Rabat (MOR0, Augist 7, 2018 – Three fabulous sites, three stages of three days and now four stars for the ninth edition of the Morocco Royal Tour circuit that will take place between October 4 and 21, 2018! Created in 2010 on “High Instructions from His Majesty King Mohammed VI” and chaired by Prince Moulay Abdellah Alaoui, the MRT grows from year to year, confirming its place of major competition of the world equestrian calendar, under the aegis of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI).
Organized by the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports, the El Jadida Horse Exhibition Association and the Royal Guard, the Moroccan circuit has been attracting great names in the world of horse riding for some years. Medallists at the Olympic Games, World Equestrian Games, Championships and in their continental championships: Olympic champion Philippe Rozier, former world No. 1 Simon Delestre and Pius Schwizer, and other European national team riders such as Alain Jufer of Switzerland and Jérôme Guery of Belgium, not forgetting the Moroccan star, 5* Grand Prix winner, Abdelkebir Ouadar and others are regular participants in the “MRT”.
The 2018 circuit will feature two CSIW 4*, one CSIOW 4* with the Moroccan Nations Cup and three CSI1* with eighteen classes. The 4* classes will be in number of twenty-seven, thirteen of which counting for the FEI World Ranking. The overall purse of the series increases to €707,000 (€48,000 for the CSI 1* and €659,000 for the CSIW 4* and CSIOW 4*).
As is the tradition for this high-level equestrian circuit, the ninth edition will take place over three weekends in three Moroccan cities: Tetouan, Rabat and El Jadida.
Each of the three legs has its particular appeal. The circuit starts in Tetouan, from October 4 to 7, in the superb facilities of the Royal Guard. A magnificent site with permanent facilities: majestic benches and superb stables decorated in the purest Moroccan tradition. On the edge of the Mediterranean, Tetouan is a charming seaside town to discover. It was in Tetouan that the French Simon Delestre had discovered the Morocco Royal Tour last year: “I competed in this leg and the one of El Jadida in 2017, and this year, I intend to attend all the three legs. These are really very beautiful competitions, very well organized. We are tremendously welcomed“. This first leg offers a CSI1* and a 4*W also counting for the World Cup of Arabian League.
In Rabat, from October 11 to 14, we are in the facilities of the Moroccan Royal Federation of Equestrian Sports (FRMSE), technically irreproachable with night classes, including this year the 4* Grand Prix. The main class will be the Nations Cup, scheduled this year on Sunday afternoon, where major European teams will face Arab squads, including, of course, Morocco. Olympic Champion Philippe Rozier likes to underline this technical aspect: “We are not going to talk about hosting here: Moroccans are perfect in this topic, we know it. They have nothing to prove on the subject. What I appreciate in these competitions is their Europeanisation on the technical feature: the quality of the soil, tand the quality of the stables. These competitions are worthy of the most beautiful three and four stars French competitions. It was the goal that had been settled when the organizers had consulted with me and it has been reached. The welfare of horses is also a point on which the organization is watching. The Europeans could have worried if their horses had a glitch: they were quickly reassured when they discovered the quality and modernity of the Rabat veterinary clinic. Even the sports program is perfectly designed for the welfare of horses.” Outside competitions, you have to appreciate the city, the Moroccan capital, built on the banks of the Bouregreg river and of the Atlantic Ocean. It is full of interests, which illustrate the Islamic heritage, including the Oudayas Kasbah.
The last step of El Jadida, from October 18 to 21, is an indoor show and offers a sports program similar to Tetouan’s one. It also allows discovering the Moroccan Horse Exhibition, certainly the most important of the continent. We are still on the Atlantic costs and its citadel is a must!
Three sporting reasons and three tourist reasons to visit the 2018 edition of the Morocco Royal Tour, a series that has now become established on the international circuit.
Agence R&B Presse Press Release
