The 2018 Pertemps Champions Willberry Charity Derby line-up
(in alphabetical order):
Joseph Akehurst
29, is based near Ipswich. He is currently a flying groom, has worked and ridden for many trainers and has been involved with the Shetland Pony Grand National.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JoeAkehurst
Deborah Auld
26, owns an equine feed store in East Lothian. Having ridden all her life, she pretrains her own racehorses.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DeborahAuld
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.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LuciaBorradaile
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.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlexEmbiricos1
Sheikh Fahad Al Thani
28, a member of the Qatar Royal Family, is a major owner, breeder and investor in British Racing. His entrance into the sport was in 2010 and his second year of ownership culminated with victory in the Melbourne Cup with Dunaden.
In 2011, Sheikh Fahad brought his brothers into racing when the family company, QIPCO, took on sponsorship of the inaugural British Champions Series. Sheikh Fahad is also Chairman of the QIPCO subsidiary, Qatar Racing.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SheikhFahadAlThani
Tim Gredley
32, has represented GB at show jumping. Based in Newmarket, he now rides in point-to-points as well as running his own company.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/TimGredley
Lissa Green
29, is one of eventing's up-and-coming event riders and in 2017 made her 4* competitive debut at the iconic Badminton Horse Trials.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LissaGreen
Abigail Groves
49, is a Cancer and End of Life Care Manager, based near Epsom in Surrey. A keen horsewoman, she competes in show jumping and will be celebrating her 50th birthday this year.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AbigailGroves1
Heather Larson
25, from Somerset, is a show jumper and director of a Sports Horse Company. She and Hannah Francis were friends who started out in the Wyle Valley Pony Club together.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/HeatherLarson1
Alex Monro
45, works in Devon for Mole Energy Switching, a division of Mole Valley Farmers. A British Young Rider in the 1990’s, he has competed at eventing and show jumping internationally and point-to-pointed.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/AlexMonro
Lara Prior-Palmer
23, won the 2013 Mongol Derby, the world's longest and toughest horse race at 1000km. She fought Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2017.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LaraPrior-Palmer
Gemma Redrup
27, from Rutland, is a journalist at Horse & Hound magazine. She is a keen horsewoman who has competed across many disciplines.
Support this rider: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/GemmaRedrup
Reserves (in alphabetical order): John Reddington, 45, a company director from Hertfordshire; Laura Rolph, 32, a BSJA Training Co-ordinator from Oxfordshire and Camilla Swift, 29, a journalist and editor from Sussex.
The Bob Champion Cancer Trust
Reg. charity no. 1024664
Hannah's Willberry Wonder Pony Charity
Reg. charity no. 1166416
