The European Championship for Gentleman Drivers (FEGAT) came to an end with another positive performace for Malta represented by Clint Vassallo. Organised in Belgium, this championship saw 13 participants from all over Europe drive 4 races over two days in Oostende and Mons race tracks.
Clint Vassallo had alternating results through the four races notwithstanding his excellent driving even on difficult horses. He still succeeded to get the best results possible given the horses at his avail. The Championship started off with a good 4th place on Just To Win and later grabed a 7th place on Iconoclaste. Thankfully even the other drivers in the championship had a positive and negative result in the races held in Oostende and notwithstanding Vassallo’s results he closed the first day in 4th position at17 points.
Moving on to the race track in Mons, Clint Vassallo succeeded a good 3rd place in the first race on Belgian mare Ona Ter Putten. This result helped him move up in third place behind the Belgian driver Piet Van Pollaert and Austrian driver Thomas Royer. The final race was crucial to determine the winner and Clint Vassallo had one of the favorites of the race in Kimberly du Loisir. Notwithstanding an excellent drive in the back of the leader all the way, his French mare tired in the last 200meters and Clint Vassallo finished 6th with the Austrian driver 5th and Belgian driver in 8th position. This result helped Clint Vassallo consolidate his third spot and closing in on the second placed driver.
This was another good performance from a Maltese driver in yet another international event. The Malta Racing Club with the support of EquestriMalta remains committed to continue giving Maltese participants all the opportunities available to demonstrate their talent on the international stage.
The final classification of the European Championship for Amateur Drivers 2024 reads as follows:
1st Austria Thomas Royer 42pts
2nd Belgium Piet Van Pollaert 40pts
3rd MALTA Clint Vassallo 36pts
4th Norway Knut-Robin Dalsbotten 32pts
5th Switzerland Jean-Claude Gardaz 29pts
