complete it, but still want to be involved. We’ve also been approached by people who want to raise money but a BE80(T) is not currently a suitable aim. This initiative is aimed at anyone interested in supporting the charity, that want to – in Hannah’s words – ‘dream big, fight hard and never give up’.

“The idea is anyone who wants to participate, sets and registers their own seven goals. These can be at any level and they need not be competitive. All those who complete their goals next year and have raised the minimum sponsorship, will be given an achievement rosette.”

Sally Barr, founder of the Wobbleberry Challenge, thought of the initiative after she was unable to complete a BE80(T) due to her horse’s retirement.

“I have now been lucky enough to find another horse, but it is going to be a long journey for us. I am still as committed to my BE80(T) aim, but that’s not realistic for us for 2020. I decided to break it down into mini goals, which is where this idea came from,” she said.

“I’ve made some great friends within the online community, and I know this idea suits many of them. I am hoping by opening it up we can grow this further and continue to help build Hannah’s legacy and raise funds for the wonderful work that the charity does.”

Participants will have access to a private Facebook group to support each other and Jenni Winter-Leach of Flying Changes Coaching, a graduate of the Wobbleberry Challenge, will also be supporting the initiative.

“A video tutorial on goal setting is available to all who sign up, and Jenni is also donating a free one-to-one session to one lucky winner – to be drawn in January,” said the spokesman.

The spokesman added that those who do not own their own horse are also being encouraged to get involved and said the organisers are keen to work with riding schools, including The Owl House Stables in Kent.

The Owl House Stables manager Rachel Wright said: “I think it’s a great idea, I have a few clients I have already mentioned it to as some of them will never do a BE80(T). This is a great way to engage people who want to be involved. I have really enjoyed helping the Wobbleberry Challenge. We run camps and clinics at a discounted rate and participants can bring their own horse or borrow one of ours.”

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Hannah’s mother Rachel Francis, trustee of Hannah’s Willberry Wondery Pony charity, said the initiative is a “fantastic idea”.

“Hannah had many goals, we all know how hard she fought to achieve these driven by her passion, determination and love for her horses – she would approve. Hannah continues to inspire so many, and as her parents this makes us so proud. We cannot thank Sally and her team enough for their continued support, every penny raised will help us to fight this truly devastating disease.”

Participants must raise a minimum sponsorship of £20, and riders who raise more than £50 will be entered into a prize draw at the end of 2020. Those interested in signing up can do so at www.wobbleberries.com.

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A rider who jumped clear across country to finish fifth in an event three days after she underwent chemotherapy said crossing the finish line was “the best feeling ever”.

Jayde Payne was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in early August, but was determined her eventing season would not be cut short.

So although she had her sixth session of chemotherapy last Wednesday (23 October), she was competing at Tweseldown last Saturday on her 10-year-old gelding Will Splash.

“It was a bit of a shock to be diagnosed but I’ve just taken it in my stride really,” Jayde told H&H. “I’d had no symptoms, just a lump in my neck so I went to the GP and they found more lumps – so I went to a specialist, had a biopsy, and they said that’s what it is.

“I’ve just looked at it like it is what it is; there’s nothing I can do about it so let’s just crack on and get better.

“Getting diagnosed would have cut my season short so I thought ‘No, I want to carry on, I’m fine to do one more’.”

Jayde ,who has also been hopping hedges out hunting since her diagnosis, has kept “Baz” fit throughout her treatment so far.

“For the first six to seven days, it makes me feel really hungover, and exhausted,” she said. “But if I’m tired, I just lunge him, and whenever I’ve felt good enough, I’ve ridden.

“I’m not going to stop doing what I want to do, stop living my life, just because I’ve got cancer.”

Jayde, who had been competing at 100cm level but dropped down to 80 for this unaffiliated event, lives near Tweseldown but an 8am dressage time meant she was up at 5.30am.

“I didn’t feel too bad because I just kept going,” she said. “It was only when I got home and sat down that it hit me!

“I had to warm up in the pitch dark as he can be a bit enthusiastic so he needs a good 40 minutes and it was blowing a gale so I was pleased with a 31.3 dressage.”

Baz had two poles showjumping – “which is very good for him; he was having 24 faults last year” – and then went clear inside the time across country to finish fifth.

“It was amazing; he’s a cross-country machine who’d go round on his own,” she said. “It was the best feeling ever; I thought ‘I’m still here, doing this despite what everyone said’ and how it felt when I crossed the finish line – I squealed with excitement.

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“It was awesome and to get placed was the icing on the cake; I hadn’t expected that.”

Jayde said her “supercob” will now have a month off after their event, which raised over £600 for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, and do some hacking over the winter. Her chemotherapy is due to finish in January, after which she hopes to crack on ready for next season.

“My mid-term scan has come back all clear; the doctors said they were going to cure me, not treat me,” she said.

“I’ll be hacking him out in December and January, in hope we’ll both be ready to start next season in full health.”

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A rider who has broken her back, ribs, sternum and wrist in two separate incidents during the past two years has completed the Wobbleberry challenge – on a horse she thought would have to be put down.

Jane Shepstone and Bushfield Diamond (Paddy) completed the BE80(T) at Askham Bryan College on 12 October, two years after Jane had decided to take on the challenge.

“I signed up – but then I just decided to start throwing myself off horses for fun!” she said.

“In the build-up to it the first year, a horse spooked into me as I was bringing him in in the wind and sent me flying – I ended up with a lot of metalwork in my wrist and that pretty much wrote off the first year.

“Last year, I had an entry in, and was going to do an unaffiliated event as a warm-up, all the training was terrific – then I had an accident.”

Jane was galloping Paddy in a field when, in a freak set of circumstances, a lorry carrying a crane appeared on the road the other side of the fence.

“The arm of the crane came over the hedge towards us,” she said. “It freaked my horse out completely because he hadn’t seen it coming, and neither had I.

“He bolted and because he went so fast, he kept up with the crane, which was swinging back and forwards.

“I came off at such speed, it was like landing on concrete. I had four broken ribs, a cracked sternum and a cracked vertebra. That accident was my lowest point.”

Jane said that having come back to the point of entering an event, a challenge she hoped would rebuild her confidence after previous horse-related injuries, this latest fall made her consider giving up riding.

“I thought sell the horses, be sensible, I’m 50 this year,” she said. “I was thinking I was rubbish but my friends and trainers said I’d just been unlucky. It wasn’t my fault, and hadn’t been because I couldn’t ride. They picked me up and I thought ‘let’s go for it’.”

Jane was told she could not ride again for eight months but having broken her back before, she said, she knew if she waited that long, she would struggle with nerves.

“I thought if I didn’t do it when I did, I never would,” she said.

“Knowing it hadn’t been Paddy’s fault made it easier trying to process it all mentally, I just knew I had to get on.”

By the end of last year, Jane was jumping again, so she set her sights on completing the challenge this season. As she works at weekends a great deal, the “season was disappearing”, while the unaffiliated competitions she had planned to enter were lost to the weather.

“So Saturday at the event was my first time doing a proper cross-country course,” she said. “I didn’t really mind what happened in the dressage, and had myself in a good place with showjumping – but the cross-country terrified me witless.

“My good friend Will walked it with me and he realised by fence four that I was absolutely green; it was all going horribly wrong. I just thought I’d have to do what everyone says: kick on and see how it all works out.

“We had one naughty run-out – he just jumped sideways – but otherwise, it was great. We got round, never having done it before, and when I came through the finish, I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry or pee myself. I was so happy and emotional, I think I did all three!”

The achievement – they scored 31 in the dressage and had one down showjumping – was all the more special to Jane as two years ago, she thought she would lose Paddy.

“He had problems with his suspensories and hocks, we couldn’t keep him sound,” she said. “He’s such a big chunk of a horse and every time we almost got him right, something else would happen.

“I’d made the decision to put him down but my friend Donna said ‘give me six months with him’ – she rehabbed him and it was the best thing we’ve ever done.

“Just before the event; I was thinking ‘we shouldn’t be here’, but my vet texted me to say we’d have an amazing time. I’m not the sort of person who cries but the reality of it all just hit me.

“He’s fitter and stronger than he’s ever been; I got back this fit, amazing, wonderful horse. His personality is brilliant; he’s cheeky and naughty, but what a dude, to get me round.”

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Jane has raised over £11,000 for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity through her challenge, which she described as “incredible”.

“When Hannah [Francis] died, it was so emotive,” she said. “I remember thinking about this girl I’d never met, and seeing how brave she was with all she did while she was so ill, and I thought ‘I can do this’.

“I’ve always been a wimpy rider but she’s been so inspiring to so many people, and I think that’s what kept me going.”

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A rider who within 12 months has been diagnosed with cancer and undergone major surgery to remove all the organs from her pelvic cavity is now aiming to complete the Wobbleberry challenge.

Rachel Copping underwent a pelvic exenteration in May, as the cancer in her cervix, for which she had been treated, had spread.

She spent five weeks in hospital, and now has two stomas, as both her bladder and bowel were removed in the radical surgical treatment.

“It was either have that or I wouldn’t have any life – I’d die,” Rachel told H&H.

“They didn’t tell me how long I’d live for; I didn’t ask.

“I just thought, I don’t want to die yet. I was 36 then, and I thought this isn’t the end for me, it can’t be.”

Rachel was diagnosed with cervical cancer last September. She underwent chemotherapy and brachytherapy – a form of internal radiotherapy – and her doctors were positive about her prognosis.

When Rachel started showing bowel symptoms, it was at first thought this was an effect of the radiation, then that just a hysterectomy might be effective – but later scans found the cancer had spread and the exenteration was needed.

“It’s strange because although everyone says it was major surgery, I still don’t really believe it was; I don’t believe so much of me has been taken away, and although I still have the two stomas, I’m no different in myself,” she said.

“I’m in pain most days and it’s a struggle to get out of bed but I don’t see myself as having had cancer or major surgery; if I was in a line-up and someone asked all those who had cancer to step up, I wouldn’t, as I’d think ‘that’s not me’.

“The hardest thing is that a year ago, I didn’t feel ill, but now, after it all, I feel worse than I ever have. I understand it’s saved my life but it’s also hard to really understand why I’ve put myself through it all when I felt ok.”

In 2017, Rachel bought a two-year-old in hope of eventing her. But when she learned her cancer had spread, and thought she would never ride again, she found her “the best home possible”, with a rider whose horse had to be retired after an injury.

Since her operation, she has been back in the saddle a few times, on her former racer and dressage horse Dushy, on whom she hopes to complete her Wobbleberry challenge.

“For the first two months after the operation, I didn’t want to go to the yard,” Rachel said. “When I saw my horse, all I could see was the life I’d had before and I couldn’t be around it all.

“But my wonderful friend Lili Brooksby-Dalby picked me up from home – and it’s a 40-minute drive – and took me to hers.

“It was funny because I was excited about going, then the closer it got, the more I didn’t want to go. I have issues sleeping, eating, and the aspects of dealing with the stomas; not being in control of them and the noise.

“The anxiety of it all made me try to cancel but she just said ‘Tough, I’m coming to get you.’ She’s got five horses and I sat and watched her ride, and thought ‘I miss this so much’.

“It was the time she spent with me that put me back where I belonged. I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without her; she’s done more for me than anyone has ever done.”

Straight after this visit, Rachel told her partner she wanted to ride again, and asked the girls at her livery yard to start bringing Dushy back into work.

She was back on board in mid-September.

“I cried,” Rachel said. “As soon as my bottom hit that saddle, I cried, and so did the girls. I think they thought it was pain at first but it was because I felt like me again.

“I’d lost so much of myself; not just physically but mentally, as I’d been in a lot of dark places, and I felt like I was home again.”

Rachel says she did not know where the idea of undertaking the Wobbleberry challenge, to complete a BE80(T) event came from, but that as she had thought she would never event again, the challenge gives her something to aim for.

“I love dressage and so does Dushy but she also loves jumping,” Rachel said. “Even if we get that one chance to do it, we’ll do it.

“Life’s too short to live it on what-ifs. You never think anything’s going to happen to you, but it does, and life’s too precious. You only get one life, so you need to make sure that whatever you want to do, go out and do it. No one else can do it for you.”

Rachel has had to overcome not only the pain caused by adhesions in her remaining intestines, but practical matters such as dismounting without disturbing the bags attached to her stomas. She also has to build her strength back up, as she has lost not only her core strength but also three and a half stone.

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“The issue is that some days I can’t eat, other days, I eat and then I’m sick; it’s a complete nightmare sometimes,” she said.

“But I want to build back up; I want to try to get some physio and a personal trainer, and I’m doing little and often with the riding. Once I’m able to, I’ll start flat lessons again, then do a dressage test, then start jumping and aim to do the event at the end of next season.”

Rachel said completing the challenge would mean she felt she is living the life she wanted.

“I’m not being a martyr, but if I sat there and did nothing, thinking of the what-ifs and not pushing myself – when you get cancer, you can’t let it rule your life, it can’t define you,” she said.

“I’ve still got my life and I want to make the most of it.”

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Hannah Francis’ legacy is helping fund a new three-year osteosarcoma research project.

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, which was established by the inspirational young event rider before her death in 2016, is part-funding the PhD research project that will build on preliminary findings into how to slow and control the growth of the rare type of bone cancer.

Charity Friends of Rosie Children’s Cancer Research Fund provided a grant for an initial two-year project, on which the new research will build.

Katherine Finegan led the early research, which found a protein called ERK5 can control the growth and spread of osteosarcomas. By removing ERK5, they were able to slow their growth and prevent the spread to the lungs.

Dr Finegan will lead the new project at the University of Manchester from this month.

“We’re delighted to be helping to take the very encouraging findings from the project funded by Friends of Rosie to the next stage,” said Rachel Francis, Hannah’s mum.

“We’re working hard to collaborate with fellow charities and ensure our research activity is joined up to ensure the greatest chance of success. We know Hannah would have been proud that her charity has enabled further research into this devastating disease.”

The PhD will build on the preliminary findings to explore exactly how ERK5 controls osteosarcoma progression.

“This information will help us understand how ERK5-targeted therapies would work. It will also help us understand the proteins that ‘talk’ and ‘listen’ to ERK5 during osteosarcoma development, something we know nothing about yet,” said Dr Finegan.

“Understanding these ‘conversations’ that ERK5 has in the cells enables us to find new proteins that we could target in the future to make new therapies for osteosarcoma.

“Secondly, this project will investigate if removing ERK5 can improve response to chemotherapy in models of osteosarcoma. Finally, we will use samples donated from patients (Biobank) to confirm that our findings from osteosarcoma models translate to osteosarcoma patients. Importantly, via another grant, we are making new compounds to target ERK5. Once these new compounds are available (by approximately the end of 2020), we will use them in this project to test their effectiveness in osteosarcoma models.”

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Friends of Rosie chairman Felicity Goodey added: “We’re delighted that our funding, which enabled this project to get off the ground, has already helped this vital research to secure further investment for the next three years.

“We’re hopeful that the project being funded by Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity will attract large-scale funding and help to improve the prognosis and treatment for children diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the future.”

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity was founded in March 2016 to raise money to fund osteosarcoma research and to provide equestrian experiences to seriously ill people.

It raised more than £1 million in its first two years and has funded a number of significant research programmes, including a grant of £230,000 to the University of Sheffield’s department of oncology and metabolism to look into identifying new drugs to treat the disease.

