Joseph Murphy 49 y/o

Ireland

CCI5* -L Starts (total since 2008): 38

5 - Belline Fighting Spirit
92 - Calmaro

Biography

The experienced Irish rider Joseph Murphy has completed Badminton 10 times, his best result being 11th place in 2017 on Sportsfield Othello. Last year he completed with two horses, Calmaro (33rd) and the Dutch-bred Belline Fighting Spirit (49th), his ride this year.

Belline Fighting Spirit was sourced as a three-year-old from the Netherlands by Richard Ames, a joint owner, and was previously ridden by Daniel Alderson and Laura Birley. Joseph took on the ride in 2022 and brought the horse up through the grades to five-star level, finishing 26th at Pau in 2024.

Joseph began riding as a teenager, hunting with the West Meath and point-to-pointing – he remains interested in country sports. He also played Gaelic football and studied surveying at Limerick University.

He first represented Ireland in eventing in 2011 and has ridden at five European Championships, plus the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Haras du Pin. In 2012, he finished 14th on Electric Cruise at the London Olympic Games as a member of the fifth-placed Irish team.

He is married to Jill and has a daughter, Daisy. They are based in Toye, near Killyleagh, Co Down, Northern Ireland, where he runs a competition and training yard.

Entries

Belline Fighting Spirit

AES, Germany, 2015
16.2hh , bay , gelding

Sire Freeman

Dam Zominga (Lupicor)

Breeder G.W Winkel

Owned Annette O’Callaghan
Richard Ames
Tanja Ames
Alan Bell

Stats & Insights from

PB – Dressage(CCI5*-L)

30.9 - Burghley 2025

PB – Finish(CCI5*-L)

72.0 - Pau 2024 - 36th

Dressage(Last 6 tests avg.)

36.2

XCJ – Clear Rate(Last 10 runs)

80%

SJ Faults(Last 6 avg.)

4

Insights

Joseph Murphy has made 38 CCI5* starts since 2008 - more than any other Irish rider, with over 10 more starts than his closest rival.
Joseph has also delivered five clear show jumping rounds at Badminton, more than any other Irish rider in the field this year.

Calmaro

DSP, Germany, 2011
16.2hh , grey , gelding

Sire Carpalano

Dam Elester (Elsurimo)

Breeder Mr Hartmut Schack

Owned Annette O'Callaghan
Richard and Tanya Ames
Charlie & Clare Mayne

Badminton Record

2025 – Belline Fighting Spirit 49th
2025 – Calmaro 33rd
2022 – Cesar V WD
2019 – Sportsfield Othello RET
2018 – Sportsfield Othello 13th
2017 – Sportsfield Othello 13th
2016 – DHI Topstory 28th
2016 – Sportsfield Othello 40th
2015 – Electric Cruise EL
2015 – Sportsfield Othello 25th
2014 – Sportsfield Othello 30th
2013 – Electric Cruise 52nd
2011 – Electric Cruise 27th

Notable Results

2025 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Rehy Royal Diamond 57th
2025 Lisgarvan CCI4*-L – Funny Guy 3rd
2024 Millstreet CCI4*-L – Belline Fighting Spirit 9th
2024 Pau CCI5*-L – Belline Fighting Spirit 36th
2023 Kilguilkey House CCI4*-L – Barrichello 6th
2023 Kilguilkey House CCI4*-L – Belline Fighting Spirit 7th
2023 Le Pin au Haras Europeans – Calmaro 12th
2023 Pau CCI5*-L – Barrichello 26th
2022 Kentucky CCI5*-L – Calmaro 9th
2021 Bicton CCI5*-L – Gorsehill Pearl 12th
2021 Millstreet CCI4*-L – Calmaro 4th
2021 Pau CCI5*-L – Calmaro 14th
2020 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Cesar V 6th
2020 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Gorsehill Pearl 5th
2019 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Cesar V 20th
2019 Millstreet CCI4*-L – Sportsfield Othello 4th
2018 Bramham CCI4*-L – Fernhill Frankie 19th
2018 Burghley CCI5*-L – Sportsfield Othello 22nd
2018 Pau CCI5*-L – Sportsfield Othello 31st
2017 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Fernhill Frankie 6th
2017 Strzegom Europeans – Sportsfield Othello 47th
2016 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Gorsehill Pearl 7th
2016 Burghley CCI5*-L – DHI Topstory 15th
2016 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Sportsfield Othello 12th
2016 Millstreet CCI4*-L – Fernhill Frankie 11th
2016 Pau CCI5*-L – Sportsfield Othello 24th
2015 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – DHI Topstory 5th
2015 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Westwinds Hercules 16th
2015 Pau CCI5*-L – DHI Topstory 13th
2015 Saumur CCI4*-L – Westwinds Hercules 16th
2014 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Westwinds Hercules 22nd
2014 Caen World Games – Electric Cruise 44th
2014 Pau CCI5*-L – Sportsfield Othello 5th
2013 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Sportsfield Othello 1st
2013 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – DHI Topstory 26th
2013 Luhmühlen CCI5*-L – Sportsfield Othello 18th
2013 Pau CCI5*-L – DHI Topstory 41st
2013 Pau CCI5*-L – Electric Cruise 8th
2012 Boekelo CCI4*-L – DHI Topstory 36th
2012 London Olympics – Electric Cruise 14th
2012 Saumur CCI4*-L – Electric Cruise 30th
2011 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Chuckelberry 22nd
2011 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Sportsfield Othello 16th
2011 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Chuckelberry 67th
2011 Luhmühlen Europeans – Electric Cruise 18th
2011 Pau CCI5*-L – Sportsfield Othello 27th
2011 Tattersalls CCI4*-L – Sportsfield Othello 11th
2010 Ballindenisk CCI4*-L – Electric Cruise 2nd
2010 Boekelo CCI4*-L – Sportsfield Othello 49th