‘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 stories
Willberry Wonder Pony
Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony is an official charity set up by the late Hannah Francis. The successful young event rider was diagnosed with bone cancer in May 2015 and died, aged 18, on 1 August 2016.
The organisation was approved as a registered charity on 2 May 2016 and all funds raised by the charity go towards bone cancer research and granting horsey wishes to those with serious illnesses.
Hannah said at the time: “I am so proud to announce that finally Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony is an official charity.”
To date, Hannah’s charity has raised more than £100,000 through fundraising events and Willberry merchandise.
Among the current campaigns being run to raise funds for the charity is Wobbleberries – a challenge to encourage “middle-aged wimpy riders” to train to compete in a BE80 competition in memory of Hannah in late 2017. Andrew Hoy is among the top riders who have donated training to those taking part.
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Willberry Wonder Pony needs your help to win international award
Hannah Francis’s charity has been shortlisted for an FEI award, which will partly be decided by public vote
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Burghley star’s rocking horse to help grant Willberry wishes
Bluestone Luke competed at Burghley five times — now his rocking horse is helping to raise money to grant wishes for young people with serious illnesses
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‘It felt like her spirit was with us’: Hannah Francis one-day event raises £5,000
The horse trials was organised in memory of Hannah to celebrate her love of eventing
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Para rider tackles first BE event for Wobbleberries
Claire Sexton was seriously injured in a cycling accident 20 years ago and has since returned to the saddle
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8 things we learnt at Barbury last weekend
Willberry Wonder Pony, wonder women, amazing jumpers and naughty horses all featured at Barbury
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Grandfather who learned to ride in September to make BE debut
The 60-year-old is taking part in his first event in two weeks' time, 10 months after he first took to the saddle
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Entries open for the first Hannah Francis one-day event
Plans for the competition were discussed with the inspirational teenage eventer, who died last year
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‘A truly magical day’: Willberry makes young woman's dream come true
The charity arranged for 23-year-old Lucy Watts to go to Badminton on cross-country day and to meet eventing superstar Michael Jung
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Want your own Willberry? Buy one at Badminton
Find out how you can get your hands on your very own member of the Willberry Wonder Pony herd
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Dressage rider to jockey in 60 days: 'this was IT — we were galloping around Cheltenham!'
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Wobbleberries are go! Riders bag exciting results as charity challenge begins
Wobbleberries enjoyed a successful day at Horseheath Horse Trials, bagging a win and four double clears
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Willberry does Badminton: stars help raise thousands at preview event
Eventing stars gathered for a special Badminton Horse Trials preview event held in memory of Hannah Francis
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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
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'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 despite the obstacles in her way
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Olympic heroes to take on Flat race — and football match
The two gold medallists are to show off some alternative skills tonight and tomorrow
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Dressage rider to jockey in 60 days: I've got a new psychologist, now all I need to do is ride
Ali's big race day is tomorrow — find out how her final preparations have been progressing
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Danielle Dunn's Badminton first-timer blog: Good, old fashioned kicking on will be required
Danni is counting down the days to the "Big B"
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Willberry on TV: did you spot the famous equine in this prime time drama?
Many viewers did a double take as one of the Willberry Wonder Pony clan took a starring role in this hit ITV drama
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Dressage rider to jockey in 60 days: can you be disqualified in a horse race for going too slowly?
Ali talks us through why she has "roughly the same emotional stability as a pre-pubescent teenager" at the moment
