Blackpool played host to the 64th UK Coach Rally at the weekend. The industry once again stepped up and gave its best, with vehicles and drivers on show and some new names taking home silverware
Drivers and operators once again rose to the occasion last weekend for the 64th UK Coach Rally in Blackpool.
This year’s field of 47 entrants yielded a number of welcome new names, and there was a plethora of factory-fresh metal to be seen. Meanwhile, three restored Plaxton-bodied coaches harked back to previous decades, illustrating how the industry has changed.
A Panorama was present on a Bedford VAL chassis dating from 1965 entered by Kenzies Coaches, while Johnson Bros Tours’ Supreme IV mounted on a Volvo B58 caught many eyes. Marshalls of Sutton-on-Trent entered a Paramount-bodied Bedford YNT.
But the weekend is not all about hardware. It is just as much about the people of the industry, and Rally stalwart Cyril Kenzie – who celebrates his 90th birthday this month – once again supported the event.
Awards were presented by Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney, and some of this year’s new entrants took home silverware.
The winners
The most prestigious award, for Coach of the Year, went to A&P Travel of for its 2016-registered Van Hool TX16 Acron. The Sleaford operator also won trophies for the best Van Hool, and for being top CPT member.
Coach Driver of the Year went to William Brayford, of Robinsons Holidays. William was also recognised as oldest employed participant in the Rally, and his Mistral-bodied Volvo B12B gained recognition as the best Jonckheere.
Howard Snaith Coaches was adjudged highest placed operator in all classes, while its Irizar i8 integral was recognised as both top executive coach and top Irizar integral.
Once again illustrating the Rally’s people aspect, Jay and Kay Tours was judged top team. Owner Karl Brazier has named the VDL Futura FHD2 entered by Jay and Kay in memory of the late Alan White, formerly Sales Director of Moseley in the South, which supplied it.
Further drivers’ awards saw Chris Bibby, of Bibbys of Ingleton, recognised as highest-place in the Saturday tests. Hannah Blake of Blakes Coaches is reigning mini driver of the year. Tony Head, of Decker Bus, is midi driver of the year, achieved in a King Long XMQ6900 converted to a six-berth sleeper.
Russell Cooper of Coopers Tours finished runner-up to coach driver of the year, while Tom James of York Pullman went home with the Directors Challenge trophy.
Coach of the Year as voted for by attending drivers went to Tyrers Coaches, for the sole double-decker entered in this year’s event – a Van Hool TDX25 Astromega.
Hardware on show
As a snapshot of the industry, a wide variety of coaches were once again on show. Johnson Bros Tours entered the first Neoplan Tourliner P10 delivered to a UK operator, with the 13.2m, two-axle coach finished in the Worksop firm’s distinctive livery.
Attracting much favourable comment was Carlisle-based Metcalfe Coaches’ Van Hool T916 Astron. Although dating from 2006, the 49-seater’s age is disguised not only by a cherished number plate but also by its superb condition inside and out.
Sharpes of Nottingham became the first operator to enter a Van Hool EX16M at the Rally, with it being perhaps the most futuristic-looking coach on show.
Other 18-plate vehicles were in the colours of Banstead Coaches, Blakes Coaches, Excelsior Coaches, Gibbons Coach Holidays, Heathside Travel, Holmeswood Coaches, Homeward Bound, Lothian Motorcoaches, Paul S Winson, Prospect Coaches, Redfern Travel, Stanley Travel, Travellers Choice, Williams Coaches, and Yorkshire Rose Holidays.
Back next year
Organiser Coach Displays has already confirmed that the Rally will return to Blackpool in April 2019. While this year’s event was down on numbers compared to the previous two, participants nevertheless enjoyed reasonable weather as they once again watched the coach industry doing what it does best.
Couple that to strong support from the trade and the Rally will go into its 65th year looking as positive as it has done for a long time.
As ever, routeone congratulates all of the winners.
Full list of all winner:
- Coach of the Year – A&P Travel, Van Hool TX16 Acron
- Coach Driver of the Year – William Brayford, Robinsons Holidays
- Mini Driver of the Year – Hannah Blake, Blakes Coaches
- Midi Driver of the Year – Tony Head, Decker Bus
- Highest placed operator in all classes – Howard Snaith Coaches
- Top Team of the Year – Jay and Kay Coach Tours
- Coach Driver of the Year runner-up – Russell Cooper, Coopers Tours
- Highest placed driver in Saturday tests – Chris Bibby, Bibbys of Ingleton
- Directors Challenge Trophy – Tom James, York Pullman
- Top Mini/Midi – Williams Coaches, Yutong TC9
- Top Standard Coach – Banstead Coaches, Temsa HD 12
- Top Touring/Express Luxury Coach – Johnson Bros Tours, Neoplan Tourliner
- Top Executive Coach – Howard Snaith Coaches, Irizar i8 integral
- Top Coach aged five years or older – Brethertons Gold Line Tours, Volvo 9700
- Top Coach aged 25 years or older – Johnson Bros Tours, Volvo B58 Plaxton Supreme IV
- Top Coach from a small fleet – Gibbons Coach Holidays, Mercedes-Benz Tourismo
- Top Neoplan – Johnson Bros Tours, Tourliner P10
- Top Jonckheere – Robinsons Holidays, Volvo B12B Mistral 50
- Top Setra – Classic Coach County Down, S415GT-HD
- Top Plaxton – Coopers Tours, Volvo B11R Panther 3
- Top Beulas supplied by Moseley – Bensons Travel, MAN RR4 Aura
- Top Mercedes-Benz – Chesters Coaches Tourismo
- Top Van Hool – A&P Travel Acron
- Top VDL Supplied by Moseley – Stanley Travel Futura FHD2-139
- Top Coach supplied by Volvo – Brethertons Gold Line Tours 9700
- Best Irizar integral – Howard Snaith Coaches i8 integral
- Top Yutong – Williams Coaches TC9
- Top MOBIpeople – Holmeswood Coaches MAN RR8 Explorer
- Best co-ordinated decor – Howard Snaith Coaches, Irizar i8 integral
- Top CPT member – A&P Travel
- Top Coach from Wales – Gibbons Coach Holidays Mercedes-Benz Tourismo
- Top Coach from Scotland – MJ Forsyth Travel Van Hool T917 Astron
- Best Loved Coach – Glen Valley Tours Volvo B11R Jonckheere JHV
- Highest-placed LTCOA member – Coopers Tours
- Oldest employed participant – William Brayford, Robinsons Holidays
- Coach of the Year voted by drivers – Tyrers Coaches, Van Hool TDX25 Astromega
- Smartest uniformed driver or courier – Yorkshire Rose Holidays.