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A teenage rider who underwent major surgery for a rare form of ovarian cancer is to cycle more than 200 miles in aid of the hospital that saved her, and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

Tabitha Wood was 13 when she was diagnosed with cancer in September 2017, after which surgeons removed a tumour the size of a 20-week-old foetus. Having then suffered from internal bleeding and a spinal infection, she is now well, and determined to give something back.

“We didn’t know there was anything wrong at all, at first,” mum Sarah Wood told H&H.

“She had this lump and was tired, and the doctor thought it was PMT or diabetes. Then she went to hospital and they said: ‘I’m really sorry’.

“The tumour was huge; it was amazing she was still functioning.”

The grade three tumour was growing fast but as the cancer had not spread, the “amazing” surgeon who treated Tabby was able to remove it in its entirety.

A couple of months later, Tabby, who had previously competed in showing, riding at the Horse of the Year Show and the Royal International, but had moved into dressage shortly before her diagnosis, was back in the saddle.

“Horses were what kept her going through the worst times of her illness,” Sarah said.

“They cut her open from hip to hip so she struggles a lot with her core muscles, but she’s gone from doing her first prelim dressage test on her pony Otto in October last year to representing the northern region at dressage in the inter regionals this weekend (29 to 30 June) and also England and the north at the dressage home international next month.

“She keeps her pony with Amy Woodhead and Amy and her team have been amazing in nurturing her through the difficult times, even getting her a personal message from Carl Hester when she was ill, who’s her idol.

“She just got on with it; never complained or said ‘poor me’, she amazes me.”

Tabby still has to have regular scans to make sure she is clear of the cancer, and it was while waiting for an appointment at the Leeds General Infirmary cancer ward, “which saved her life”, but looked “a bit miserable”, when she suggested raising money.

“It’s an eight-bed ward for 15- to 18-year-olds and it’s lovely but not great so she asked the staff what they’d like and they suggested an iPad for each bed. Tabs said it would be amazing to make someone’s life better, that really got her going.”

In August, Tabby is to cycle from Charing Cross Hospital, where her specialist is based, to Leeds General Infirmary, with the aim of raising £10,000. Her brother Ben, 19, is to join her, as is her dad Adrian, “who’s considerably older!” while Sarah is to drive a motorhome for the cyclists to sleep in, on what they expect will be a four to five-day trip.

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The money will be split between the hospital and Hannah Francis’s charity, which sent Tabby clothing and a letter while she was ill.

“We were based with Amy, and Carl had sent her a lovely book and message so she couldn’t think of a horsey wish but they sent such a lovely supportive letter,” Sarah said.

“I think that’s one reason they’re such an excellent charity; a lot of people don’t know what to say but how they wrote the letter was brilliant, and made her feel so much better.

“We started her fundraising page on Wednesday (26 June) and in a half a day, it had raised £1,000. We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of people who don’t even know us.

“I think Amy would be so pleased to know she’s made things better for other children; she just wants to make a difference to other people’s lives. I’m so proud of her.”

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An equine veterinary practice is aiming to cycle, run and walk “around the world” as part of an 18,000-mile charity challenge.

The team at Loch Leven Equine Practice, from Kinross in Scotland, are attempting to cover the distance in aid of Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony and Vetlife.

They will be mirroring the route taken by Mark Beaumont, who set a new world record by cycling around the world in 78 days, 14 hours and 40 minutes.

The challenge kicked-off on 13 May to tie in with Mental Health Awareness Week 2019.

“Last year we raised a fantastic amount of money for our chosen charity Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony,” said Liz Somerville, director and practice manager at Loch Leven Equine Practice.

“Most of us know someone close who has been affected by some form of cancer and all of us share Hannah Francis’ love of all things equine.

“With ‘Lochberry’ leading the challenge we hope we can raise lots more for this very special charity.”

The challenge is expected to take several months to complete.

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“The second charity that we are fundraising for is Vetlife,” added Ms Somerville.

“They do an incredible job supporting people working in veterinary practice who are either struggling themselves with poor mental health or have been directly affected by others who are in need of help and support.

“This amazing charity has helped some of our own team and we will be sharing our own experiences during the challenge as well as raising awareness of the work that Vetlife do to help and support the whole practice team.”

Click here to donate www.justgiving.com/teams/LLEParoundtheworld

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Runners and riders from across the country are preparing to tackle the London Marathon for equine charities and a range of other good causes.

A world record 414,168 people applied for places in this year’s 26.2-mile challenge, on 28 April, with more than 40,000 expected to take part.

World Horse Welfare has five runners raising funds in its name.

Vet Anna Hammond from Bristol University veterinary school, who works at the charity’s Glenda Spooner farm, told H&H it will “mean a lot” to support it.

“I’ve got to know how the charity works and operates and I think it’s a fabulous organisation – I’ve been very impressed with the way it run things, the ethos and the strict moral values it applies to everything it does. I think World Horse Welfare does a splendid job,” she said.

Phil Newton, who ran for the charity last year, said he is “thirsty for more” after raising £2047 in 2018.

“I was a few minutes outside my target of a sub four-hour marathon last year and am determined to reach that goal this year. My wife, Vicki, works in the international department of the charity and we have rehomed a World Horse Welfare horse, Rana, who is very much for of the family,” said Phil.

Lottie Hing and Ruth Ellison are also running for the charity, along with World Horse Welfare design officer Matt Green.

A team of seven are raising funds for the Donkey Sanctuary.

Yvonne Moore, a 64-year-old “dedicated fundraiser” from Rochford missed out running for the sanctuary in 2018 and is “really excited” about taking part this year.

Andrea Barrett, a “loyal” supporter, was introduced to the sanctuary when she was very young when her grandmother adopted a donkey called Winston.

Shelley Hall and her partner Ashley Lloyd, Gavin Paye, Tanya Potiyenko and George Paraschou will also be part of the Donkey Sanctuary team.

Raising funds for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony is secondary school biology teacher and Pony Club coach Jenny Norman, who has been riding for more than 30 years.

Jenny told H&H: “Last year a pupil in my form at school lost her fight with cancer at the age of 15. She suffered from a form of osteosarcoma, very similar to Hannah Francis. This led to me becoming involved with the charity and I have been raising money ever since by completing runs and sponsored rides.”

Jenny will also raise funds for the Jess Grant Celebration charity, set up by Jenny’s students’ parents and Queen guitarist Brian May in Jess’s memory to support young people who are ill by funding music lessons.

Eleanor Martin and Rachel Hatcher are running for international equine charity Brooke.

Eleanor’s “passion” for equine welfare took her to India in 2017 where she helped develop a retraining of racehorses programme.

“I witnessed first-hand how different things are in the poorer countries and while these thoroughbreds were not subject to the conditions of those in Egypt or Jordan, the boys caring for them still had to learn about horse welfare, management and training methods,” said Eleanor.

The Royal Veterinary College has a team of eight runners raising funds to support the college’s animal hospitals including the equine practice and referral hospital.

Kyle McCreesh, Oliver Siddons, Sophie Tilyard, Eloise Nice, Paul Berrington, Leanne Smith, Kirsty Bendon and Hannah Lacey will run.

Georgie Dickinson, who is behind the marketing and sponsorship for Bede events, including Osborne House and Osberton Horse Trials, is raising funds for baby charity Tommy’s.

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Georgie, who has evented to intermediate level, told H&H it’s been tough fitting in training alongside her work commitments.

“Around the events I’ve been struggling to get the training in before and after work but because I’ve got the goal it’s kept me going. Everyone in the office have been incredibly supportive and really helped me along,” she said.

Lucy Cocker, a human physiotherapist, is raising money for Life Charity who fund equipment for disabled and terminally ill children.

Lucy, who events with her ex-racehorse General Samarski, told H&H: “I have brought him on from never jumping, up to BE novice level – he is not the easiest of horses but he has so much talent. I wanted to run the London marathon as a new challenge but I am really missing the start of the eventing season.”

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Some 45 five-foot pandas are going on to second careers around the country, having raised funds for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

Longleat safari park donated the herd of pandas, which had been part of its Christmas festival, to the charity, which then put out a call for rehomers.

The brightly-coloured beasts have gone to homes such as Boomerang Stables, the Japanese eventing team — and a man who wants to use one as the chassis of a kit car.

“They’re going to do fantastic things!” the charity’s Nikki Bakewell told H&H.

“Ascott Under Wychwood has taken some, quite a few people are going to use them for arena decorations. The Japanese eventing team has taken a couple and even Teddy the Shetland is having one.”

Nikki said Hannah Francis’s grandmother has a relation who works at Longleat, hence the connection, and that a local haulage firm delivered them free of charge, to a yard which is also storing them for free.

“So every penny is going to the charity, which is fantastic,” she added. “We set a minimum donation of £50 per panda so we should make at least £2,500, but some people have been very generous and given more.”

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Nikki pointed out that as well as raising money for the charity, set up by young eventer Hannah Francis before she died, to fund bone cancer research and grant horsey wishes to those with serious illnesses, the decorated pandas will also help raise awareness.

“They’re going to all sorts of places,” she said. “We’ll all see them — and horses get spooked by them — all round the country, for ages.

“They’re about 1.5m tall and on stands — one lady turned up with a car to collect hers and I said I didn’t think it would fit, but somehow she rammed it in.

“It’s great promotion for us, absolutely brilliant.”

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A young rider who battled mental and physical challenges to support others has won the 2019 Hannah Francis Award.

Claire Drey-Brown, who has competed up to intermediate level, carried on eventing throughout a hellish few years and is now supporting other teenagers to follow their equestrian dreams.

“I was firstly shocked and then really overwhelmed,” Claire, 21, told H&H. “The award is going to be presented at Kitty King’s yard and we are meeting Hannah’s parents as well as the person who created the award, I think it is going to be very emotional.

“Hannah was completely inspiring and taught everyone that no matter what your position is, you can always help other people.”

Claire’s brother, Jamie, had cancer at the same time as Hannah. She was very involved in supporting him, donated her bone marrow and along with her eventing friends raised £24,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust by doing the #eventersjump4cancer charity skydive. Sadly James died in April 2016.

“I followed Hannah’s story right from the beginning — my brother was really closed about [what he was going through] and it was helpful for me to see how he may have been feeling at times,” added Claire.

After the loss of her brother, Claire was diagnosed with depression and in December 2017 she shattered her ankle in a fall, for which she has had numerous operations and is still battling with pain and restricted movement.

Despite all this, Claire continued to event and in 2018 set up an academy, the CDB Eventing Squad, for teenage riders who want support or advice.

“It has been going really well — because I have had some time off riding over the winter due to my latest ankle operation it has given me time to really sit down and mentor them,” she said, adding it has also helped her to be “doing something constructive” while out of the saddle.

The youngsters come for training once a month and Claire continues to support them outside these sessions as well.

She also plans to set up an adult squad and is back riding, preparing for the eventing season.

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A spokesman for the charity said “each and every one” of the nominees reminded “Willberry” of the inspirational qualities of Hannah and the “pure strength and determination she showed the world”.

“Willberry was blown away with the can-do attitude Claire showed to continue to be so successful in the sport she loves despite going through such tricky emotional and physical battles,” added the spokesman.

“Despite these personal battles, the support Claire has shown to people surrounding her is inspiring to see.

“One things for sure, Jamie must be looking down with a heart filled with pride.”

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Hannah Francis’ legacy has helped an inspirational rider overcome huge challenges to achieve her goal of taking part in a British Eventing competition.

Clare Reeves had had a 20-year gap from horses when she bought her 14.2hh mare, Frankie, in March 2017 — and she believes the mare saved her life.

“I fell in love with her,” Clare told H&H. “From day one she would nuzzle my shoulder — of course they do it when they are looking for treats — but this was always in the same place.”

Clare added one day her shoulder was particularly sore after Frankie’s nudges and she found a lump, which she thought was related to the knock she had taken from the mare, but booked an appointment with her GP to have it checked out.

Her GP referred her to the breast clinic, where a biopsy revealed she had triple negative breast cancer.

“If it wasn’t for Frankie, I would not have found the lump and the cancer would not have been detected early enough — my prognosis would have been very different,” she said, adding the mare has not been interested in her shoulder since the tumour was removed

“I’m very lucky she drew my attention to it, I owe her my life.”

After surgery to remove the lump, Clare went through seven months of chemotherapy. During her treatment she decided she wanted a challenge, so signed up to join the Wobbleberries.

“It had to be something with Frankie because we have such a bond and started this journey together,” she added.

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity granted Clare a wish of 10 lessons with eventer James McIlough, plus a trip to Nick Skelton’s yard.

“He was brilliant and we trained all the way through my chemo, even when I was throwing up over Frankie’s shoulder and had to have someone help me tack up,” she said.

In January 2018, Clare visited Nick’s yard, which she said gave her the extra boost to complete her challenge.

“I never thought I would have the chance to meet anybody like him,” she said. “The riders in his arena were jumping fences that were absolutely huge — he showed me around the yard and just being there, soaking up the atmosphere, meant I came back with this newfound confidence and I felt that I really needed to get a grip over 60cm!”

Clare discovered she was a carrier of the BRCA1 gene and opted for a double mastectomy and hysterectomy to reduce the risk of the cancer returning.

That summer, Clare and Frankie undertook their first unaffiliated one-day-events before heading to Solihull BE80(T)in October, where they completed.

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Clare also raised close to £15,000 in the process, which she split between Willberry and Breast Cancer Care.

“My horse saved my life and the Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity saved my sanity,”she said.

Clare is currently cancer-free and continuing to enjoy riding and competing Frankie.

Willberry’s Wishes grants horsey wishes to seriously ill people of all ages, or an immediate family member of someone suffering from a terminal condition and is welcoming applications.

For more information, visit: www.willberrywonderpony.org/pages/willberrys-wishes

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A rider who was diagnosed with breast cancer in February completed the Wobbleberry challenge eight months later, on a horse she describes as an “absolute git”.

Claire Ryan underwent a lumpectomy, and the removal of 18 lymph nodes, as well as radiotherapy, but was competing again in unafilliated showjumping by June.

And the diagnosis was enough to prompt her to take on the challenge, of taking on a BE(80) event, which was started by a group of riders in memory of young eventer Hannah Francis, who died in 2016.

“I’d thought about it for a long time,” Claire told H&H. “I’d mainly showjumped but had never had a horse who could do all three phases.https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/wobbleberry-willberry-eventing-challenge-middle-aged-wimpy-riders-590664

“I have now but had never got round to it last year, then this year, because I had cancer myself and with what Hannah went through – although on a much bigger scale – I decided to do it.

“It was something to aim for and I thought, if Hannah can do it, so can I; she was just an inspiration.”

Claire was “impatient” to get back on board her Welsh section D gelding Neebro Jack in a Box after her treatment, so after her showjumping show on 24 June, she went on to do a mini one-day event in August.

“He did well,” she said. “That was his first ever cross-country clear, because he’s naughty, still green and very cheeky! But we came seventh.”

After a hunter trial in September, Claire and “Johnee” went on to take part in their first BE event at Askham Bryan College on 6 October.

“I’d never stopped talking about it,” Claire said. “I’d done all the preparations I could, including a disappointing dressage outing, so I thought I needed to do something about that, and had some flatwork lessons.

“This horse is a Welsh D and an absolute git! He’s hard work, challenging and harder than any former racehorse I’ve ever had, but I wanted a completion at the event – and that’s exactly what I got.

“He did a 36 dressage, the best he’s ever done, and clear showjumping with some time-faults as he was jumping so big my hat came down over my eyes. Then cross-country, we had some resistance at the water – he’s like a JCB, he’s so strong – and a cheeky run-out later, but other than that, he was brilliant.”

