Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan presided over the prestigious award ceremony for the Grand Prix of King Mohammed VI in showjumping, held on Sunday afternoon at the Mohammed VI Exhibition Center in El Jadida. This event, a significant highlight on Morocco’s national equestrian calendar, formed part of the final stage of the 15th edition of the Morocco Royal Tour CSI 5*W and coincided with the 17th edition of the El Jadida Horse Show, showcasing the country’s rich equestrian heritage.
Upon his arrival at the exhibition center, the Crown Prince was warmly welcomed by Moulay Abdellah Alaoui, the president of the Horse Show Association. He then reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard, signaling the importance of the occasion. Among the dignitaries present were Khalid Hatimy, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, and Food Sovereignty; Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Sports; and Fayçal Laâraichi, President of the Moroccan National Olympic Committee. The event was further graced by the presence of other notable figures, including Mohamed Mhidia, Wali of the Casablanca-Settat region; Abdellatif Maâzouz, President of the Casablanca-Settat Regional Council; and Sidi Saleh Daha, Governor of El Jadida Province, alongside local officials and members of the Horse Show Association’s board.
During the ceremony, the Crown Prince attended the second round of the Grand Prix held in Arena A of the Mohammed VI Exhibition Center, where Belgian rider Jérôme Guery, aboard Kiliman Sitte, emerged victorious after a thrilling competition featuring 44 riders from 16 different countries, including Morocco, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The Morocco Royal Tour Foundation organized this competition as part of the International Equestrian Federation’s sporting calendar, ensuring a high standard of international participation.
Following the competition, Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan presented the Grand Prix trophy to Guery and awarded prizes to the other top-ranked riders. British rider Chloe Aston secured second place riding Akito Von Rocherath Z, while French rider Simon Delestre claimed third on Golden Boy DK. Germany’s Tom Schewe on Congress Blue PS and Italy’s Roberto Previtali riding Quirinus 27 rounded out the top five with fourth and fifth places, respectively. The Crown Prince also took a moment to pose for a commemorative photograph with the prize-winning riders, celebrating their remarkable achievements.
The Morocco Royal Tour has established itself as a fixture on the international equestrian calendar, consisting of a showjumping circuit that spans three Moroccan cities. This year’s tour began in Tetouan from October 1 to 4, continued in Rabat from October 7 to 11, and concluded in El Jadida from October 15 to 18. Notably, the El Jadida stage reached CSI 5*W status, which is the highest level of international showjumping competition and serves as a qualifying route for the FEI Jumping World Cup. This significant upgrade reflects the Morocco Royal Tour’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the standard of competition, bolstering Morocco’s presence on the international equestrian scene, and providing riders with increased opportunities to compete at elite levels.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
