‘Willberry does Badminton’: charity preview evening raises a huge sum
With less than a month to go before Badminton Horse Trials, the Vale of the White Horse Hunt hosted a Badminton Preview evening (April 11), at Wick Bottom Barn, Rockley, in aid of the 'kicking cancer' charity, Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony. £18,000 was raised.
A celebrity panel including Sir Mark Todd, Eric Winter, Spencer Sturmey, Tim and Jonelle Price, Jonty Evans, Ben Hobday, Kitty King, Tom McEwen, Lissa Green and local young rider Danni Dunn talked about their Badminton dreams.
The sell-out audience of 250 people heard Badminton’s new course designer, Eric Winter, explain that he hoped to create a Badminton course that was big and bold and in keeping with natural features in Badminton Park. Sir Mark Todd said that nothing beat the feeling of driving through the gates of Badminton Park at the beginning of the competition.
The two young riders, Lissa Green, daughter of six times winner Lucinda Green, and Danni Dunn, are both due to compete at Badminton for the first time this May.
The event was hosted by Susie and Konrad Goess-Saurau. Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony was set up in memory of the young event rider Hannah Francis who died from bone cancer in August 2016.
After racing at Cheltenham on Thursday (April 20) the Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Race will be run in aid of the Bob Champion Cancer Trust and Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony charity.