Continues below…

Wobbleberries’ future secured as annual challenge

‘The challenge has captured the imagination of the equestrian world’

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‘She inspired us all’: three heartening Wobbleberries Challenge stories

Three riders who took up the Wobbleberries Challenge to raise funds for Hannah Francis' Willberry Wonder Pony charity share their

Claire said there were other Wobbleberries at the event, “riding for Hannah”.

“I’m 52 and have lived my life but to die at her age, from a disease that’s so cruel – it meant a lot to me to do this,” she said.

“The event was absolutely fantastic, and now I’m addicted. I’d never been an event rider, but with this horse, I could be. He’s the most loving and forgiving horse but he’s been for sale countless times – he’s not for sale now.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Hi everyone,

First of all, please let me apologise for how long it’s taken me to sit down and write this blog. A few weeks have passed since the Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom which seems mad. Unfortunately in the days following the race, some people who had been key supporters of mine in the run up to and during the race, were involved a serious car accident and it just didn’t feel right sitting down to write about my amazing experience. I can happily report though that they are well on the mend, so the time now feels right.

So, let’s rewind to 25 August, 48 hours before my race, which is where my last blog left us (this is a long one, so grab a cup of tea and a biscuit, and bear with me!).

After working Jerry on Mick Appleby’s gallops on the Friday, I bid him farewell as that was the last time I would see him until race day on the Monday. Thankfully this time of year is the busiest for me work-wise, with plenty of events to cover on top of the day-to-day work I carry out for Horse & Hound. In the run up to the race, this very much kept my mind busy and helped prevent me from over-thinking the whole thing.

Monday morning soon arrived, and with my kit bag packed, we were off to Epsom. Amazingly I wasn’t sick through nerves at any point during the day. The only thing I can put it down to is that I knew I had done all my preparation to the best of my ability, and everyone around me knew this. The only pressure came from myself and what I wanted to achieve, so any jangling of nerves was more due to the fact I wanted to perform as well as I could, and not because I was scared.

Unfortunately due to traffic, we arrived a little too late to join in with the Bob Champion coursewalk — an opportunity missed, but something that was out of our hands. So I swiftly decamped and went to walk the course with my boyfriend Simon, who has some race riding experience. He is a brilliant calming influence but also competitive, which suits me very well. We talked tactics, assessed the going and made a plan. I had never been to Epsom before and the terrain and camber that I had been warned about was clear to see. Until you go and walk that course, you really don’t get a sense for just how rollercoaster-like the Derby course is — it’s gnarly!

It was then onto a smart lunch, which the organisers laid on for the charity race jockeys and their supporters. I was so lucky to have a small army of friends and family come down to Epsom to cheer me on. There was over 20 of us in total and it meant the world to me, so thank you to all of you — you know who you are.

I caught up with Bob at the lunch and we talked through the game plan for the race. Darby Dennis, who we know from home and who is on Epsom’s racecourse committee, who was very kind with his well wishes. Surprisingly (although perhaps less surprisingly to those that know me and my piggish appetite!), I managed to eat the first two courses of the lunch (I’m not a dessert person anyway), no problem at all — no sign of me not wanting to eat due to nerves! There was a fab auction and raffle and we also had a great vantage point in the suite we were in to watch some of the early races. All of the winners were coming stand-side on the home straight, which was my plan when I walked the course.

I then went to meet Laura Morgan, the trainer of my horse Jerry (Gee Sixty Six), and her great lass Kate Hanson. I was and still am so grateful to them for trekking all the way down from just north of Oakham so that I could ride in the race.

Then, when it was 4pm, all of us charity jockeys went down to the changing rooms to start getting ready, and for me to get into my wonderful Velcourt-sponsored kit. It was a surreal experience, rubbing shoulders with the other female professional jockeys — not for the first time on this incredible journey, I felt like a total fraud! But we all had a chat and a laugh and the general feeling was that of excitement. I then went to the very friendly valet, who sorted out the weight I needed to carry in addition to what I already weighed with all my race kit on. Although I didn’t have to carry nearly as much lead as tiny fellow charity race jockey Georgia King, who carried a remarkable four-and-a-half stone extra to make the 12 stone racing weight, I still struggled to carry everything!

I weighed out with the clerk of the scales and handed my saddle over to Laura, who then went off to saddle Jerry in preparation.

It was then time for us jockeys to have a few photos taken and talk some last-minute tactics. I firmed up that I was going to come stand side on the home straight and was reassured by the fact Alex Embiricos said she was going to do the same thing, as she has much more racing knowledge than I do!

And then it was time. The moment we had all worked so hard to prepare for. I had a tiny twinge of nerves, but honestly I surprised myself in how relaxed I was. I was just dying to get on and enjoy it — I honestly couldn’t wait. We all walked out to the parade ring and it was great to see my friends and family there supporting, and Jerry looking absolutely fantastic — Laura and Kate had turned him out so beautifully, four-leaf clover quarter-marks and all. He looked the bee’s knees.

I chatted to Laura, Simon and point-to-point jockey and trainer Dale Peters, who had also helped me so much in the run-up to the race. I can’t remember what was said as it was all a bit of a blur, and before I knew it, the bell was rung signalling for jockeys to mount.

I’m pleased to report that my leg-up went without incident and I didn’t fall straight off the other side — phew! We made sure that I got on Jerry as late as possible so that we could try to keep him relaxed and so we pretty much went straight down to the course (via some very amazing, but also very noisy supporters of mine, hence my cringe worthy sshhh-ing in the video below!).

All was fine walking down the shoot towards the course — we were at the back, just where we wanted to be, until suddenly Georgia’s horse did some unplanned acrobatics, depositing her the other side of the white rails in the process. Thankfully they were both fine, but this meant I was now in front of her. This doesn’t sound like it should have been a problem, but unfortunately it was.

I took Jerry to the far side of the course for the trip down to the start, to try and keep him away from the noise and crowds. This worked very well and I had him anchored, but then, completely understandably, as I was only steadily cantering, Jerry spotted Georgia go past. For us, that was the beginning of the end of our race. Going to the start at Epsom was the bit I have always been most worried about — as the track isn’t circular, you have to go the full 1m4f distance of the race to get to the start. We knew keeping a lid on Jerry for this was going to be our sticking point, and we definitely weren’t wrong. He cantered sweetly enough, but we were all instructed to walk the final seven furlongs to the start, as they tend to do in the Derby itself. The only problem for us was that this prolonged the amount of time Jerry had to get wound up. I tried my absolute hardest to keep him settled by not holding onto much rein and reminding myself to keep breathing and chilled too, while all the time talking to him, but he became quite warm and was very on his toes. I think mentally he had already run his race by this point.

Still, we had to focus on the next part which was the race itself and getting a good start. It had been drilled into me that races can be won or lost at the start, so I made completely sure I was exactly where I wanted to be. To my surprise, this actually happened exactly how I had planned it, and when the starter dropped his flag, we were spot on. We couldn’t have wished for a better start.

So off we went, not at a mad pace, but just right. I reminded myself to breathe and realise this was it. This is what I have been working for ever since I found out I was going to be riding in the race months and months ago. And boy, was it amazing!

Jerry seemed quite settled until a couple of other horses came to him and he then took a real pull. I told myself not to panic and to keep my hands down and weight against him. The first seven furlongs is all uphill, so by the time we got there, Jerry had settled back down again. We turned to start coming down the hill towards the famous Tattenham corner. People told me this feels like a rollercoaster, and it did. I did my best to keep a good hold of Jerry’s head to keep him in balance, and before I knew it we were coming out of the bend and onto the home straight. We got to the three furlongs to go pole and I looked up the hill to the finish line — I never thought we were going to make it — it looked so far away! I made my move to come stand side, as did a few others, but the rest stayed on the far side rail. I gave Jerry a squeeze and unfortunately I didn’t get much of a response. This meant I was going to have to debut my rather unrefined ‘riding a race finish’ style — which isn’t stylish AT ALL (see picture, top!).

People started to come past me and my heart sank every time they did — the places were slipping away, but I absolutely would not give up. I hadn’t worked this hard to just throw in the towel. So on I kicked and wobbled about a bit, channelling my inner non-existent Ryan Moore. Gorgeous Jerry kept going for me and we finished eighth. NOT LAST!! In my heart of hearts I would have loved to finish in the top four so that we got in the winners’ enclosure, but hey, a couple of weeks before the race, I didn’t even have a horse to ride, so this result wasn’t too shabby at all.

Georgia and Sula Island seemingly cantered to victory — on the bridle with a very stylish 16-year-old Georgia on board. What a thrill that must have been! Sixty-year-old Lucia Borradaile, who put us all to shame in our fitness assessment in May, was second, meaning the top two were Alan King-trained. While the lovely Spencer Sturmey was third on a horse trained by Jamie Osborne. I saw Spencer just two days later at the first Burghley trot-up, and he had already decided he was going to buy himself a point-to-pointer!

I got off Jerry once we had pulled up and took his saddle off, which nearly saw me fall over with the weight of it combined with my jelly legs! Everyone came to say well done and the realisation that it was all over started to sink in.

I said a big thank you and goodbye to Laura, Kate and Jerry, who went back to the stables to get ready to head home, while my supportive gang went to a room where the winning connections head to on normal race days, for a celebratory drink. Simon helped me carry my saddle back to the weighing room and after a quick change I also joined in on the celebrations. It was here that all jockeys received the most fantastic momento of the day — a mini Epsom-style iPad, which had our race downloaded onto it so that we can relive the experience again and again.

At the last count, £88,576.57 had been raised in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry the Wonder Pony — a truly brilliant effort by everyone.

Continued below…

From journalist to jockey: this is it — suddenly everything feels very real…

There’s a little over 48 hours to go until the big race

And so that’s the end of that chapter, although hopefully not the very end of my racing one. I now ride out as much as I can at Dale’s yard, where I will soon be trying my hand at having a go over some fences with his pointers. I decided I want to win a race, and then I will happily retire from it. I can’t settle for one eighth place — I want more! So, perhaps I might be seen point-to-pointing at some stage in the future, but if not, I am definitely going to continue riding out as, aside from really enjoying it, it continues to help my day-to-day riding.

I knew that this whole experience would be a fun thing to try, but I never in a million years dreamed it would have the affect on me it has. I’ve met some truly inspirational people and some incredible horses on this crazy journey — thank you to each and every one of you. I will cherish this forever.

Gemma x

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Well, this is it — the Champions Willberry Charity Derby is now a little over 48 hours away and everything is starting to feel very real. When I found out back in November last year that I would be riding in the race, it obviously felt a very long way away. But now it’s time to put into practice everything I’ve worked hard on over the past few months — I really want to make it all worthwhile. Although winning might not be quite within our reach having seen a list of the other horses in the race, I just want to give it my best shot and not look back on it wishing I could have done better. Most of all, I don’t want to let the horse (now nicknamed Gorgeous Jerry by myself) and everyone who has supported me down.

I really want to give my fundraising effort one last push — sorry, it’s probably getting annoying for you by now! But please do head over here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup and donate whatever you can. All the money is going to two incredible charities; Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony and The Bob Champion Cancer Trust, so please dig deep and, as I’ve said before, even if it’s £1, you will make a difference.

Yesterday morning (Friday) I rode Jerry in the one and only piece of proper work I was able to squeeze in before the race (see video top). I met his trainer, Laura Morgan, and Kate Hanson, who works for Laura, at local Flat trainer Mick Appleby’s yard near Oakham.

It was a great opportunity to give Jerry a proper workout on Mick’s gallop and get a feel for his gears and how and when to use them. The gallop also had a little downhill stretch which was useful to ride to get a feel of how Jerry might be when we’re going down and round the famous Tattenham Corner at Epsom.

I’m thrilled to report Jerry was fabulous — he’s such a gent and I hope it stays that way come Monday!

I’ve tried to keep up with my fitness and I feel a lot stronger than I did a couple of months ago. Unfortunately though (this is the competitive person in me speaking!), we all have to carry the same weight — 12st. This means that I’ve had to borrow a one-stone saddle and by the time I’m kitted out, I will still need to carry around 1.5 stone in lead. This is less than ideal from a racing perspective as it’s all dead weight, as opposed to weight that can actually be useful.

Excitingly I picked up my freshly embroidered kit from Racesafe HQ yesterday. Thanks to the team there, it looks very professional (insert joke about all the gear and no idea here…!). Again, I’m so grateful to Velcourt, a leading provider of farm business management and advisory services in the UK and overseas, for sponsoring my kit.

Everything is in place now, so it’s full-steam ahead. I have one more ride on Jerry tomorrow morning and then the next time I see him will be in the paddock before my race — argh! I’ve had all sorts of weird dreams and nightmares about the day, such as falling off as soon as I’m legged-up and also falling off at the start and watching the wonderful Jerry win the race without me, but thankfully the track in that particular nightmare was right-handed and not left like Epsom, so I’m praying it’s not a premonition!

I’m also so excited to have a bus-load of friends and family coming to support, enjoy the day and also hopefully keep me distracted — we need to be at Epsom at 11.30am to walk the course and enjoy a fundraising lunch, but my race isn’t until 5.55pm, so there’s a lot of time to get nervous!

Continues below…

From journalist to jockey: a panic search comes good

There’s just five days to go until the big race...

I will be in among some great other runners and riders, including Lucia Borradaile, who is rumoured to become the oldest competitor to ride around the Derby course at the age of 60. This is the same Lucia that put us all to shame in our fitness assessment at the British Racing School in May, so she is not to be underestimated! At the other end of the scale, 16-year-old Georgia King, daughter of trainer Alan King, is also having a go. She looks to be on a very good horse, and she is obviously very familiar with the racing world, not to mention the fact she recently represented Great Britain at the Pony European Eventing Championships. It’s going to be a hot race, but as long as we all enjoy it and runners and riders come back in one piece, it will be a success.

Wish us luck!

Gemma x

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The big day is just around the corner, and I can’t wait to get going in the Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom on Monday (27 August).

I’m going to start this blog with a big plea… Please, if you can possibly spare any size of donation to my fundraising efforts, I would be so grateful. All money raised goes to two amazing charities; Hannah’s Willberry the Wonder Pony and The Bob Champion Cancer Trust. The link to my fundraising page is here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup A huge thank you to those who have already generously donated, and I hope I don’t let you down on Monday.

My biggest news is that I have a horse to ride! After some unforeseen circumstances, I found myself a couple of weeks ago with no horse to ride in the race. I think I cried for about 10 seconds and then realised that wasn’t going to get me anywhere, so a nationwide search was put into action. After hundreds of emails, phone calls, and messages, thanks to some very helpful people, a horse was sourced. The wonderful Michael Grange put me in touch with trainer Laura Morgan, who very helpfully, is based just 25 minutes from home.

On Saturday Laura very kindly said she had a horse I could ride in the race, but unfortunately I was away covering the Pony Club Championships in Cheshire for work until late on Monday. The days seemed to drag by until, yesterday morning (Tuesday), I was introduced to the drop dead gorgeous Gee Sixty Six, or Jerry (pictured throughout and leading in the video) as he’s known at home.

Jerry is a big, bright bay four-year-old, who Laura bought this summer. He has run in 16 races, up to two-miles, all on the Flat bar one hurdles race.

It was love at first sight for me, and now, two rides in, I feel like we should be OK on Monday. Winning might not be within our reach, but as long as we enjoy ourselves, I will be happy.

I will be riding a proper piece of work on Jerry on Friday and hopefully that will set me up mentally for the challenge on Monday. Everything crossed!

