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UNDER THE HIGH PATRONAGE OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING MOHAMMED VI
mrt / blog en  / High-level Sport Under the Moroccan Autumn Sun

High-level Sport Under the Moroccan Autumn Sun

Morocco is a land of welcome. It is with this spirit that the Morocco Royal Tour Foundation was created twelve years ago: welcoming the world of equestrian sports to three magnificent competitions in the best possible conditions. After two years of interruption due to the health crisis, the Morocco Royal Tour has resolutely resumed its place in the international calendar. 

The 2022 edition will take place this year from October 6 to 23, and will offer thirteen classes counting for the FEI Longines World Ranking, with a total prize money of €747,000.

At a time of the season when riders must return to the indoor arenas in Europe, the Morocco Royal Tour, held under the mild autumn sun, is a circuit much appreciated by the best riders in the world. Previous editions have seen Olympic Champions, World or European Champions, or world number ones: the prestigious series of three four-star CSI(O/W) which passes through Tetouan, Rabat and El Jadida can finally enter its second decade.

The three 4* Grand Prix are also qualifying classes for the Arab/North African League for the FEI Longines World Cup, the final of which will be held this season from April 4 to 8, 2023 for the second time in Omaha, USA, while Rabat will host a leg of the Nations Cup circuit, the highlight of the Moroccan CSIO, which will be held on Sunday afternoon. A CSI 1* will be held in parallel on each of the three stages: a beautiful equestrian journey for amateurs.
 
This Nations Cup will be held between eleven teams representing four continents! (See list below with Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal, big names in the world of showjumping, in CSIO Rabat for the first time.)
Within these teams, we find some great names of this sport such as the Brazilian Luciana Diniz, who ran under the Portuguese colours (she had participated in the Rio Olympics for this flag) and who is returning to her first love. Another female “star” of this line-up is the Canadian Beth Underhill, who returns to Morocco after a particularly brilliant season, winning last May the 5* Grand Prix of the CSIO in La Baule. This former groom has the chance to ride the horses of her national trainer, Eric Lamaze!
France will also present itself with a competitive team led by the former world number one, Simon Delestre, best French rider at the Olympic Games in Tokyo last year and at the World Championships in Herning in August.

Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano has won countless times in the various stages of the MRT: he is back this year and will be as formidable as ever, especially in the speed events.

Germany will count on its new asset, David Will, who revealed himself in 2021 by placing 7th at the European Championships after a silver medal in the team competition, confirming last year at the FEI World Cup where he finished 6th in the final.
 
These are only a few names from a rich line-up, but of course, the public of the Morocco Royal Tour will only have eyes for its team and its leader Abdelkebir Ouaddar, the man with 86 international victories alongside his two teammates from the Tokyo Olympic Games El Ghali Boukaa and Ali Al Ahrach.
Great stakes, a prestigious series solidly established on the international circuit with high quality infrastructures for each of the three stages, in beautiful cities with a strong tourist attraction, all in a resolutely friendly atmosphere: the Morocco Royal Tour is certainly an event that stands out from the ordinary and has become a must at the end of the outdoor season.
The 11 participating nations at the Nations Cup in Rabat :
1. Belgium
2. Brasil 
3. Canada
4. Egypt
5. France
6. Germany
7. Netherlands
8. Portugal 
9.  Spain
10. Switzerland
11. Morocco