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 7^th 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 16^th 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 2^nd 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.