I continued to ride out at Charlie Appleby’s until Jerry came into my life, and I’m hoping to go back there to ride out after the race, mostly to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped me on this journey.

Continues below…

Journalist to jockey blog: my nerves are starting to jangle

The countdown to race day is on as there is less than two weeks to go...

In other news, it seems this race riding training has had a positive impact on my day-to-day riding too. I took my own horse, Basil, cross-country schooling with my trainer, four-star event rider Richard Jones recently and he announced: “What’s happened? It looks like you’ve finally got some lead in your pencil!” I do feel like I’ve got more grit and determination than I had six months ago. I had no idea that this race would have such a big impact on me, but it has. I just want to get out there and make the most of it all now.

T-minus five days!

Gemma

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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There’s now just under two weeks until the Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom (27 August), and my nerves are starting to jangle. To combat this, every time the race pops into my mind, I quickly try to focus on something else — my thought process being, if I let myself get wound up about it with 13 days to go, I will likely hardly be able to walk come race day, let alone ride!

I have been heading to ride out at Charlie Appleby’s yard in Newmarket three times a week. I have to pinch myself every time I drive in through the electric gates adorned with the Godolphin logo, and I will be terribly sad when this whole experience is over.

I have met some wonderful people at Charlie’s and have learnt a great deal. I realised early doors that I couldn’t ask too many questions — the more I could learn about race and work riding, the better. Not to mention the fact that there are plenty of people in Charlie’s team that have ridden at Epsom and in the Derby itself (which is the course I will be racing over), so I have absorbed any advice they have offered on how to ride the track.

A real ‘is this really happening to me?’ moment occurred just a couple of weeks ago. As usual, I arrived at Charlie’s to ride two lots at 5.30am. I tacked up my first horse and as a bit of a change to normal proceedings, I was sent down to the main yard’s covered trotting ring where the big guns hang out, instead of staying at up at the yard I was usually riding horses from.

After a few laps of trot we peeled out of the trotting ring and Charlie said to me “You’re going up the grass today to ride a piece of work. Follow that horse in front of you until the three-furlong pole, then ease your horse upsides him, and then James will join you on the other side of you.”

That’s cool, I thought — how exciting to be allowed to ride a proper piece of work. Then I realised the James he was on about was none other than James Doyle. This is the same James Doyle who recently recorded his 1,000th career win, and the King George at Royal Ascot in June, not to mention the Irish Oaks last month too. No pressure then.

I was so nervous about messing it all up, but with Charlie’s instructions ringing in my ear, off we went. It was fantastic. I’ve most definitely never ridden a horse at such speed. I just kept telling myself to “keep straight or you’ll cause a bloody disaster”. The horse I was riding was one I have ridden almost every morning I’ve been at Charlie’s — he is usually on the keen side, but riding at a faster pace definitely made life a lot easier and I could actually fully enjoy the experience.

Upon finishing my morning’s riding out, I soon realised that the day marked two years since the tragic passing of Hannah Francis, the founder of her Willberry the Wonder Pony charity. Although I never met Hannah, I took a moment to remember her and the incredible legacy she has left behind. I am so fortunate to have this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I hope all of us can do her proud and raise a huge amount of money at Epsom. Please, please, please, if you can, donate to my fundraising page — all proceeds raised will be split between Hannah’s charity and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust.

In other news, I have secured a great sponsor for the race itself in the form of Velcourt, a farm business management and advisory service. I’m so grateful to them for agreeing to sponsor me and thanks to the wonderful Tom and James How at Racesafe, my Velcourt-embroidered kit is currently being prepared.

Article continues below…

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From journalist to jockey: I’ve got myself possibly the coolest gig going…

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I have also been lucky enough to have access to an equicizer, thanks to the Thorpe-Codman family, who live locally. Thanks also to the boots and one-stone racing saddle leant to me by point-to-pointing friend Lucy Wheeler, and proper breeches leant to me by my boyfriend Simon (well, I say leant, I don’t think he has fitted into them since his pointing days, so I will claim them as my own now!) I took the opportunity to have a session on the equicizer with all this kit to get a rough idea for how things will feel come race day.

Dale Peters, a friend and local point-to-point trainer and jockey (the current Midlands area champion), came to give me some advice. I wanted to learn how to ride some sort of finish, as although we aren’t allowed to use whips during the race, I still want to be able to have a positive affect on the horse in the run-in. Dale had me riding normally for a minute before getting to work for another minute — goodness know what I looked like, but I felt the burn — oddly not in my legs, which are reasonably strong, but everywhere else felt like it was going to fall to bits!

Anyway, the Thorpe-Codmans have kindly said I am welcome to their equicizer any time I would like, so I hope to make good use of it during the next couple of weeks.

The countdown is on!

Gemma x

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Hi everyone,

A lot has happened since I last blogged about my preparation for the Pertemps Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom (27 August — dear God, it’s less than five weeks away…!). In short, I have found myself riding out at one of the best yards anyone could wish to ever possibly visit, let alone ride at.

This all came about when Bob Champion called me saying “I’ve got you a trainer sorted. Come down to the Spring Meeting at Newmarket Racecourse and I can introduce you to him.”

So off I toddled one afternoon to be introduced to Charlie Appleby, who trains horses for racing giant, Godolphin, and who just so happened to train this year’s Epsom Derby winner, Masar.

A few weeks later at 4.20am, I typed in the postcode of the Moulton Paddocks yard from which Charlie runs his UK operation for Godolphin on the outskirts of Newmarket, and off I went.

I was completely crippled with nerves — it felt like my first day at school again. Would everyone laugh at how terrible a ‘jockey’ I was? Would I fall off? Would I get run away with? Would I ever be able to show my face at the yard ever again? I genuinely felt sick to my stomach.

There are no words to describe the set-up I was met by. If ever there was a place that would best represent horse heaven, this was it. There are several yards on the estate, all totally immaculate. Stables with shavings beds made to perfection. Horses with coats so shiny, you could see your face in them. A number of private gallops — grass and all-weather over varying distances. And staff — loads of them!

I was greeted warmly by everyone, all in matching ‘Godolphin blue’ and assigned my first horse to ride; a six-year-old. The first lot pulled out at 6am and off we went, initially trotting around a circular all-weather, before a 15 minute hack through the estate to the gallop we were using on those horses that morning — an eight-furlong woodchip — under the watchful eye of Charlie and his assistant, Alex Merriam.

I survived! And I survived the next lot too; a gorgeous two-year-old filly. And actually, I’ve survived all the ones I’ve ridden out since then (famous last words — I bet I get decked tomorrow morning…).

I drive down twice a week to ride two lots each time at the moment — the 4am alarm isn’t particularly welcoming, but actually it is great as I can fit it in before work starts at 10am — thankfully I work from home four days a week so there is nobody judging my horsey odour when I open my laptop to start my working day!

Everyone is so friendly and so free and generous in sharing their advice. I thought I was riding pretty short, but apparently not — I definitely still looked like I was riding at dressage length in comparison. So each time I go and ride out, I put my stirrups up another hole — I think I’m nearly there now (riding much shorter than these pictures show), and actually, as it was pointed out to me, it makes life a lot easier when trying to hold one that is a bit keen.

I know I’m probably not supposed to have favourites, but I have to admit I do; a three-year-old bay gelding who (so far!) has really looked after me, and allowed me to get to grips with things, such as position, my hands, reins and acclimatising to the pace these Flat horses travel at — upon reaching the top of the gallop on my first morning, a jockey commented I wasn’t meant to be puffing more than the horse. I explained the adrenaline rush was incredible — it took me until lunchtime to stop shaking…

I am so incredibly fortunate to be getting the once in a lifetime opportunity to ride in this brilliant charity race. Just writing it gives me goosebumps. I can’t wait, but at the same time, I don’t want the race to come around, because then it will all be over.

Talking of the race, I am currently in search of sponsorship for the clothing I will wear. There are three spots available for companies to display their name on my kit — on the leg of my breeches, on the neck line of my base layer and at the top of the back of my breeches. This is a great way to get involved with a truly historic day and an opportunity to advertise your brand in a unique way, with all money going to the two great charities; Hannah’s Willberry the Wonder Pony and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust. If you think you might be interested, or would like more details, please do get in touch with me via gemma.redrup@ti-media.com — all suggestions are very welcome!

Article continues below…

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You might have also seen that the race is being supported by a unique lunch, which is being held in the wonderful Diomed suite, with panoramic views and balcony overlooking the racecourse and Epsom Downs. Guests will be welcomed from 11.30am onwards with a champagne reception followed by a delicious three-course lunch. All the charity race riders will be there, plus celebrities from the racing and equestrian world, giving you a great opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the equestrian world’s big names. Not only that, but afternoon tea will also be served. Tickets are £125 per person, which includes racecourse entry — if you’re interested, please please visit www.championswillberry.org.uk or email lucy@bobchampion.org.uk.

My boyfriend and I also recently managed to find the only five nights we both had free in our diaries between now and next summer, and made a last-minute escape to Majorca. I took it upon myself to take full advantage of our all inclusive deal, Aperol Sprtiz’s et al, and have returned refreshed but unfortunately also quite fat — back on with the trainers it is…!

Finally, as always, please do feel free to donate to my fundraising page here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup All donations, no matter what size are so welcome as I’m desperate to raise as much as I can for both wonderful charities — thank you to anyone that already has!

Gemma

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A groundbreaking research project into a rare type of bone cancer has been launched thanks to Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

The charity, founded by eventer Hannah Francis who died two years ago from osteosarcoma aged 18, has awarded £230,000 to the University of Sheffield’s department of oncology and metabolism for research into the disease.

The grant will be spent on research in the hope of identifying new drugs that can be used either alone or in combination with chemotherapy to treat osteosarcoma.

Allie Gartland, professor of bone and cancer biology at the department, will be leading the research.

“Osteosarcoma is a particularly nasty disease which has very poor survival rates,” said Professor Gartland.

“Unfortunately, not all patients respond to chemotherapy – their tumours become chemo-resistant and their overall five-year survival rate is then drastically reduced.

“It is shocking to think that treatment for this particularly aggressive form of bone cancer hasn’t changed in the past 30 years.

“There is clearly a need to understand the mechanisms by which chemo-resistance develops so we can find more effective treatments.”

The disease affects about 160 people in the UK each year, of which 30 are children, and attracts very little funding because of its rarity.

This means that there has been limited research conducted in this area and treatment for the disease has not improved in the last 30 years.

“Our aim is to identify drugs that are currently used to treat other diseases, which may also be a more effective way to treat osteosarcoma – whether on their own or in combination with the current chemotherapy strategy,” added Professor Gartland.

In addition to the grant, the charity is also funding two PhD researchers to investigate why osteosarcoma cells become resistant to chemotherapy.

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Miles Toulson-Clarke, from the charity, added: “During Hannah’s illness, we contacted Professor Claire Lewis at the University of Sheffield to discuss her innovative ‘Trojan Horse’ research.

“Although there was sadly no opportunity for Hannah to benefit from this, we kept in contact with Professor Lewis and a meeting followed with her and Professor Gartland where the idea of the grant arose.

“Osteosarcoma can strike anyone, but many of the patients are young. The outlook is bleak and the condition causes immense physical pain, never mind the mental burden it imposes on the patient and those close to them.

“It became very evident to us during Hannah’s illness that more research was critical if progress was to be made.

“With her typical focus on others rather than herself, Hannah’s over-riding ambition was to ensure that patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma didn’t have to endure the horrific treatment regime she went through and, critically, that hope could be provided in the future. We’re immensely grateful to our tens of thousands of supporters for making this possible and this is just the beginning of our research funding.”

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Next month on Bank Holiday Monday (27 August), the first ever charity race will take place at Epsom Racecourse (pictured) — the Champions Willberry Charity Derby — and you could be there.

Epsom is the home of arguably the most famous Flat race in the world, the Derby, and this year the charity riders will be riding around exactly the same course and distance as this historic race, which will prove to be an almighty challenge and experience.

Here are just a few reasons why you should be there, plus one incredible opportunity that would make your day a particularly memorable one…

1. The race is being supported by a unique lunch, which is being held in the wonderful Diomed suite, with panoramic views and balcony overlooking the racecourse and Epsom Downs. Guests will be welcomed from 11.30am onwards with a champagne reception followed by a delicious three-course lunch. All the charity race riders will be there, plus celebrities from the racing and equestrian world, giving you a great opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the equestrian world’s big names. Not only that, but afternoon tea will also be served.

2. A full card of great racing is on offer with the Charity Derby following the last race.

3. To help with the fundraising for the event, there will be an auction and raffle taking place during the day. The Diomed Suite offers the opportunity for guests to really relax and enjoy themselves with family and friends, have the best view of the racing and hopefully have a few winners.

4. The lunch and race are both running to raise money for two wonderful charities; The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry the Wonder Pony. Bob Champion will be there on the day.

5. The race is held on the Bank Holiday Fun Day fixture at Epsom, which offers not just great racing, but fabulous entertainment for all of the family too. Gates open at 11.30am with the first race at 2.05pm and the final race at 5.25pm.

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6. You could make a full day of it by visiting local trainers, who are opening their stables on the morning of this meeting. The morning starts at 8.30am where you will be able to see the horses out training on the gallops and then from 9.30am the trainers will be opening up their yards.

7. All under-18s go free on this particular race day.

To book tickets or a table for the charity lunch, or to find out more about the event or the charities please visit www.championswillberry.org.uk or email lucy@bobchampion.org.uk. Lunch tickets are £125 per person and this price includes racecourse entry.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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A new Scottish cross-country fence has been created to honour Hannah Francis and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony charity.

Lindores Equestrian, Fife, ran a competition to design a new fence, which was won by Dorothy Drury.

The fence, created by British Eventing course-builder David Wilson, took five days to carve. Willberry Wonder Pony stands at a huge six foot tall and weighs one tonne.

Lindores Equestrian manager Anna Black said: “The competition was open to all ages and artistic ability and entrants had to design a fence in 2D and 3D. It got a really good uptake and we received some fantastic entries. It was really tricky to decide the winner with some creativity in the entries but the Willberry Wonder Pony fence ticked a lot of boxes.

“We are open to all levels of riders so we didn’t want it to be too tricky. It has two jumping options, at 70cm and 90cm, so people training for the Wobbleberries Challenge will be able to use it. It’s a good training jump and is on flat ground.

“It opened on last Saturday and is riding very well.”

The Wobbleberries Challenge for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity is a challenge for “middle-aged wimpy riders” inspired by teenager Hannah Francis, who died in 2016, just over a year after she was diagnosed with bone cancer.

One of the founders of the Wobbleberries Challenge, Sally Bar, said: “It’s fantastic to see this clever design brought to life. We are looking forward to seeing photos of this fence being jumped, and helping remind people of the excellent work Hannah’s Willberry Wondery Pony Charity is doing – and we hope it inspires more Wobbleberries to sign up, and raise money in the fight to #kickingcancersbutt. We are very grateful to Lindores Equestrian for making this happen.”

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Ms Black added: “We would very much like people to come and experience the jump, take photographs and share the hashtag and keep raising awareness for the charity.”

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In this week’s Horse & Hound magazine, out on 28 June, is a full report from the Hickstead Derby meeting, a six-page report from Royal Ascot, a feature on the much-discussed whip rules and, in this week’s ‘vet clinic’, find out how to spot the signs of sand colic.

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Preparations for the Champions Willberry Derby charity race at Epsom in August have stepped up a notch, and the reality of what lies ahead is really starting to hit me.

