Cathal Daniels

Wednesday 7th - Sunday 11th May 2025

Cathal Daniels

Ireland
  • 94 - Rioghan Rua

Biography

It will be a second visit to Badminton for Irish team rider Cathal Daniels (25) who is based in Tully East on The Curragh. Cathal first competed here in 2017 aged 20 and gained his first completion with the diminutive mare Rioghan Rua with who he went on to win individual bronze at the 2019 European Championships and team silver at the 2018 World Games. The pair was denied a place in the 2021 Olympic team when Rioghan Rua was forced to withdraw just prior to the first veterinary inspection.

Last year with LEB Lias Jewel he was a member of the Irish team for the European championships and completed Luhmuhlen 5*. In 2020 with Badminton entry Barrichello he won the 4* at Barocca d’Alva in Portugal.

Cathal, who runs his own yard, first came to prominence when he won team and individual gold medals at the pony European Championships in 2012, riding Master Murrose (formerly ridden by his sister older Regina and then passed to a young sister). The following year he won team gold and was 7th individual at the Junior Europeans with Rioghan Rua and in 2014 the pair won another Junior team gold as well as individual silver. That year they also finished 16th in the World Young horse Championships at Le Lions.

In 2015 with Rioghan Rua he competed for Ireland in the Young Rider Europeans winning a team bronze medal and the pair was a member of the winning Irish Nations Cup team at Boekelo. Cathal also claimed his first senior international win at Camphire on the stallion Barnaboy Freeman. In 2016 after a good result at Fontainebleau he was long-listed for the Olympic Games.

Cathal’s family are all involved in horses and eventing. His sister Regina runs a riding school in his native Galway and his father Gerry is an enthusiastic equestrian of all disciplines – they have even had their own pack of 24 hounds.

Barrichello owned by Sarah Hughes is a British-bred (AES) 13-year-old gelding. Bred by James Dyer he is by Balou De Rouet out of a mare by Matinee du Madon. Barrichello was formerly ridden by Caroline March and Alexander Bragg. Cathal took the ride in 2020 gaining 2nd place in their first event, the CCI4*S at Mallow. He spent February showjumping in Vilamoura. Badminton will be a first at the level for Barrichello.

 

Entries

Rioghan Rua

ISH, Ireland, 2007
15.2hh , chestnut , mare

Sire Jack of Diamonds

Dam Highland Destiny (Flagmount King)

Breeder Margaret Kinsella

Owner(s): Margaret Kinsella, Co Galway, Ireland

Notable Results

2022 – Kronenberg CCI4*L 3rd Barrichello

2021 – Le Lions CH-M-YH-CCI3*L 14th LEB Empress

2021 – Avenches CH-EU-CCI4*L 42nd LEB Lias Jewel

2021 – Luhmuhlen CCI5* L 9th LEB Lias Jewel

2021 – Millstreet CCI4*S 4th LEB Lias Jewel

2021 – Ballindenisk CCI4*S 5th LEB Lias Jewel

2020 – Little Downham CCI4*S 12th Barrichello

2020 – Ballindenisk CCI4*L 7th Barrichello

2020 – Barrichello CCI4*S 3rd Barrichello

2020 – Mallow CCI4*S 2nd Barrichello

2020 – Le Lions CH-M-YH-CCI2* 5th LEB Empress

2019 – Le Lions CH-M-YH-CCI2*L 14th Boleybawn Freedom

2019 – Luhmuhlen CH-EU-CCI4*L 3rd Rioghan Rua

2019 – Tattersalls CCIU25CCI3*L 1st LEB Lias Jewel

2019 – Bramham CCIU254*L 1at Rioghan Rua

2018 – Le Lions CH-M-YH-CCI2* 8th Galant DHI, 10th OLS King Aragon

2017 – Millstreet CH-EU-Y-CCI2* 4th Sammy Davis Junior

2016 – Le Lions CH-M-YH-C2* 14th Sammy Davis Junior

2016 – Pau CCI4* 12th Rioghan Rua

2015 – Strzegom CH-EU-YR-C2* 6th Rioghan Rua (team bronze)

2014 – Le Lions CH-M-YH-C2* 16th Rioghan Rua

2014 – Bishop Burton CH-EU-J-C1* 2nd Rioghan Rua (team gold)

2013 – Jardy CH-EU-J-C1* 7th Rioghan Rua

2012 – Fontainebleau CH-EU-P-C2* 1st Master Mulrose.

Badminton

2017 – 33rd Rioghan Rua