The World Championship for Amateur Driver of the European Trotting Amateur-Drivers Federation (FEGAT) came to an end this Thursday after three days of racing. Cliferty Calleja set off to Finland to defend the title gained in the Italian edition held in 2022 when he was crowned World Champion. This edition was less successful for Cliferty Calleja but in his nine starts he still succeeded some positive results and ultimately was very unluck in some races.

Cliferty Calleja started off his participation in Teivo race track with a very unfortunate result when the horse he was driving and who was leading the race, lost trot in the final 100 meters and saw him disqualified. Losing these 13 points for the victory will ultimately cost Cliferty Calleja the victory of the Championship. On the same day, Cliferty Calleja grabbed a 10th place and later a 2nd place. With the results of the first day, Cliferty Calleja closed of his 11th in the general classification of the championship.

The second day of racing was held in Mikkeli race track and here Cliferty Calleja succeeded a third, fourth and fifth place after some excellent driving, although the trips were not always to his favour with traffic hampering better results. Notwithstanding this, Cliferty Caleja registered good gains in the second day and closed off eight in the global classification.

In the last day of racing, this time in Jokimaa racetrack, Cliferty Calleja grabbed a 7th place in the first race and later succeeded a beautiful victory in the eitght race of the championship. Taking in the lead with one lap to go, Cliferty Calleja resisted a late attack from his American counter part to win by half a length on his mare ARTFUL GRACE. At this point, Cliferty Calleja succeeded to climb to fourth place in the championship’s classification. Any chances on improving his standing however were hampered due to driving a mare that was evidently below the level of her opponents in the final race.

This was another positive participation for a Maltese driver representing the Malta Racing Club on the international scene. Cliferty Calleja’s victrory comes on the back of other victories obtained abroad by Maltese drivers who continue to demonstrate they are at par with their international counterparts.

The final Classification of the championship reads as follows:

1st - Ove Bakkevold Reime (Norway) - 72 points

2nd - Antonia Vaquer Staschel (Spain) - 71 points

3rd - Cheree Wigg (New Zealand) - 69 points

4th - Patrik Fernlund (Sweden) - 68 points

5th - Martin Andreasen (Denmark) - 66 points

6th - John Calabrese (USA) - 65 points

7th - Andrea Fazekas (Hungary) - 65 points

8th - Cliferty Calleja (Malta) - 60 points

9th - Sami Nummi (Finland) - 60 points

10th - Maximiliano Lacunza (Argentina) - 55 points

11th - Anellino Guglielmi (Canada) - 51 points

12th - Xavier Bovay (Switzerland) - 47 points

Photos Credit: Jokimaa Racetrack