Last Wednesday (9 May) myself and six fellow Epsom jockeys had an assessment day at the British Racing School (BRS) in Newmarket, which is a truly fabulous facility.

To try and give myself a chance at not completely embarrassing myself in the assessment, I met Bob [Champion] back at Palace House in Newmarket the week before for a refresher session on the Equicizer.

Thankfully I hadn’t forgotten everything he had taught me and I found that the time I could spend on the Equicizer had increased which was encouraging.

I then went to ride out for friends Dale Peters and Nat Richardson at their point-to-point yard. I say ‘ride out for them’, but really it is more a case of them letting me steal one of their horses and then hoping I don’t ruin it!

They were very kind and let me canter a horse called You Too Pet, who has enjoyed a very successful season of point-to-pointing with three wins and had just finished well at the Hunter Chase evening at Cheltenham.

Importantly I didn’t fall off and I didn’t seem to annoy the horse — success!

So it was on to assessment day and although really looking forward to the experience, I have to admit I was also completely terrified. There were so many things that I could do wrong or badly, but I tried to put them to the back of my mind, telling myself that it wasn’t like I was a professional jockey whose career depended on the outcome.

It was great to finally meet some of the other people taking part in the race — Deborah Auld, Lucia Borradaile, Abigail Groves, Heather Larson, Alex Monro and Camilla Swift. Most of them had already met each other when they walked the course at Epsom a few weeks ago, but unfortunately as I was at the Punchestown Festival in Ireland, watching some brilliant racing, I couldn’t make it. It was also interesting to hear how their fundraising efforts are going and I feel like this is a good place for me to ask if you do have even just £1 to donate, please do! My fundraising page is here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup and any donation would be fantastic, thank you.

We were welcomed, briefed and weighed by Richard Perham, a senior jockey coach at the BRS, who let us know what we were in for with regards to our assessment. I think it’s safe to say everyone in the room knew they were in for some rigorous testing.

The first task of the day was a fitness test, beginning with the bleep test. I was quietly confident as I am a frequent runner, and was pleased to finish equal first of the group with Alex. Sadly my performance peaked there…!

The ensuing challenges, comprising leg raises to the beat of a metronome, wobble cushion squats, a plank, elastic band pushes, a press-up and hold and exercise ball squats, were nothing short of hellish and overall I was disappointed. My leg strength was a great deal better than the rest of me. I smashed my collarbone in a nasty rotational fall while eventing nine years ago and it is now virtually non-existent, so I have always steered clear of doing any sort of upper body strengthening exercises as it is very painful. Well, as I was on the floor of the BRS gym, attempting to sustain my press-up, I wish I had tried to do something about it!

I must at this point say a huge well done to Lucia, who as the oldest member of our group, absolutely smashed it — her fitness was equal to that of a professional jockey and put us all to shame.

The point was hammered home to us — although this is a charity race, it is a very serious challenge. Every racing person I tell that I’m riding the Derby course at Epsom looks at me in horror. It is widely regarded as the most difficult Flat course in Britain, if not the world, due to its twists, turns and camber. The racing world can’t have a bunch of unfit riders on supremely fit racehorses going round such a tough course. Point duly noted, I am considerably upping the content of my home workouts.

With that out of the way, it was time for the fun bit — riding.

We were all wired up with earpieces so that Richard could talk to us while we were on board and then handed our tack and assigned our horses.

It’s safe to say I fell in love with my horse; Astrovirtue, a seven-year-old who previously ran on the Flat. He was foot-perfect throughout the ridden assessment which involved trotting around the round gallop as a string and then doing some slightly quicker work in pairs (bright bay pictured top, getting some advice from Bob). I untacked Astrovirtue and said a big thank you to him for being so understanding with me!

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After some lunch, we all headed to a room with four Equicizers in it. Here we were able to ride a Racewood equicizer, which is wired up to a TV screen which plays headcam footage from a real race.

Richard chose a two-mile race to try and replicate the amount of time we will be riding at Epsom. We also practised changing our hands, which is essentially a way of keeping your reins nice and short to help keep the horse balanced, and also tried getting lower into the saddle to start riding some sort of finish. To my surprise, I didn’t get too tired and although far from stylish, I feel like I am improving.

Sadly our day was then complete — my brain was fried with information and I had jelly legs, but I would have loved to have stayed there a few more days to learn even more.

Over the next few weeks, I will concentrate on riding out more frequently. I’ve got a trainer in Newmarket lined up to help me do this and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity. Beautiful early summer mornings riding out in Newmarket — what’s not to love?

Gemma x

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

This week’s magazine, out 17 May, features our full report from Royal Windsor Horse Show, including all the showing, showjumping and dressage action plus much more

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The second running of an unaffiliated horse trials held in memory of Willberry Wonder Pony founder Hannah Francis will take place this summer.

The Hannah Francis One Day Event will be hosted at Mendip Plains Equestrian Centre in Somerset on Sunday, 15 July 2018.

There will be 70cm, 80cm and 90cm classes on the schedule, with all profits going to Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, which funds research into bone cancer and also fulfils the equestrian dreams of seriously ill people.

The concept of an ODE in her name was discussed with Hannah before the teenage eventer’s death from osteosarcoma in August 2016. Last year’s inaugural edition raised more than £5,000 for the charity.

“The day was really wonderful,” organising committee member Jo Lane told H&H at the time.

“There was a very special atmosphere — everybody came together and thought about Hannah. For everybody who knew her, and everyone on the committee did, it was about fulfilling one of her dreams.

“It was a sad day, but also an uplifting day. It felt like her spirit was with us.”

Entries to this year’s event will be via the equoevents website. Entries will open on 5 June and close on 4 July, or earlier if full.

While the event is unaffiliated, it will be held under British Eventing (BE) rules.

Organisers say that Wobbleberries — a challenge set up last year to encourage “wimpy, middle-aged riders” to tackle their first grassroots BE event while raising funds for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony charity — will be warmly welcomed.

“Hannah loved eventing and this event is run in tribute to her,” a statement from organisers said.

“Hannah faced her battle with osteosarcoma with enormous courage, determination and resilience; she inspired, and continues to inspire, many people in the equestrian community and beyond.”

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Further details and regular updates are available via the event’s Facebook page, while a full diary of Willberry events can be found on the charity’s website.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

This week’s edition (10 May) features our full report from Badminton, including in-depth analysis, expert comment, pictures and more. Plus, read our feature on the options for retiring your horse and in this week’s vet clinic we look into the challenges of equine surgery.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A rider and her dog completed a daunting 150-mile walk from Burghley to Badminton to raise money for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

The pair arrived at the Gloucestershire event at 1pm on Friday (4 May) after the final 11-mile leg of their six-day trip.

Becky Stroud, who works as an Mctimoney chiropractor, and her six-year-old black Labrador Benson set out from their home near the Black Mountains in Wales for Burghley in Peterborough, where they started their trek on 29 April.

“I don’t think I’d do it again!” said Becky, who added that most people “thought they were nuts” to attempt the journey, the longest leg of which was 29 miles in one day.

“Somebody said maybe I could do Blair to Blenheim but I said no. If I raise money for Willberry again it will be a cake sale!” she joked.

Becky admitted to being “really nervous” before the trip, having “a rubbish sense of direction” — “I can come out of a shop and not know where I am going,” she said.

“I had to challenge myself beforehand. I got a friend to plot a route on a map and they dropped me off and I had to find my way home. I’ve had the OS map on phone and that’s been an absolute godsend.”

Although she trained in the weeks beforehand, Becky still found the long days gruelling.

“We have horses and I’m quite active, I walk with the dogs, but I’m not a marathon runner or an endurance athlete, so it was quite a challenge,” she said.

“I was a bit annoyed by my legs — after day one they were in agony. On Thursday I did an extra 10 miles to get here earlier so I could go shopping [round the trade stands]. I don’t know what happened to my left leg but my knee was absolute agony so I did what every equestrian does and covered it in vet wrap this morning and carried on! Touch wood it’s been all right — I packed it in case Benson needed it but in the end it was me.”

Benson finished the trip full of running, and would be “happy to do it again tomorrow”.

“He has endless energy, it’s quite remarkable,” Becky said. “I don’t see the point in walking without a dog, so I thought he might as well join me and then we could hopefully have a peaceful couple of days with him afterwards.”

Benson originally came over from Ireland when he was a year old for a two-week trial living with Becky and her husband, equestrian photographer Jon Stroud, as his owner had found him difficult to cope with.

“He managed to chase one of our horses, got kicked in the head and fractured and dislocated his jaw. It cost £3,500 to put him back together so we thought we better keep him,” she explained. “He’s enthusiasm and trouble mixed into one.”

The Labrador gave Becky one of the more troubling moments of the journey when he ran away across a ploughed field.

“On Wednesday in the torrential rain and gales I thought I’d let him off the lead for a runaround and he took off — I had to sprint after him screaming his name. I found him having hugs with a lorry driver!” she said. “That pretty much finished my legs off and meant he was on the lead for the rest of the walk.”

Becky has previously raised funds for Willberry completing the Black Mountain challenge and has also been involved with helping to grant the charity’s wishes.

Continued below…

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“My husband knew Hannah [Francis]. He met her through a friend and helped grant some of the things on her bucket list, so it was something that was close to us,” Becky explained. “He’s got quite a useful address book when it comes to wish-granting, so we occasionally call upon his contacts to make things happen.”

Having beaten the original fundraising target of £2k, Becky is now hoping to raise £2,500. Anyone wanting to make a donation can visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/beckyandbensongoburghleytobadminton

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Hi everyone,

My training for the Pertemps Champions Willberry Derby at Epsom in August has started in earnest.

Bob Champion, my mentor for this very daunting challenge, gave me a call and suggested I should have a go on an Equicizer in Newmarket. Handily, Newmarket is only about 45 minutes from home, so I drove down there one Saturday morning and met up with Bob.

He took me to Palace House, the National Heritage Centre for Horseracing, and here we met up with the wonderful Frank Conlon and the Equicizer.

Frank is a real salt of the Earth kind of man. He was Henry Cecil’s head lad for 14 years and is an equine tour guide for Palace House. I got the impression that what Frank doesn’t know about Newmarket, probably isn’t worth knowing.

I hopped onto the Equicizer and suddenly found myself feeling increasingly nervous. As I said in my previous blog, I am clueless when it comes to knowing how to be a ‘jockey’, and the thought of sitting in a racing saddle with my stirrups seemingly round my ears while being watched by Bob and Frank, made me feel totally embarrassed. That coupled with the fact two youngsters, probably around 10 years younger than me, who work for Flat trainer Luca Cumani were there watching as I interrupted their Equisizer session, just made things worse.

Then it dawned on me. Nobody cares. Nobody cares if I look like a pillock to start with — that’s the whole point. I’m not trying to be a professional jockey and everyone there very much knew I was a work in progress. So I told myself to stop being so bl**dy stupid and just got on with it.

To start with, the Equicizer was in ‘halt’. Frank asked me to get into my racing position — bridged reins, hands up the ‘horse’s’ neck and bum in the air.

Bob and Frank immediately told me to lower the front of my body down towards the horse more — I was too upright in my position and definitely looked like an amateur event rider doing a jockey impression. There was an instant change and I gave myself a good talking to and vowed to never have my body too upright again (I don’t like making the same mistake twice — it makes life annoying for those trying to help you!).

We got into a ‘gallop’ and all was fine until, ouch. I soon realised I had dressed wrong. We all know jeans with no chaps makes for a painful time while riding, so why didn’t I think this through before I came to have a go on the Equisizer. I didn’t admit the pinching pain I was experiencing on the inside of my legs to anyone, but I now have the scabs to prove it! Lesson learnt…

I could manage a two to three minutes at a time on the Equicizer. I wasn’t doing anything other than holding myself in place. Now the fastest ever time the Epsom Derby has been run in was 2 minutes 31.33 seconds by Workforce in 2010. It goes without saying that our race won’t be run in anywhere near that sort of time, but I evidently have some work to do fitness-wise. And we haven’t even started training in how to ride a finish…

I did about four on and off sessions on the Equicizer, and while I was resting from one, Bob got onto the machine and had a go. I hope I can still do that when I’m 69!

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So my fitness work continues, including completing a 10 mile run in gale force blizzards last week in a little over one hour 20 minutes (I can’t say it was a nice experience!) and with the Cheltenham Festival now sadly over and done with, I will be resuming training with Bob.

After launching my blog, I have received some wonderful donations — thank you to each and every one of you. If you haven’t donated but are feeling particularly generous, please do feel free to donate to my page, which is raising money for both The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, two fantastic and worthy causes.

Gemma x

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

An amateur event rider is preparing to tackle the “toughest foot race on earth” in aid of Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

Siobhan Micklethwaite, who competes at BE90 and 100, is set to undertake the gruelling 156-mile (254 km) Marathon des Sables across the Sahara next month (7 April ) — running the equivalent of five-and-a-half normal marathons in just six days.

The 1,000 competitors must carry their own equipment, food and water in a rucksack, enduring up to 50°C temperatures during the day and camping in freezing temperatures at night. They will be allowed only one rest day during their epic trek across the Morroccan sands.

“It’s quite extreme,” said 49-year-old Siobhan. “As part of my training I have done a couple of one-day ultra-marathons and I’ve done a few marathons in previous years — I ran my first one in 1996 — but never anything like this.”

The Somerset rider said she is both “excited and overwhelmed” by the challenge, for which she has been preparing since November 2016.

“I wanted to do something I didn’t know whether I was going to be able to do,” she explained. “I wanted to know what it’s like to push yourself to do something beyond anything you’ve ever attempted before — though I do sometimes feel like that at the beginning of a cross-country course, putting myself outside my comfort zone!”

It was after Siobhan had decided to enter the race that she chose to use it as an opportunity to raise funds for Willbery Wonder Pony — the legacy of teenager eventer Hannah Francis, who died of osteosarcoma in 2016.

“I’d heard about Hannah’s charity and I’d been at Millfield doing a BE90 (in 2016) and although I didn’t realise it at the time, I saw her there — she went into the showjumping just before me,” said Siobhan. “Her story captured me and I kept thinking about it through my early training.

“I have a 15-year-old daughter and as a mother you can’t even imagine what it must be like having to go through something like that with your child. I kept thinking how proud and how heartbroken I would be if I were her parents.”

Siobhan said she had approached the charity with her plans and it had been “really supportive”.

“It’s nice to do it for a small charity where you are making a difference,” she said. “We’ve raised just shy of £4,000 at the moment via Just Giving. If we could do anything more to increase the amount, that would be great.”

As well as the fact her training in the final stages is a “massive commitment”, Siobhan is also mentally preparing for the challenges.

Continues below…

Willberry Wonder Pony goes hunting

Hannah Francis's mascot joined the Devon and Somerset Staghounds for a special meet

Mounted officers to run London Marathon dressed as horses and riders

The group was inspired by Inspector Natalie Shaw’s two children, Harry, eight, and Oli, 11, who suffer from a rare

Willberry Shetlands join mounted police on the beat in London

Londoners may have done a double take this morning (15 November 2017) when they spotted two pint-sized ponies on the

“I know a couple of other people who have done it and they say you go through the biggest highs and lows but it’s brilliant once you get through,” she said. “My biggest worry is on the long stage when you have to go through the night. You have a tracker on you but I am concerned about getting lost — I don’t have the best sense of direction!”

The competitors have two days after the end of their ordeal before flying “back to reality”.

“I’ll be looking forward to getting some time back, including spending some more with my horse,” Siobhan added.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Hi everyone,

Welcome to my new blog, which will document my challenge to become a ‘jockey’ in time to take part in the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Derby.

