James Sommerville

Biography

British rider James Sommerville (31), who is based near Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire, gained his first Badminton completion last year with Talent, his entry this year also. In 2018 with Talent he represented team GB in the Nations Cup in Strzegom being placed 5^th individually.

James comes from an equestrian family; his mother hunted, his brother evented to one-star level and both his father and brother are vets. James has been a professional rider since 2002. He began his competitive career in the Pony Club (York and Ainsty) and did work experience with Yorkshire-based British team rider Nicola Wilson. After leaving school he was stable jockey for Chris McGrann before moving to Oliver Townend’s yard as a working pupil. He then returned home to set up his own ten-box yard.

James contested his first three-star in 2010 with Pipeband with who he was 8^th in the U-25 championship at Bramham 2012. That year winning the CIC1* at Aske with Talent. James trains with Judy Bradwell.

Talent is a 13-year-old Dutch-bred gelding. He is jumping-bred by the international showjumper Eurocommerce Toulouse out of a mare by the leading jumping sire Concorde. He was acquired from Astrid Bolton as a four-year-old and has been produced by James. In 2012 the pair was fourth in the BE six-year-old championship at Osberton and the following year 10^th in the seven-year-old championship CCI2*. In 2016 they were 11^th in their first three-star three-day at Bramham. Talent is described as ‘talented and equally quirky’. James recalls how he used to be difficult to get on to the point that before one young horse class he had to be mounted in the lorry and ridden down the ramp.