Morocco Royal Tour: Top riders in the short list.
Via R&B PRESSE
Morocco Royal Tour’s eighth edition will begin next week-end in Tétouan, first of the three legs to come, from October 6th to 22nd 2017. The event is now part of the international showjumping major shows, offering a unique setting for top-level competition. Famous riders have announced their participation this year again, among headliners and local, the public will have to chance to watch a memorable show.
Gathering 20 nations, about 70 foreign and Moroccan famous riders in the 45 classes and almost 250 horses travelling from Europe and Morocco, the Morocco Royal Tour keeps escalating and confirms its worldwide reputation. Organized by the Royal Guard, the Royal Moroccan Federation for Equestrian Sports and the Association du Salon Du Cheval D’El Jadida, the MRT offers a three weeks circuit of international showjumping endowed by the FEI. A CSI3*W, a CSIO3*W and a CSI1* are on the program with a total of 45 classes, among which 13 are counting for the FEI Longines Rankins List, and 3 qualifying Grand Prix for the World Cup. This circuit propose a global total prize money of 537 700€ for the CSI3*W and 49 000€ for the CSI1*.
Some riders are regular to the rendez-vous, just like Belgium Jérôme Guéry, Switzerland Pius Schwizer, Saudi Abdullah Sharbatly, Egypt Karim El Zoghby, France Alexandra Paillot, Italy Emanuele Gaudiano or even Qatar Bassem Hassan Mohammed and Sheik Ali Al Thani. Other great names of international showjumping will come along: Simon Delestre, Nicolas Deseuzes, Romain Lavigne or Nadja Peter Steineramong others.
Under Morocco’s colors, Abdelkebir Ouaddar will be the center of attentions. He will ride alongside his daughter, Soukaina, and other local riders who begin to make a name on the international scene like Samy Colma, Amine Lyazidi or Leina Benkhraba.
Two highlights will must be followed during these three weeks. The Nations Cup of Rabat, welcomed with open arms by the riders las year for the first edition and in which 9 teams are enlisted: Saudi Arabia, Belgium, Egypt, France, Italy, Morocco, Qatar, Switzerland and Syria.
Also, during the third and last leg of El Jadida, the tenth edition of the Salon du Cheval will take place, under the theme “The Salon du Cheval: ten years of pride and passion”. With the presence of numerous exhibitors and featuring Arabs Thoroughbred and Barb horses’ representations, the Salon du Cheval of El Jadida gathers and put under the spotlight every major actors of the horse universe. Unlike the other two legs, El Jadida is an indoor, in order to prepare horses and riders to the following season.
The Morocco Royal Tour will be the must-see of October, where equestrian sport meet history and culture of a country. From a Medina marked by Andalusian influences, picturesque place and seaside resort, the 2017 promises to be remarkable.