The day I found out I had been chosen as one of the lucky few to take part in this charity race at Epsom on 27 August, is one I won’t forget. I did laps of the kitchen, jumping for joy as I knew full-well that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After I had managed to peel myself off the ceiling, the enormity of the challenge ahead dawned on me. I am not a jockey. I had never even got out of walk in a racing saddle before and I had zero idea of what was required in how to ride any sort of race. This sudden realisation was cemented in one clear cut statement by my father when I shared my exciting news with him:

“You? In a race? Trying to be a jockey? Going fast? Are you joking?”

Indeed, good old dad has a point. My British Eventing record is peppered with cross-country time-faults. He is no fool and obviously remembers the days when he and mum drove me to competitions, only to witness me throwing any chances I had at a winning a rosette out the window thanks to my snail-like tendencies. And so you can start to see why me riding in a Flat race on an actual racehorse begins to sound like some sort of joke.

So here’s a bit about me. I’m Gemma Redrup, 27-years-old and a journalist for Horse & Hound. I was fortunate to land my dream job back in June 2014 and have been praying ever since those that employed me won’t realise that they must have got their applications muddled, as I honestly don’t know how I got my foot in the door with a fairly average degree from the mighty fun Royal Agricultural University.

I have ridden at intermediate and CCI* level eventing, and was sure when I was a teenager that I could stand a chance at becoming the next Pippa Funnell. Sadly it dawned on me pretty quickly that I was never going to be anywhere near good enough to mix it with the big boys, so a job where I can talk about horses and interview my childhood heroes and get paid for it seems like the next best thing, and I love it.

I also enjoy the odd bit of hunting, and am fortunate that my boyfriend, Simon, who is huntsman of the Fitzwilliam, is just as keen to spend at least once a week going jumps racing or point-to-pointing as I am.

I have one horse of my own, the talented but quirky Basil, who is both the bane and love of my life. I’ve had him a couple of years now, and after some success in his five-year-old year, he hit the ‘teenage phase’. I think we’ve just about come out the other side of it, thanks to some hunting and a lot of patience! I hope to do some BE100s with him this season.

When I received the great news that I had been accepted into this race, none other than Bob Champion, of Grand National winning fame and so much more besides, got in touch with me saying he would be happy to become my mentor. I almost keeled over in shock that such a legend of the racing and wider equestrian world would want to help silly little me. But help me he has and I can already feel like I am starting to make some sort of progress towards being able to ride in a race.

I first met Bob when he offered to come and watch me ride to make an assessment and find out where we are at in terms of the very amateur rider to jockey scale. He met me at a point-to-point and racing yard owned and run by my great friends, Dale Peters and his girlfriend Nat Richardson (Bob and Dale pictured top with Mo and I).

Nat and Dale very kindly let me hunt one of their pointers, Mo (Important Moment, who can be seen in the video above at Sheriff Hutton point-to-point in January with Nat leading him up and Dale riding), over the winter and so it seemed logical for me to ride him in front of Bob while I did my best jockey impression (I felt like a fraud!).

Now, on the hunting field Mo is known as my ‘ladies hunter’, but Mo on the gallops was a whole different kettle of fish. He was electric and went along with his ears up my nose. This, paired with the fact I was riding in a racing saddle properly for the first time, made the experience terrifying and exhilarating in equal measures. All I could think of was trying to keep my hands down and the horse between me and the floor and I clung onto the top of the breastplate for dear life, as the more you pull on the reins with Mo, the higher his head carriage becomes.

Happily, Bob announced: “I think we can make something of you”, while I got my breath back from my first ‘jockey’ experience and almost fainted at this positivity from a racing hero. I run four or five times each week around five to six miles a time, but it’s clear I am nowhere near fit enough for this particular challenge. Rising trot in a racing saddle is evil — think somewhere along the lines of doing 200 squats in the gym without a break. Bob recommended swimming as the best way to get fit for the race, so I have joined my local pool. I have a very long way to go and have a whole new level of respect for the ‘real’ jockeys out there.

Continued below…

‘The thrill of a lifetime’: line-up for Champions Willberry Charity Derby revealed

Find out who will be taking part in the race at Epsom over the same course and distance as the

So I hope you will enjoy following my journey, but of course the root cause behind all of this is to raise as much as possible for two wonderful charities; the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony. I hate to be one of those annoying people begging for donations, but even if it’s £1, it would mean the world to me and go some way to reaching my £6,000 target. You can find my fundraising page here: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup

Thank you all and wish me luck!

Gemma x

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The 12 riders who will race in the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Derby at Epsom, have been revealed.

The race, which will take place over the same course and distance as the Epsom Derby on Monday 27 August 2018 (Bank Holiday Monday), saw 150 people apply from all corners of the UK.

Ten riders join the two cousins that have already been announced, Lissa Green, rising eventing talent and daughter of eventing legend Lucinda Green MBE, and Lara Prior-Palmer, winner of the 2013 Mongol Derby. Lara’s entry is particularly poignant as she battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2017.

The other riders taking part are (in alphabetical order):

Joseph Akehurt, 29, is based near Ipswich. He is currently a groom working with horses being transported around the world by plane, has worked and ridden for many trainers and has been involved with the Shetland Pony Grand National

Deborah Auld, 26, owns an equine feed store in East Lothian. Having ridden all her life, she pre-trains her own racehorses

Lucia Borradaile, 60, from Dorset, is now retired and spends a lot of time cycling. She is a former point-to-point rider who rode in the Cheltenham Foxhunters in 1995

Alex Embiricos, 50, has been connected to the Bob Champion story all of her life, her father owning Aldaniti, the horse who carried Bob to Grand National glory in 1981. Based in Sussex, she works as a freelance expedition leader

Sheikh Fahad Al Thani, 28, of Qatar is chairman of Qatar Racing, a passionate supporter of British racing and an equestrian enthusiast who took part in the 2016 Mongol Derby

Tim Gredley, 32, has represented Great Britain at showjumping. Based in Newmarket, he now rides in point-to-points as well as running his own company

Abigail Groves, 49, is a cancer and end of life care manager, based near Epsom in Surrey. A keen horsewoman, she competes in showjumping and will be celebrating her 50th birthday this year

Heather Larson, 25, from Somerset is a showjumper and director of a sports horse company. She and Hannah Francis were friends who started out in the Wyle Valley Pony Club together

Alex Monro, 45, works in Devon for Mole Energy Switching, a division of Mole Valley Farmers. A British young rider in the 1990s, he has competed at eventing and showjumping internationally and point-to-pointed

Gemma Redrup, 27, from Rutland is a journalist at Horse & Hound magazine. She is a keen horsewoman who has competed across many disciplines

Reserves (in alphabetical order):

• John Nielson, 51, a company director from Co Durham
• John Reddington, 45, a company director from Hertfordshire
• Laura Rolph, 32, a BSJA Training Co-ordinator from Oxfordshire
• Camilla Swift, 29, a journalist and editor from Surrey

The race will be run in aid of The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, the inaugural race in April 2017 having raised over £120,00 for the two charities.

On behalf of the two charities, Epsom Racecourse and the event committee, Bob Champion said: “It was brilliant to have so many suitable and enthusiastic people entering the race. We are all thrilled with our line-up of 12 from all different parts of the country and all experienced riders, which is so necessary for the challenges of the Epsom Derby track. They are being offered a thrill of a lifetime and in return, we hope to raise as much as we can for the two charities, both in the riders’ fundraising and on the day via our lunch and activities.”

Simon Durrant from Epsom Downs Racecourse said: “We are delighted to be hosting this Charity Derby for two such worthy causes on our family fun day and the local trainers open day — something for everyone.”

Continued below…

Soldier wins Willberry race for young daughter with leukaemia

The 39-year-old beat famous faces during a charity race at Cheltenham which helped raise vital funds

‘Once in a lifetime opportunity’: applications open for Champions Willberry charity race

Find out how you can get involved with this race in aid of two great causes

Each selected rider has pledged to raise a minimum of £5,000 and it is hoped the day will make at least £100,000 to be split evenly between the two charities.

For all details of how to get involved in sponsorship of the race and the jockeys riding, how to attend the race and lunch on the day and how to donate, visit: www.championswillberry.org.uk

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Applications to ride in the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Derby are now open.

After the success of the 2017 race held at Cheltenham, which raised over £120,000 for The Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, this year the race will be run over the same course and distance as the Epsom Derby on Monday 27 August (Bank Holiday Monday).

Eight members of the public, selected from the applicants, will ride alongside four celebrities. It was Hannah Francis’s wish, expressed before she died in August 2016, to have a race in aid of her Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

Confirmed celebrity jockeys include Lissa Green and Lara Prior-Palmer, winner of the 2013 Mongol Derby, who has also been suffering with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Lissa said: “I am in awe of what Hannah Francis has achieved with Willberry. She was an extraordinary girl. It is so exciting that her charity has teamed up with the Bob Champion Cancer Trust for this exciting event at Epsom and I feel honoured to be a part of it.”

Bob Champion, the Grand National-winning jockey who has also recovered from cancer said: “The Cheltenham race was such a success and we’re absolutely delighted to now be going to Epsom, home of the greatest Flat race in the world.

“With more than 600 people applying to ride in last year’s race and with so much support for both charities, I’m sure we’ll have another amazing line-up. I would quite like a grand prix dressage rider to take their place alongside our celebrity eventers this time – so come on and apply!”

“We are delighted to host the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Derby race at Epsom Downs racecourse,” said racecourse general manager Simon Durrant.

“Run over the Derby course and distance, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for these riders to experience the unique contours and undulations of the world-famous Epsom Downs.”

Last year’s line-up included Sir Mark Todd, Tina Cook and Ben Hobday as well as TV presenter, Alice Fox-Pitt. It was won by soldier Ben Moore, himself a cancer victim and particularly special to him and his family as his daughter has leukaemia.

Entries are open via the Champions Willberry website and close on 21 February. Applicants must be under 12 stone, over 18, competent riders, can pledge to raise over £5,000 and are able to source their own racehorses.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Warm clothes are top of Maddie Wilson’s Christmas present list this year as in March she is off to Lapland to raise funds for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

The 24-year-old rider from Wales is sledging 250km from Norway into Sweden pulled along by a team of husky dogs.

She is covering all the costs of the trip, organised by Global Adventure Challenges, ensuring all the money raised goes straight to the charity founded by Hannah Francis.

Eventberry, the cuddly toy pony that has accompanied Maddie round all her cross-country outings this year, will be going with her to the Arctic.

Miss Wilson competes at BE90 and BE100 levels on her 17.2hh Irish sport horse, Hector.

Fundraising began in the summer with buckets rattled at BE events and a quiz night in her parent’s barn, which raised £800.

So far £3,000 has been raised for the charity, but Miss Wilson hopes to increase this to £4,000 by the time she sets off on 31 March.

To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/m-wilson13

Miss Wilson followed Hannah Francis’s heroic story reading all her blogs.

“She was a real inspiration. I want to raise as much money for the charity as I can,” she told H&H.

Continued below…

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity raises £1million

Hannah Francis’ legacy is ‘stronger than ever’ as Willberry donations smash through the £1million barrier

‘She inspired us all’: three heartening Wobbleberries Challenge stories

Three riders who took up the Wobbleberries Challenge to raise funds for Hannah Francis' Willberry Wonder Pony charity share their

The six-day charity challenge begins in the Arctic city of Tromso where the 10 people taking part will first meet their husky companions.

“I’ve wanted to do this for years,” said the former Harper Adams student, now on placement with a food company in Lincolnshire.

After two hours of training with the dogs, the sledgers set off armed with all their food, tent and provisions and the all-important guide.

Participants are required to erect their own tents, cook for themselves and look after their team of huskies in sub zero temperatures.

“Most people I asked to join me said I’m not paying to be cold,” jokes Miss Wilson, “but I am looking forward to seeing the Northern Lights.”

The challenge finishes on 8 April at the famous Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi so the new thermals will still be in use.

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An eventer who has had a whirlwind of a year has been given the Willberry Wonder Pony Hannah Francis Award.

Emily Mustow, who knew young event rider Hannah, has become the winner of the award, which the charity gives annually to an inspirational eventer.

The 17-year-old started the 2017 season aiming for the junior teams but suffered concussion in a fall at Withington Manor in April.

She fell from her beloved partner Prime Time II (“Fred”), who is owned by Annie Finch, jumping out of the water and was knocked unconscious.

She came round shortly afterwards and after a hospital check was discharged to recover at home.

The following month, the day her eventing ban for concussion was due to be lifted, she was rushed into hospital for emergency surgery for acute appendicitis.

Emily was out of action for another six weeks, but was determined to return to eventing before the end of the season.

After a couple of BE100 runs, Emily decided she would tackle her first one-star at Frickley, within months of her surgery.

“It was my first one and one of the biggest in the country,” Emily told H&H.

“I got there and my mum said, ‘You shouldn’t be here’, but I had so much faith in Fred. He’s the most amazing horse and I absolutely trust him.

“I felt sick in the warm-up. The plan was if I felt tired I would pull up.

“I got to fence 12 and was absolutely knackered and thought I was going to have to pull up, but I had a long gallop between fences and then he just got me home.

“I managed to finish and it was amazing. I burst into tears.”

Emily continued for the rest of the season but her head injury was causing her serious problems. She became very sensitive to light and emotional and was suffering pain throughout her body.

Emily battled on riding but collapsed at her lorry after competing at Osberton in September.

“I had been hiding my problems from everyone, the only thing that a few people had picked up on was my change in personality,” she said.

“My mum showed me a video of jump jockeys talking about the affects of concussion and by the end of watching it I broke down crying — it felt like someone else had had the same problems as me.

“I had an MRI scan to get everything checked and found I also had a bulging disk in my spine and a degenerating disk. I’m having physio to improve this.

“It’s been a very tough year and I couldn’t have done it without Fred, he’s my world.”

Emily said it was “incredible” to win the award, for which she was nominated by her mother, Hannah, and best friend Immi Marchant.

“Hannah [Francis] was incredible,” said Emily.

“Even in her darkest days she would speak to me and say, ‘Never give up on your dreams’ and that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

“My dream was the same as hers — to ride for our country. I told her I wouldn’t give up on my dream for her.”

Wobbleberries raise £250,000 in memory of Hannah Francis

The challenge is now an annual one, to allow more riders to take part

‘An inspiration to us all’: flood of tributes for event rider Hannah Francis

Thousands have paid their respects to the inspirational teenager who died yesterday (1 August)

‘Find a way — not an excuse’: inspiring young rider presented with Hannah Francis Award

Evie Toombes, who was born with a form of spina bifida, makes "every effort" to compete for her Pony Club

Emily will be presented with the award by Hannah’s parents at Kitty King’s yard in the near future.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Hannah Francis’ legacy lives on “stronger than ever” thanks to the charity she founded, which has now raised over £1 million.

The teenage event rider was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma, in May 2015, at the age of 17.

She continued riding despite her deteriorating health and founded Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity in 2016.

Hannah died on 1 August last year, but support for the charity has continued to grow in her memory.

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity raises funds towards bone cancer research and granting horsey wishes to those with serious illnesses.

Yesterday her charity’s Facebook page announced that it had reached an important milestone:

“We’ve raised a million! From the bottom of the our heart (and of course, Willberry’s) we cannot thank you enough for being right next to us every step of the way. We are blown away by your support, allowing Hannah’s legacy to live on stronger than ever.

