Team Sommerville Eventing

Thirty four year old James Sommerville is a professional event rider, competing at horse trials all over the UK and abroad. James first started eventing in 2002, and has now been participating in the sport professionally for 11 years.
In 2003 James undertook work experience with Team GBR Gold Medalist, Nicola Wilson. In 2005, he worked as stable jockey for the knowledgable and well respected trainer Chris McGrann before going to work for Oliver Townend (Badminton and Burghley winner 2009) as stable jockey. He then returned home to set up his own successful eventing yard.
Based near Boroughbridge, James has a reputation for the getting the best out of difficult/tricky to ride horses, making him an attractive choice of rider for prospective owners. James has a reputation for his ability to get the maximum performance out of any horse and to achieve the best possible results.

Notable Achievements include:

2012 

Winner Aston-le-Walls under 25’s advanced with Freddie Too
Winner Aske Hall international CIC* with Talent
British Eventing 4 Year Old Championship with Chilli Chap
8th place at Bramham CCI*** Under 25 Championships 
Moved up to 48th place in BE Top 100 Riders

2013 

23 First Place Wins over the Season
Winner Great Witchingham CIC* with Talent 
2nd place at Houghton Hall International CCI* with Talent
Winner Northern Eventers League Novice Championship
3rd place BE100 League
2nd place BE Intermediate League

2014 

17 First Place Season Wins
Ranked 33rd in British Eventing rider rankings
18th Best British Rider
2nd place Chatsworth International Advanced with Arco BB
4th Floors Castle CIC** with Talent
2nd place Aske International CIC* with Captain Levade
Winner Richmond Open Intermediate with Talent
Winner Richmond Intermediate with Belcarass Boy
2nd place Weston Park Open Intermediate

2015 

7 horses qualify for the Burghley Young Event Horse finals
4 double clears at CIC*** level 
Winner Scottish Novice Championships with Fellside Fancy Free
5th place Aston-le-Walls 8/9 Year Old Advanced Class with Talent
Winner Richmond Intermediate with Captain Levade
 
2016 

Winner Richmond Horse Trials Open Intermediate with Talent
6th place Chatsworth International Advanced with Talent
Talent also produced three double clears at CIC*** at Houghton Hall, Burnham Market and Burgham.
11th place Bramham International CCI*** with Talent to qualify for Badminton International Horse Trials 2017. 
18th (out of 76) Blenheim International  CCI*** with Talent
2nd place Hopetoun International CCI* with Altaskin Jack
2nd place Eland Lodge NRF with Altaskin Jack
2nd place Allerton Park Intermediate with Altaskin Jack
2nd place Aston le Wall Intermediate with Altaskin Jack

2017 

An impressive 47 top ten placings throughout the season
First time Badminton CCI**** with Talent
1st place Bishop Burton Open Intermediate with Talent
7th place Bramham International CCI*** with Talent
3 double clears at Tattersalls International CCI** and Osberton International CCI** with Altaskin Jack
7th place Belton Advanced Talent

2018 

Winner best Owner Rider Badminton International CCI**** with Talent
Team Silver Team GBR at Strzegom in the Nations Cup finishing 5th individually 
11th Burgham International CIC*** with Talent
2nd Aston-le-Walls Advanced with Talent
5th Blair International CCI*** with Talent
12th Bramham International CIC*** with Altaskin Jack
9th Aston-le-Walls 8/9 Year Old Advanced Class with Altaskin Jack
Winner Allerton Park Open Intermediate with Altaskin Jack
3rd Norton Disney Novice with G Star
1st Aston le Walls Novice with G Star

2019
Team Silver Team GBR at Strzegom in the Nations Cup finishing 9th individually 
33rd place Badminton International CCI**** with Talent Clear cross country
Talent competes in first Burghley International CCI***** Clear cross country
1st Oasby Intermediate with Altaskin Jack
2nd place Oasby Intermediate with Edison NJ
1st Allerton Park Open Intermediate with Altaskin Jack
1st Allerton Park Novice Global Ask
1st Burgham Novice Miss Pandora
34 Top ten placings including 11 First place wins

2020
1st place Oasby Intermediate Edison NJ
1st place Aston-Le-Walls (X) Open Intermediate Edison NJ
Altaskin Jack double clear Burgham CCI4*S
2nd place Altaskin Jack Richmond (2) Open Intermediate
8th place Edison NJ Thoresby Park CCI3*L
1st place Global Ask Norton Disney (3) Novice

2021
1st place Global Ask Norton Disney (1) Novice
6th place Talent Cirencester Park (X) Advanced
7th& 9th place Altaskin Jack and Edison NJ Aston-Le-WallsInternational (2)
Advanced
2nd place Global Ask Aston-Le-Walls International (2) CCI2*S
1st place Global Ask Warwick Hall (2) NRF
1st place Vision DK Z Allerton Park BE100
4th place Global Ask Allerton Park Intermediate
2nd place Talent Allerton Park Advanced
3rd place Global Ask Osberton International CCI2*L
2nd place Talent Strzegom CCI4*L
1st place Just A Minute Aston-Le-Walls (XX) BE100

In the past couple of seasons, James has competed at a large number of different international events, giving James and his current sponsors’ great exposure plus press and owners the chance to see their horses compete at the most prestigious events in the UK and overseas.
Goals for the coming season are to contest all the young horse championships and Burghley Young Event Horse finals with a number of new horses that have joined the team. James loves to produce his own horses as he feels he has a much better relationship and understanding with them. Competing at Badminton and Bramham is a definite as well as other CIC****, with the aim of Burghley at the end 2020. James’ long term goal is to ride for Great Britain on a senior championship team and win a medal. In order to realise that dream, James dedicates himself to his horses, training and competing, to consolidate his performance to attain success. He understands the level of commitment and hard work that is required to ride and win at the highest level of eventing. James has all the talent and drive to succeed. To enable James to reach his goal he is now seeking new sponsors, owners and horses to assist in his climb to the top of the sport. James is a well-recognised rider and with increased support will achieve his goals, being one of the best young, up-and-coming talents in the sport of eventing.