Morocco Royal Tour Show Jumping (Tétouan Leg): Abdeslam Bennani Smires Wins the World Cup Grand Prix, HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Prize

Abdeslam Bennani Smires, the reigning Moroccan champion, riding “Mister d’Eclipse,” claimed the World Cup Grand Prix, HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Prize, during this stage of the competition, organized by the Morocco Royal Tour Foundation under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI. He prevailed after a decisive jump-off, finishing clear in 46.90 seconds.

Second place went to Saudi rider Abdulrahman Alrajhi, riding “Heartbeat W,” also completing a faultless jump-off in 50.05 seconds, while Ukrainian rider Anastasia Bondarieva, on “Calder,” completed the podium with a clear round in 50.86 seconds.

At the end of this major sporting event, the president of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Equestrian Sports (FRMSE), Moulay Abdellah Alaoui, presented the prizes and medals to the winners across the different categories, in the presence of Division General Abdelaziz Chater, Commander of the Royal Guard, the Wali of the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region, and other dignitaries.

In a statement to the press, Abdeslam Bennani Smires expressed his joy at winning the Grand Prix of the Tétouan stage of the Morocco Royal Tour in show jumping, explaining that the competition was intense thanks to the participation of renowned riders such as Italian Emanuele Gaudiano, ranked among the world’s top 50, Moroccan champion Abdelkebir Ouaddar, and other well-known European competitors.

“It is an exceptional feeling to win this international competition with the participation of world-class riders,” he said, adding that this was his first victory in a competition of this level.

“I hope to continue in this way during the next two stages of the Morocco Royal Tour, especially the Nations Cup in Rabat, where each team will compete with four riders,” he continued, noting that this victory is excellent both personally and collectively, as it reaffirms the team’s determination to achieve a strong result at the upcoming Nations Cup.

The first leg of the 14th edition of the Morocco Royal Tour (MRT) in show jumping, held from September 18 to 21, welcomed top riders representing more than 15 countries, with around 200 horses and over 100 riders from Morocco, Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Africa.

This stage saw, for the first time, the participation of riders from Argentina and Bahrain, alongside traditionally well-represented countries such as Brazil, Egypt, Italy, France, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Ukraine, Spain, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia.

Over four days of high-level competition, this stage featured 13 events across different categories, highlighted by two evening sessions on September 19 and 20.

The circuit will continue from September 24 to 28 in Rabat, at the headquarters of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Equestrian Sports (FRMSE), featuring in particular the Nations Cup, and will conclude from October 2 to 5 in El Jadida as part of the Horse Show, a popular event celebrating Morocco’s rich equestrian heritage.

These two stages will benefit from new modern infrastructures, including new sand arenas in Rabat and El Jadida, illustrating the Kingdom’s continued commitment to strengthening its place on the international equestrian scene.

The Morocco Royal Tour, organized by the Morocco Royal Tour Foundation, which brings together the Royal Guard, the FRMSE, and the Horse Show Association, has become a flagship event promoting sporting excellence.

Editorial team/le7tv