To coincide with the World Cup Football Finals and in accordance with the decision approved by the General Assembly of the Union Europeenne du Trot (UET), Berlin was the venue for the European Professional Drivers Championship 2006 which took place on 6 and 7 July.

In a very smart outfit manifesting our national colours, Charles Camilleri, Maltese 2005 champion driver, was our flag bearer in this European Championship for Professional Drivers held in Germany.

This championship was organised by the German Trotting Association and the best European drivers hailing from countries which are members of the Union Europeenne du Trot totalling 17 in all, participated in this prestigious championship which attracted a huge crowd notably from France and Italy. These travelled to Berlin to watch their national teams in the final match scheduled on the following Sunday.

Camilleri was in his usual cool self notwithstanding having to face drivers of the calibre of French Pierre Levesque, Swedish Bjorn Goop, German Heinz Wewering and Belgian Christophe Martens.

The Maltese driver was accompanied by the Chef de Mission and Malta Racing Club General Secretary, Anthony De Bono.

The heats took off with a number of qualifying races and it was truly a notable achievement by Charles Camilleri to drive home magnificently the horse ‘Cannonball’ beating in the process the aforementioned world reputed champions. With the Maltese Anthem at the background the presentation was given wide coverage on the local media.

Placing fifth with ‘Oh You Win’ in the second heat of the first day, Camilleri managed to qualify for the final stage of the championship, beating in the process, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Spain, Slovenia and Russia.

The Championship finals were most exciting and Charles Camilleri, driving in four races, managed to place eighth European Professional Driver for 2006 thereby giving Malta automatic qualification for the 2007 European Championships.

Belgian Christophe Martens won the European Championship with 55 points with Dutch Hugo Langeweg collecting 50.5 points and Estonian Vejko Tamjarv 45 points. Charles Camilleri finished 8th with 30.5 points.

This was the best championship result for any Maltese driver, considering the difficulty.

The Malta Racing Club was very happy with Camilleri’s performance and the professional way that he undertook this national responsibility. I will be advising the Council that Malta must be a regular participant at these championships as we are considered among the most competitive. In addition and to make an analogy I feel that competing in this event is like participating in the final stages of the European Football Champions Cup.

Camilleri said that for him it was an honour to win one of the heats and to represent his country and the Malta Racing Club in such an important event. He also thanked the officials of the Malta Racing Club for their help and also his wife Tracy, his daughter Nevis, his brothers Noel and Clayton and all the Maltese owners for their constant support and congratulatory remarks just after winning the race since the event was televised internationally in real time.

The local 2006 horse racing season will resume on Friday 1 September.