Biography

British rider James Sommerville (34), who is based near Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire, gained his first and second Badminton completion with Talent, his entry this year also. In 2021 the pair was 2^nd in the 4*L in Strzegom – in 2018 the pair

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 equine 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 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. The pair contested their first Badminton in 2017 but did not complete

James is married to Lucinda and the couple has a 6-month old daughter.

Talent owned by Mrs Jennifer Sommerville and rider, is a 16-year-old Dutch-bred AES registered 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 since been produced by James to 5* level. 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.