Five continents meet at Morocco Royal Tour
In October, the place to be for the showjumping world is Morocco. Next Thursday the kick-off of the 10th Morocco Royal Tour will be given in Tetouan.
Showjumping as we like, resolutely sporty in a friendly atmosphere. Tetouan also offers the sumptuous setting of the Royal Guard, a magnificent stadium in the city, with stands decorated in Moroccan style. All this undoubtedly explains the enthusiasm of European riders and, now, American and even of ALL continents! Indeed, for the first time, Canadian, Brazilian and American riders will discover the circuit. Olympic riders Bernardo Alves (BRA), Tiffany Foster, Chris Pratt and Laura Tidball (Canada) are among them. New Zealand will also be in Morocco for the first time with Olympians Samantha McIntosh and Bruce Goodin.
It is now a routine, the European Federations delegate to the MRT the best of their cavalry with champions like Laurent Goffinet (BEL), Billy Twooney (IRL), Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA), always very successful at MRT, Stefan Eder (AUT), Andreas Shou (DAN), all regulars on the World Cup circuit and continental or intercontinental championships as well as the French Simon Delestre (former world number one), Olivier Guillon (former reserve world champion) or Emeric George, winner of the Rabat Grand Prix last year.
We also expect the Swiss who have promised to delegate a strong team for this tenth anniversary with the intention to keep in hands “their” Moroccan Cup won in 2018 and 2016. A team led by Alain Jufer, also a big winner on the MRT and Nadja Petersteiner who were part of the victorious team last years.
In all, 25 nations will be represented in Tetouan, 29 in Rabat (where the Nations Cup will decide for the Olympic qualification for the Tokyo Games for Group 7) and 20 in the indoor show of El Jadida . An impressive number: the Morocco Royal Tour is one of the rare shows of the international circuit, with the World Championships and the Olympic Games, to bring together riders from five continents!
But the heart of the Moroccan public will obviously beat for Abdelkebir Ouadar and his compatriots, more and more successful this year, Kebir having returned to victority in Grand Prix, last summer in Megève.
The circuit will begin in Tétouan from October 3rd to the 6th, in the superb installations of the Royal Guard. It is a magnificent site with permanent facilities including grandstands and stables decorated in traditional Moroccan style.
The stage of Rabat, from October 10th to 13th, is held in the facilities of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Equestrian Sports,seamlessly organized and featuring exciting night classes such Friday’s 4* Grand Prix. The flagship event will be the Nations Cup, scheduled for Sunday afternoon
The final leg takes place in El Jadida, from October 17-20, runs in indoor and offers a sports program similar to that of Tétouan.There spectators can also experience the largest event dedicated to the equine world in Africa: the Salon du Cheval.
