Adams back to his best after full recovery from leg injury (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Adams back to his best after full recovery from leg injury

12:37pm Friday 6th November 2009

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RISING event star James Adams may come from a totally “non-horsey”

family, but he has proved he is made of the stern stuff required for this demanding equestrian sport.

The Whinney Hill 31-yearold’s burgeoning event career looked to be over four years ago, when a fall while out hunting left him nearly “split in two”.

“I had four fractures – I broke my pelvis in two places and broke my hip and leg, so I needed four lots of surgery,” James, winner of one-star international titles at both Weston Park and Osberton this year, explained. “I spent 12 weeks in traction and 16 weeks in hospital, and there was a chance I might not have walked again.”

James needed another month in a wheelchair while he relearned to walk but, despite his horrific injuries, he was back in the saddle within a year.

“Many people thought I’d be apprehensive about starting to ride again but I had no worries – I just couldn’t wait to get back and start competing again.”

The love of riding had got into James’ blood as a youngster, although he admits that the pony club routine wasn’t for him.

“My mother took me to a local riding school when I was ten and I just loved it,” the former Grangefield School pupil said. “I eventually got my first pony a couple of years later and was thrilled to bits. Then, when I left school, I went to work for show jumpers Ian and Paul Barker and had the opportunity of grooming for them at international competitions, which was great experience.”

James moved on to earn his British Horse Society qualifications at Bishop Burton College before heading out to the sunny shores of South Australia, where he worked for one of the country’s biggest bloodstock agents.

“I was able to go to the Bloodstock Sales out there and learnt a lot, before coming home and working in different yards to gain more experience for a couple of years. I show jumped at first and didn’t start eventing until just five years ago.”

He made his abilities plain from the start, winning one of his first ever British Eventing (BE) one-day events at Floors Castle and picking up a string of top ten places in his first season.

“I really enjoy the three phases of an event – cross country is my favourite but I’ve always liked show jumping, and I’m getting to like dressage more,” James commented. “At three-day events the show jumping on the last day is a buzz and can make it a really nail biting finish.”

His performance in the dressage arena – where a good score is absolutely vital to international success in today’s event world – has come on apace and he has produced some memorable tests this year.

At the Osberton CIC* international in Nottinghamshire this summer, he was a close third after dressage on the stallion Forinth, a horse he rides for the Allerthorpe Farm Stud, beating four star internationals Heidi Woodhead and Terry Boon.

Allerthorpe Stud, at Barmby Moor, is owned by Michael Dawson MBE, a successful businessman who is now well known for his racehorse interests and his ownership of top show jumper Cabri D’Elle.

“I recently took Forinth, who stands at Allerthorpe, to the Sports Horse Breeding stallion grading at Addington in Buckinghamshire.

My lorry broke down and I ended up having to lead it at a garage down there – it was all worthwhile though as Forinth passed with full honours.

He was one of only five from 20 plus stallions to do so.”

James’ dressage performance was even more impressive at the recent Weston Park International CCI* (three-day event) in Shropshire. He led from start to finish on Libby Soley’s horse Pebbly Aga Khan, and was the only rider to score under 40 in the opening phase in the entire competition.

The two victories were among 11 BE wins James scored in 2009, along with many top placings, and other winning rides have included Sue Raper’s Loumic Laphia and Wirra, owned by 2008 Junior European event champion Sienna Myson- Davies.

“I now have a small yard at Whinney Hill with seven stables, an outdoor arena and about 20 acres of land. It’s allowed me to enjoy the challenge of bringing on young horses, which is one of the best parts of the sport.

“There is nothing like getting to know a youngster from the start, finding out what makes them tick and feeling them develop into a good competition horse. It can be very difficult and I’ve had a lot of ups and downs but, particularly now I’m getting the chance to ride a better standard of horse, it is such a joy. It does, though, take time.”

Patience and understanding is vital with any horse and the thrill of discovering that you may just have a real star in the making is what keeps many a rider going on the early, wet winter mornings you have to battle through to reach the start of each competition season in March.

“I get help from Peter Allen at Stainsby Grange with the show jumping, Ian Woodhead, who has helped me a lot on the flat, and Anne-Marie Perry. I’m now stable jockey to the Soley family at Sadberge, just two miles from me, and being able to use their gallops has been a great help with the fitness work.”

James makes the journey to Sue and David Soley’s yard, also home to their daughter, Pony and Junior European medallist Libby Soley, each afternoon and he is helping them develop a competition and production yard, working with eight horses there.

“Sue is absolutely meticulous and has been massively supportive – she has a really good string for next year. They have other trainers there too and I just love the excitement of working with their young horses and getting them to perform to the best of their ability.”

James also gets good family support and his younger sister and former show jumper, Sally Jane Adams, helps with fitness work and grooming at competitions.

The talented and versatile performer looks to be following in the footsteps of his all time hero, New Zealand double Olympic champion Mark Todd, who he rates as a “genius”. He is certain to be back in the international line ups in 2010 and watching the development of the ‘Soley string’ should intrigue all Northern event fans.

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