“We really could do none of this without you, so thank you for letting us keep #kickingcancersbutt on our mission to prevent people going through the horror Hannah did. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

There has been an outpouring of support for the charity following the good news and the Facebook announcement has reached more than 60,000 people. BBC Radio Bristol has produced a video to mark the achievement.

The fundraising has been boosted by the Wobbleberry challenge, which has raised £250,000 for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity.

The riders signing up for the challenge set themselves the target of competing at their first British Eventing entry-level event while raising funds for Hannah’s charity.

More than 1,200 riders have signed up to join the Wobbleberries and the challenge is now an annual one, to allow even more to take part.

Andrew Hoy, the Wobbleberries’ patron, has created a series of training videos which will be released from January, to help the riders succeed in their eventing challenge.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A group of charitable novice event riders has raised more than £250,000 for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony.

The Wobbleberry challenge was set up in August last year for “middle-aged, wimpy” riders, inspired by the late Hannah Francis.

The riders signing up for the challenge set themselves the target of competing at their first British Eventing (BE) entry-level event while raising funds for Willberry Wonder Pony, the charity set up by Hannah.

Since then, more than 1,200 riders have signed up to join the Wobbleberries and the group has raised over £250,000.

The challenge is now an annual one, to allow more riders to take part.

“We never imagined we would get this far in our wildest dreams,” said one of the challenge’s founders, Sam Elms.

“It’s been hard work for us volunteers and we have really learned on the job, but it’s been incredible.

“Now we’re very closely linked to the charity and they sell our sign-up packs on their website.”

The packs cost £20 and include a code to obtain a BE training pass, horsey “goodies” and access to training and online material to help riders on their path to BE.

Continued below…

‘Even a cross pole makes me nervous’: meet 8 inspirational Wobbleberries

We meet eight inspirational Wobbleberries at a training session with Andrew Hoy ahead of their daunting challenge

‘I had the privilege of meeting Hannah’: legendary eventer becomes Wobbleberries patron

The challenge supports Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, which was set up by the late Hannah Francis

Wobbleberries’ future secured as annual challenge

‘The challenge has captured the imagination of the equestrian world’

All riders have their own personal fundraising target as part of their registration.

Sam has been working with Andrew Hoy, the Wobbleberries’ patron, to create a series of training videos which will be released from January.

Andrew has supported the Wobbleberries since its inception and met Hannah in May last year.

“He has been the nicest professional rider I have ever met. He is so genuine,” added Sam.

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony

Event rider Hannah was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in 2015.

She continued riding despite her ongoing treatment and deteriorating health. Hannah founded her charity, Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony in March last year.

Hannah died aged 18 last August, but her charity continues in her memory funding research into osteosarcoma and to providing equestrian experiences (“Willberry’s Wishes”) to seriously ill people.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Londoners may have done a double take this morning (15 November 2017) when they spotted two pint-sized ponies on the beat in the capital.

With just under a month to go until this year’s Olympia Horse Show (12-18 December 2017), the event’s official charity, Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, sent their two favourite live mascots, Shetlands Doris and Teddy, to London for the first time to help the Mounted Branch of the Metropolitan Police on patrol.

Teddy and Doris might have been able to fit underneath the police horses’ legs with ease, but they looked pretty nonplussed by their new role.

As they headed onto the Mall and towards Buckingham Palace, the Shetlands kept up a steady pace with Merlin and Quixote — two of the police horses who will be taking part in the mounted police activity ride at Olympia next month.

“This is the first time Teddy and Doris have been to central London, so it is great they could familiarise themselves before Olympia Horse Show starts in December. Doris was Hannah’s own Shetland and meant the world to her,” says Alice Goring, owner of Instagram sensation Teddy the Shetland and also the charity’s scientific advisor.

“I am not sure they are quite ready to join the police force yet; they only have little legs, so it would take them a long time to get around all the streets of London! But we are so grateful to Inspector Simon Rooke for letting them be part of his incredible team for a morning and helping to raise awareness for Hannah’s legacy.”

Continued below…

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“We were really pleased to welcome Doris and Teddy to the team this morning,” says Inspector Simon Rooke. “They might not be the usual type of horse we have on patrol, but they certainly added something different!

“The Metropolitan Police activity ride are extremely proud to be performing in front of the wonderful crowds at Olympia this year. The show gives us an opportunity to demonstrate the extraordinary bravery of our horses and the unique bond of trust they have with our officers. The horses that will be performing at Olympia, including Merlin and Quixote, are all operational and patrol the streets of London daily.”

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony was founded by the late Hannah Francis, a young event rider who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. The charity aims to support vital research into osteosarcoma, together with granting Willberry’s Wishes to seriously ill people with the aim of enriching their lives through equestrian experiences.

Don’t miss the Mounted Branch of the Metropolitan Police’s breathtaking display at this year’s Olympia Horse Show (12-18 December 2017)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Olympic event rider Andrew Hoy has been named patron of the Wobbleberry Challenge.

The challenge supports Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, which was set up by the late Hannah Francis.

It is aimed at people aged over 25 who would like to step up to British Eventing and want to be involved in supporting the charity.

“Andrew was the obvious choice,” said Sam Elms, one of the founders of the challenge.

“He has been an active supporter of the Wobbleberry Challenge since the very beginning and is one of the nicest, most generous athletes you could ever wish to meet

“I remember asking on Twitter whether there were any professional eventers who would support the challenge and Andrew replied very quickly saying he wanted to help and he has been true to his word, helping out whenever and wherever he can.”

In March Andrew hosted a flatwork and jumping clinic for the Wobbleberries and also provided lunch and a tour of his stables.

By raffling places and rewarding Wobbleberries who raised the most sponsorship, the clinic raised over £10,000 and a date has been set for this to be repeated in 2018.

“My first contact with Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity was at the Tattersalls event in May 2016, when I had the privilege of meeting Hannah,” said Andrew.

“She gave a very touching speech at an owners’ and riders’ dinner and we all were very emotional about the strength and courage of this wonderful young lady.

“On that day, I knew I wanted to do something to support the charity.

Continued below…

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“When I heard the Wobbleberries were looking for support, I felt it was the right time to ‘get active’ and support the charity in memory of Hannah.”

Wobbleberries co-founder Sally Barr added: “Andrew was the first rider to wear the new ‘Wobbling for Willberry’ armband as he rode around Blenheim carrying his Willberry Wonder Pony ‘Hoyberry’ on his back.

“He has also very generously agreed to front a series of training videos for Wobbleberries for 2017/18. He was the perfect choice for patron, he takes it very seriously and we can’t thank him enough.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Following on from yesterday’s inspiring stories from “middle-aged wimpy riders” taking part in the Wobbleberries Challenge to raise funds for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, we meet three more brave Wobbleberries who have successfully fulfilled their ambition to compete in an affiliated British Eventing competition.

Helen Kinsella, 56

Helen has completed the challenge on her 17-year-old Irish Thoroughbred bay mare Farmers Hill Aristokat, fondly known as Kat, who Helen has owned for nine years. Helen took on the Wobbleberries Challenge after her son Antony passed away in July 2013 to Ewnes Sarcoma, a cancer similar to Hannah’s.

“Previously I had jumped a little, but when my son Ant became ill I stopped jumping – I couldn’t concentrate and focus,” explains Helen. “Ant was 22 when he was diagnosed in April 2012 and we spent the whole of that year going back and forwards to the University College Hospital in London, where he had aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

“The one thing that kept me going was Kat. I could go down the stables and I could cry if I wanted to, I could talk to myself if I wanted to, or not say anything if I wanted to. I found myself focusing more and more on my horse. I started taking lessons from my jumping instructor Jo Foley who said, ‘Why are you not doing the Wobbleberries Challenge?’

“The hardest thing was probably fitting in the training, but I’m very determined. I do find myself thinking about Ant a lot with it – I feel like I’m doing it for Antony as well as Hannah. I’ve named my Berry pony Antberry!

“My biggest highlight was completing my challenge at Poplar Park on 20 May 2017. The commentator at the start had mentioned Antony and I got a bit emotional just before I went cross-country. Coming through the finish line I could hear a couple shouting who I hadn’t met and I found out later it was Wobbleberries founder Sally Barr and her husband cheering me on. We soared it and actually came 17^th! I have now entered Little Downham (3) and next year we are aiming for BE90 as long as Kat and I are fit enough – we’ve got the bug.

“One of the best things about the Wobbleberries is the togetherness. You don’t know these people apart from their names on the Wobbleberries Facebook regional pages and yet you feel like you know them!”

Sue Plummer, 76

Sue is the oldest known member of the Wobbleberries Challenge. Sally completed the challenge with her 10-year-old 15.2hh chestnut half-bred Welsh Section D Springtime Sun, known as Nia, who Sue has owned for three years.

“I previously had a horse of a lifetime, who I bought back in 1986 and owned for 26 years before he was put to sleep at 31 years old in 2012. I bought Nia when she was seven years old as a horse that needed a hacking home following suspensory ligament problems. She stayed sound so we did a bit of dressage and riding club, but I hadn’t jumped competitively in a hell of a long time – I think last jumped in 2001!

“In 2016 the local hunt organised a training day with dressage, showjumping and cross-country so I tried it and I enjoyed it, though in the photographs I had an expression of sheer terror on my face. I continued to try some riding club mini events and my riding club friends said I ought to do the Wobbleberries Challenge and I said, ‘That’s 80cm – I don’t do that height!’ So they provoked me into it. It was a double-barrelled challenge, it was a challenge for me and it was for such a worthwhile cause. There was a means to it!

“Before any competition the nerves are always slightly there, I think ahead about them. I completed my BE80(T) challenge at Launceston 23 July 2017 and came 20^th out of 40. The cross-country was my highlight, I went at a speed I was comfortable with, which wasn’t flat out or I might have fallen flat out! I was thrilled to have completed and at the same time know I had raised money for the charity. I have reached £1,100 and I’ve had incredible support from friends, I think because they know my age and they admired what I did and in aid of what I was doing it for!”

Sally Hall, 29

Sally completed the challenge on her 14-year-old 14.2hh piebald cob Basil VI, who she has owned for seven years.

“I started doing a couple of unaffiliated events about a year before I signed up to the challenge, but without any success. We kept getting eliminated, we just weren’t very committed to it. Being a 14.2hh cob he was the often the smallest and hairiest in the class!

“I signed up to the challenge for two reasons. Firstly, I’m a children’s doctor and at the time of the challenge being advertised I was working in children’s intensive care in Leeds Hospital. One of the patients I looked after was a little boy with leukaemia, who was having a really tough time and so were his parents. It really just highlighted the problems he was going through and it was a challenge for him. That brought home the charity side of it at the time.

“Secondly, I have a friend I’ve always been riding with and over the past couple of years she has been doing eventing at Burghley and Bramham. We used to ride ponies together and I looked at her doing these four-star events and thinking if she can do that then why can’t I! I thought I’d give 80cm a go and it turned out be harder than it looked.

“Confidence and nerves were a challenge, making little jumps seem like big jumps! I was nervous for both me and Basil, although he is a lot fitter than he ever has been. My highlight was when we completed our BE80(T) Shelford Manor on 29 May 2017, jumping the last jump and just knowing that we had done it! We’ve done a few more events since then just because we then knew we could. We’ve even entered our first BE90 at Norton Disney next month.”

If these stories have inspired you, search Facebook for Wobbleberries Challenge to find out more…

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The Wobbleberries Challenge for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity is a challenge for “middle-aged wimpy riders” inspired by Hannah Francis, who was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 17 in May 2015 and died in August 2016.

The challenge was set up by founders Sally Barr, Georgie Horrell, Julia Godbold and Sam Elms, who were truly inspired by Hannah’s story and wanted to support her Willberry Wonder Pony charity. The challenge has flourished via Facebook and grown to 1200 registered Wobbleberries in 2017.

Here in the first part of a two-part feature, we share some inspirational success stories from the Wobbleberries Challenge so far….

Julia Godbold, 56

Julia, a Wobbleberries founding member, has taken on the challenge on her daughter’s first pony, 21-year-old Edward. They have owned “Edd” since he was five. Prior to the challenge, Julia had spent the past five years hacking the 14hh grey Connemara after her daughter moved on to horses.

“The last time I actually jumped was when I was about 18!,” said Julia. “I asked my husband and daughter what they thought and my daughter said ‘go for it, mum’. I’m having so much fun on him. My own training didn’t start until after Christmas as we were so busy with organising the campaign.

“Edd needed some veterinary treatment after he had slight arthritis in his hocks so at one point I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it, but after treatment the vet was happy with him. I went to a Wobbleberry camp at in May 2017 which gave me a boost and I feel like I’m getting somewhere now. I’m usually quite confident, but once I got bucked off at a lesson and the next time I got on I was shaking. But I persevered and now I’m loving it. I’d never done a dressage test in my life and that was probably one of my biggest fears!

“Everything about the Challenge has been great, especially meeting Sally Barr. Starting this and being able to take part and get all these people on-board is a wonderful feeling. A big highlight was when Andrew Hoy kindly donated spaces for a whole day clinic at his yard, which we used to raise money and Sally very kindly paid for me to go. Andrew commented that he loved the partnership I had with Edd – that was so lovely to hear.

“In two weeks I have a 70cm unaffiliated one-day event, and I hope to complete my BE80(T) next spring. We didn’t know Hannah, but she has inspired us all!”

Melanie Day, 41

Melanie has completed the challenge on her 10-year-old 16.2hh Irish Draught called Bridgefoot Victory Rebel, aka Victor, who she has owned for six years. Melanie took on the challenge following being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and spending time in hospital.

“I started competing in 1987 as a child doing a bit of everything. Later in life I had to take a couple of years off after I had a serious mental health breakdown and was hospitalised. I was in the right age bracket for the challenge and I needed to get back into eventing! It looked like a good opportunity to get back into something I loved, with a good support group and also raise money for charity at the same time.

“I wanted to prove to everyone that you can do things, despite what people can think about mental illness – you can do it, if you set your mind to it. It was a goal that I needed to be back out eventing, because people had sponsored me. I think if I hadn’t got that push I wouldn’t have done it!

“I have met so many amazing people. My main trainer is Mary Thornley, who last year was awarded the British Empire medal, and she has been absolutely key to me doing this challenge. A huge highlight was going through the finish line at Poplar Park (20 May 2017) when I completed my BE80(T) challenge! Sally Barr was at the finish line and that just meant the world.

“My final challenge this year to myself is Little Downham (3) on 30 September and next year I hope to do more eventing. I’ve got a new passion and if I can raise money while doing it, it’s a win-win!

“I really want to thank every one that has stood by me with my ups and downs. We all look out for each other, once a Wobbleberry – always a Wobbleberry!”

Becky Darke, 34

Becky has fitted the challenge around her career as a British Army officer. She completed the challenge on her nine-year-old 15.3hh Warmblood/Arab gelding Nadisker, known as Disco, who she has owned for four years.

“Disco wasn’t the easiest youngster so that’s what stopped us doing cross-country,” explains Becky. “I was petrified of cantering him in open spaces for fear of an accident or fall. He used to be a rodeo king! I wouldn’t canter anywhere other than an arena, and there was days when I wouldn’t even canter there…

“I followed Hannah’s story, she was just captivating and it puts all your moans and groans into perspective. Hannah wanted everyone to be happy with their horses and I really understood that. At the time I didn’t have that with Disco because he was so tricky and I didn’t want to push myself out of my comfort zone. When Hannah pushed herself literally to the limit, I thought I could step up and do the same.

