Biography

It will be the ninth visit to Badminton for Irish Olympian Joseph Murphy (42) who last competed here in 2019 and altogether has eight completions – five of them with his former team horse Sportsfield Othello. Last year with Badminton entry Calmaro Joseph was placed 14^th at the 5* in Pau, the horse’s first 5*. The pair also won the CCI4* at Mallow – his first CCI4*win. It will be a first event at the level for Cesar V.

A qualified surveyor, he is based in County Down where with his wife he runs his own competition and training yard, based on the shoreline of Strangford Lough.

One of Ireland’s leading riders Joseph has been a stalwart of the Irish team representing his country in seven major championships as well as many nations cup team. He was a member of the fifth placed Irish team at the London 2012 Olympic Games where he was 14th individually (Electric Cruise).

Joseph was born in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath and is one of six boys – he has an identical twin brother. They all played football and all of his five brothers played for county teams. In their mid-teens the twins swapped football boots for riding boots and took lessons from the local MFH Clarissa Croll. Much against their parents’ wishes, they saved up to buy a horse and began hunting, one on the horse and one on foot then swapping over later in the day.

The twins then met Danish rider Dot Love who lived locally and introduced them to eventing. They were based with her for 12-years gaining experience in hunting and racing – Joseph held a jockey licence and raced in point to points.

He rode his first three-star 12-years ago with Skibereen Eagle. After a successful Badminton debut in 2011 Joseph was selected as a member of the Irish squad, and made his first international team appearance at the European Championships where he came 18th with Electric Cruise. He was a member of the Irish team at the 2012 Olympic Games, the 2014 WEG and the 2013, 2015 and 2017 European Championships and an individual at the 2021 Europeans.

Joseph is an HS1 level 2 Coach and is currently on the Irish High Performance squad. He sits on the Riders Panel for the northern region of Northern Ireland and advises event organisers, designers and stewards with cross country courses leading up to an event.

He trains with team Ireland. Joseph is married to Jill (nee Andrews) and the couple has an 5½ year-old daughter Daisy. Outside of eventing Joseph enjoys golf, restoration and project management and is an avid racing fan.

Calmaro owned by Claire and Charliei Mayne, Annette O’Callaghan and rider is a German-bred (Brandenburg registered) 11-year-old gelding. He is by the Holstein jumper Carpalano out of a mare by Elsurimo

He was produced by Laura Collett winning the Young Horse CCI1* at Tattersalls and placed 2^nd in the Young Horse CCI2* at Osberton in 2018. Joseph took the ride in 2020.

Cesar V owned by The Way Forward syndicate is a German-bred Oldenburg registered 14-year-old gelding. He is by Casiro 3 out of a mare by Sandro. He was originally produced by Frank Ostholt with who he competed at the 7-year-old World Young Horse Championship, then to CCI3* with Sara Algotsson with who he won the 2* at Strzegom in 2018.