The World Championship for Professional Harness Drivers is going to be held in Sweden from the 24th to the 31st of May and Malta will be represented by local champion Rodney Gatt. Last year Gatt became the first Maltese driver to ever qualify for this prestigious competition after he managed to finish in 6th place in the European Championships for professional drivers.

Two years ago the World Championship was held in Canada where for the first time Malta was represented by Noel Baldacchino after he was invited to take part when the German driver withdrew his participation from the competition. Baldacchino had given an excellent performance where he not only managed to win a race but finished sixth overall.

Twelve drivers from eleven countries hailing from three continents will be participating in this tough competition consisting of 24 races in five different racetracks. These 24 races will consist of only trotters but apart from standardbreds the drivers will also be handling coldbloods.

Apart from Rodney Gatt, the participating drivers will be the World reigning champion James MacDonald, Rick Ebbinge (The Netherlands), Mika Forss (Finland), Yannick Gingras (USA), Eirik Hoitomt (Norway), Todd McCarthy (Australia), Doug McNair (Canada), Michael Nimczyk (Germany), Franck Nivard (France), Ulf Ohlsson (Sweden) and Matthew Williamson (New Zealand).

Rodney Gatt will be leaving for Stockholm on Thursday morning where his first competition will be on Friday afternoon with three races at Solvalla.

Gatt will be accompanied by Lorraine Cunningham, Public Relations and Media Coordinator for the Malta Racing Club who will be updating the local media with all that is happening throughout this very important competition.

Further information can also be obtained on the championship’s official website www.wtc2019.se

Lorraine Cunningham

Public Relations & Media Coordinator

Malta Racing Club

MRC/04/19