Biography

It will be the tenth visit to Badminton for Irish Olympian Joseph Murphy (47) who last competed here in 2022 and altogether has eight completions – five of them with his former team horse Sportsfield Othello. Last year with Badminton entry Barrichello Joseph was placed 14^th at the 5* in Pau. With Calmaro he was the best of the fourth placed Irish team at last year’s European Championships (12^th).

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 eight 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.

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, 2023 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 a 7 year-old daughter. Outside of eventing Joseph enjoys golf, restoration and project management and is an avid racing fan.

Barrichello is a British-bred AES registered 15-year-old gelding. Bred by James Dyer he is by Balou de Rouet out of a mare by the former eventing stallion Matinee du Madon. He was initially produced by Caroline March and formerly ridden by Alexander Bragg and Cathal Daniels with who he contested Badminton in 2022 but did not complete.