“I have been through every possible emotion. It was generally my confidence that required the work. Disco is a capable jumper, we showjumped with ease, but put me in a field with a log and I was drawn to tears. Luckily through my training I was well supported by friends and the Army. My highlight was just not being judged. Everyone was so welcoming and you just felt you could do it. You didn’t even have to finish, the very fact that you even tried was good enough. It was truly eye-opening how lovely humanity can be sometimes!

“I completed my BE80(T) at Solihull on 19 August. Since the challenge I completed a 90cm unaffiliated event at the RAF Championships. Disco is not the tricky horse I bought, he’s now the horse I wanted. A lot of the time it has nothing to do with the jumping and everything to do with having a look at yourself in the mirror and pushing yourself that little bit further than you would because you know you’re capable of greatness.

“My friend leant me Bigglesberry, because he is the RAF berry pony, but they have since bought me my own Brave-Pants-Berry, who holds a place in my heart now.”

Look out for more inspirational Wobbleberries Challenge stories online tomorrow (Sunday) morning…

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The legacy of inspirational teenage event rider Hannah Francis is in the running for a major international award – but it needs your help.

Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony Charity has been shortlisted for the FEI’s solidarity award, which is 50% decided by public vote (link to vote below).

Jon Stroud, who knew Hannah and is now spokesman for her charity, said he would “ask people to consider voting for us”.

“We’re hugely excited and incredibly honoured,” Jon told H&H.

“From such tiny and genuinely humble beginnings, this is phenomenal. We’re always so excited by what goes on with the charity and this kind of recognition is quite mind-blowing.”

Jon helped Hannah fulfil her “bucket list”, which included riding the guinea pig dressage test at Tattersalls International Horse Trials in 2016, and got to know her well.

“They’re over-used terms but she was the most incredible, inspirational person you’re ever likely to meet,” he said.

“Her determination – no matter bad things were for her, she was always more concerned about others’ wellbeing. That’s what endeared her to so many people, and why so many are determined to help carry on her legacy.

“You don’t see that in people very often and when you do, it has a significant impact.”

All funds raised by Willberry Wonder Pony go towards bone cancer research and granting horsey wishes to people with serious illnesses.

“All of us who work in the charity remain very determined to carry on, not just because of the charity but for the tangible legacy of everything Hannah was,” said Jon.

“I know she’s still smiling from ear to ear about all this, I should think she’s squealing with delight.”

To vote, visit the FEI website. Voting is open until 1 October.

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Others on the shortlists include Ireland’s Harry Allen, in the rising star category and Brits Alan Davies and Imogen Mercer, who are both finalists in the grooms category. The athlete of the year award will go to Ingrid Klimke, Peder Fredricson, Isabell Werth or Peop Puch.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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A touching tribute to a Burghley star has been unveiled at the event.

A beautiful rocking horse of the late popular eventer Bluestone Luke, who had competed at the CCI4* five times with owner Kerry Varley, is on display at the Stevenson Brothers’ stand.

The rocking horse is sporting a specially-made Willberry Wonder Pony saddlecloth and is being “ridden” by Whoaberry.

A collection is being taken on the stand for the Willberry Wonder Pony charity.

The charity was founded by Hannah Francis, who died from cancer in August 2016, and grants horsey wishes for young people with serious illnesses and also funds research into bone cancer.

“My dream was always for [my daughter] Poppy to grow up with Lukey as her best friend like he was mine,” Kerry wrote on Facebook, adding she had also dreamed of riding him down the aisle.

“But again this was not to be [as] just six weeks before Pops was born, he passed away suddenly one night in his field leaving a huge hole in all of our hearts and lives.”

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She added unveiling of his rocking horse at the horse trials means her dream of Poppy being able to ride him “will come true”.

“So many people have made this tribute possible and the biggest thanks has to go to my mum,” said Kerry.

“We are also raising money for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony charity as Lukey had his own berry pony ‘Whoaberry’.

“I’ve been granted my wish by the people around me so let’s help a seriously sick person get theirs.”

Kerry, who is based minutes from Burghley in nearby Ryhall, contested seven four-stars with the 15.2hh gelding and had been aiming for this year’s event.

Kerry paid tribute to “Lukey” in after his death aged 16 in May.

“Anyone could ride him — he was like a big dog — he never put his ears back and just wanted cuddles,” she said. “He will be missed by so many people — nobody who met him didn’t like him. But we’ve got lots of pictures and memories of him and he won’t be forgotten.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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Young eventer Hannah Francis’ dream of having a horse trials in her name has been granted.

The inaugural Hannah Francis One Day Event was organised in memory of the Willberry Wonder Pony charity founder, who died from cancer a year ago.

It took place on 16 July at Mendip Plains Equestrian Centre, Somerset, and raised £5,000 for the charity, which grants horsey wishes for young people with life-threatening illnesses or conditions and funds research into bone cancer.

“The day was really wonderful,” organising committee member Jo Lane told H&H.

“There was a very special atmosphere — everybody came together and thought about Hannah.

“For everybody who knew her, and everyone on the committee did, it was about fulfilling one of her dreams.

“It was a sad day, but also an uplifting day. It felt like her spirit was with us.”

She added the event did not set out to be a fundraiser, but to do something in memory of Hannah and celebrate her love of eventing.

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Around 200 competitors took part, including many Wobbleberries, and numerous Berry ponies were seen attached to riders during the event — giving the commentator extra names to remember.

The event also had entries from riders inspired by Hannah to take up eventing or to return to it after a break.

“We were very touched by the number of people who gave up their time free of charge, such as the vet and the doctor,” said Ms Lane, who also thanked the sponsors.

“We were overwhelmed with volunteers, we only had to say we were running this event and people came flocking — it was heart-warming.”

Plans are already afoot for next year’s event.

The charity has so far granted a number of wishes to children and young people, including lessons with top riders, a trip to Badminton and a chance to try side-saddle riding.

It has also been made Olympia’s charity of the year for 2017.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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A para rider whose medical armband “reads like a textbook” has completed her first British Eventing (BE) competition in aid of Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony.

Cornwall-based Claire Sexton was seriously injured in a cycling accident 20 years ago, breaking her back, fracturing her skull and suffering brain damage, as well as other injuries.

She was in hospital for five months, underwent numerous operations and had to learn to walk and talk again.

Claire returned to the saddle 11 years later and has since been graded as a para rider. She competes in grade four dressage and grade two showjumping.

Always looking for the next challenge, earlier this year Claire decided she was ready to take on her first affiliated horse trials.

She believes she is one of the first para riders to take part in a BE event.

“It was not so much about winning as getting round all three phases safely, to open up another area for paras,” 52-year-old Claire told H&H.

“My main challenge was remembering the dressage test and courses, as my memory is a bit impaired.

“Sometimes I have double vision too — my medical armband reads like a medical textbook!”

Claire entered the BE80 at Launceston and asked the Wobbleberries if she could take part as an honourary member.

The charitable group are made up of novice or nervous riders tackling BE events for the first time, while raising funds for Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony.

“Although the official deadline has passed, I asked if I could join the Wobbleberry challenge,” said Claire.

“They said they’d be delighted to have me as an honorary Wobbleberry, although they said I sounded the opposite of wobbly!”

Claire has so far raised more than £680 for the charity founded by the late Hannah Francis.

Claire and her 16-year-old mare Jem enjoyed their BE experience on Sunday (23 July), with a clear showjumping and an unfortunate couple of stops across country.

“The courses were great and I had good support from my trainer Elissa Hebborn-Jones and my husband Andy,” she said.

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“I’ve been riding Jem since she was eight. She loves her jumping, and gets quite excitable waiting in the collecting ring.

“I can’t let myself be nervous when I’m riding, because Jem is so tuned in to me that she just won’t jump if she thinks I’m not happy.

“My friends who ride use the words ‘amazing’ and ‘inspiring’ to describe my efforts, but I suspect that they’re being very kind.”

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It was a sizzling feast of sport at St James’s Place Barbury Horse Trials last weekend — and we learnt some new things, too. Don't miss the full Barbury report in H&H this Thursday (issue dated 13 July).

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A grandfather who started riding at the age of 60 last September is aiming to complete his first British Eventing competition in a fortnight’s time as part of the Wobbleberry challenge.

Northamptonshire-based Tony York is one of hundreds of riders who have vowed to take part in a BE80 for the first time in 2017, to raise money for the Willberry Wonder Pony charity.

Daughter Jo York told H&H Tony had “always been threatening” to ride.

“We’ve been riding forever and he’s always driven the lorry and walked courses with us,” she said. “He always used to have the ‘I could do it if you let me’ attitude.

“Then he said he’d do it before he turned 60, which was September, and the Wobbleberry challenge was announced in August. So we said: ‘Go on then, if you think it’s that easy!’”

Jo lent Tony her 18-year-old former intermediate eventer Voyager (“Ted”) and once he had mastered the basics on a pony borrowed from a riding school, he moved on to hirelings owned by another friend of the family.

He then moved on to Ted, who Jo has owned for 16 years, and whom Tony helped her back, and has made good progress. Their BE80(T) class takes place at Little Downham on 22 July.

“Cross-country is fine as Ted’s a cross-country machine,” said Jo. “Plus he’s an intermediate horse going round an 80 so as long as he keeps his speed up, he’ll be fine.

“It’s just the showjumping; I don’t know if other people find this but it’s not like cross-country where you’ve got so much time to get organised between fences.

“At least at Little Downham, the showjumping’s in a big field so there will be more time than on a surface; he had a fall a few weeks ago and said ‘Ted’s too fast’ and I said ‘No, your brain’s too slow.’ But the first showjumping he did, he won!”

Jo says her father played rugby, “so falling off doesn’t really bother him”, but that having to wear a tie for the dressage has proved troublesome.

“We didn’t tell him that at the start; he hasn’t worn a tie since he broke his neck playing rugby 30 years ago and we genuinely thought it’d be a deal-breaker,” she said.

“He only found out when he did his first dressage test and he started gagging!”

But obstacles aside, Jo is looking forward to Tony and Ted’s event, which has so far raised nearly £1,000 for the charity.

“On Tuesday, I was stressed as he hadn’t even raised 50% of his fundraising target,” she said. “I shared it on Facebook and now it’s over 100% which is absolutely amazing, there are some really kind people.

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“You go through the winter and think no-one realises what you put in, then everyone rallies together, which is fab; you keep going and then there are moments like when he won the showjumping.

“He says he’s going to buy his own horse when he retires next year, and share it with my daughter!”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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The first Hannah Francis One Day Event in aid of Willberry Wonder Pony is being held at Mendip Plains Equestrian Centre on 16 July.

Organiser Lesley Stewart who heads a 10-strong committee, said she has been “overwhelmed” by the offers of help from volunteers for the event.

“Between 70-80 people have been involved in the organisation,” she told H&H.

“This is a way of us keeping Hannah’s name going and giving something back to the eventing world to thank them for all their support,” she added.

Inspirational young event rider Hannah died last August, having inspired riders across the country as she suffered from bone cancer.

There are three classes, at 70, 80 and 90cm, with the cross country across the Eric Winter-designed course.

Hannah Green, who set up the Mendip Plains Centre three years ago with her parents Duncan and Jane, said it is “a huge privilege” to have been asked to host the debut event.

A fun ride was held at the centre in April in aid of the Willberry Wonder Pony Charity, which was set up by Hannah before she died last year.

“Hannah was very local to us, used to school on the course and took part in competitions held here. She was always very supportive of the venue and was a lovely person,” said Miss Green.

A number of the 100 entries received so far are Wobbleberries, a group of riders who, inspired by Hannah, have pledged to raise funds for the charity by completing their first BE80 competition.

Riders can enter, before the closing date of 8 July, via Equo, H&H’s online entry system.

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“We want everyone to come along on the day and enjoy themselves riding across the wonderful Mendip hunting country,” said Mrs Stewart, whose daughter grew up with Hannah, competing with her in the Wylye Valley PC and on the eventing circuit.

Plans for the event were discussed with Hannah before she died and the organisers hope it will become a registered British Eventing competition in future.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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The late Hannah Francis has helped a young woman fulfill her dream of going to Badminton.

The inspirational teenage eventer, who died last year, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer in 2015 and continued to ride and live life to the full throughout her treatment.

She founded the Willberry Wonder Pony charity in May 2016 to fund research into bone cancer and grant horsey wishes for those with serious illnesses.

Lucy Watts, who has a life-limiting neuromuscular disease, said it has been her dream to go to Badminton on cross-country day since she was a child.

The charity arranged for self-confessed “horsey girl” Lucy, her family and her assistance dog Molly to enjoy a day at the CCI4*.

Badminton final scores

“I grew up watching Badminton on television every year, from the age of seven,” Lucy wrote in her blog for the charity.

“A horsey girl at heart, I rode from the age of six until I became disabled and seriously ill aged 14.

“Had I not been physically fit from riding and working at the yard, I would’ve ended up in a wheelchair years before I did.”

The 23-year-old has never had her own horse, but would take on the ride on project horses for her instructor, borrow horses from friends and was the “chief holiday horse carer”.

“Once a horsey person, always a horsey person. It never leaves you,” she added.

“We had an amazing day. I attended with my mum, my uncle and my nurse, who were suitably up to scratch on eventing, the rules and what riders to watch by the end of the day.”

The Willberry team arranged for Lucy to attend the press conference at the end of cross-country day with the top three riders — Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke and Andrew Nicholson — and meet and chat to Michael.

“It was wonderful, the icing on the cake of a truly magical day,” said Lucy.

Champions raise thousands

The final total raised through last month’s Pertemps Champions Willberry Race at Cheltenham has reached £122,430.

A touching video of the day has been created by Phenix Digital.

More than 600 people applied to ride in the race, which was won by solider Ben Moore aboard the David Pipe-trained Three Star General.

Ben has had cancer himself and said he was riding for his daughter Grace, who has leukaemia.

A statement from the two benefiting charities, Willberry Wonder Pony and the Bob Champion Cancer Trust, said they are “totally humbled” and thanked everyone for their support.

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Supporters of the Willberry Wonder Pony charity will be finally able to get their hands on their very own “Berry pony”.

The charity is selling the cuddly toys from its stand at Badminton for £20 — or £22 with the iconic Willberry scarf.

Several members of the herd have already trotted off to make friends with the horses competing in the CCI4*.

Title contender Michael Jung has added “Jungberry” to his stable of four-star horses, and the diminutive equine has been spotted hanging out with La Biosthetique-Sam FBW.

“Jungberry has a special job on Saturday, telling his new buddy which way to go on the Badminton cross country course and what better way to do this than to hitch a ride on the back of Olympic champion Michael Jung,” said a post on the charity’s Facebook page.

The toy pony certainly has the right breeding to take on the track — at last year’s event, the original Willberry enjoyed a clear jumping round over the Badminton’s huge cross-country fences while strapped to charity patron Ben Hobday’s back.

Article continues below…

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The new intake of Berry ponies has also been seen helping edit photos in the press office and peeking over a competitor’s shoulder in the Mitsubishi Motors Grassroots Cup.

The Willberry clan is “stabled” on stand 84, Beaufort Way, at the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

They will also be on sale at Royal Windsor Horse Show next week (10-15 May) and will soon be available to buy online.

The charity was founded by the late Hannah Francis, an inspirational young eventer who died from cancer last year.

Following her diagnosis for an aggressive form of bone cancer in 2015, Hannah continued to ride and live life to the full throughout her treatment.

Willberry Wonder Pony became an official charity on 2 May 2016 and funds research into bone cancer and also grants horsey wishes for those with serious illnesses.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now