The Final comprised 10 tests of skill and judgement while driving along Blackpool’s Middle Walk and promenade. Drivers also completed a tough written theory test of their knowledge. Points were deducted for each error, so the aim was to achieve the highest aggregate score.
Each driver had the added pressure of representing their company and most, including the eventual winner, were accompanied by friends and relatives for added support.
In total, there were 24 trophies to be won plus £20,000 prize money thanks to the 29 sponsors who maintained their support following the significant boost the event received for its 50th anniversary in 2016.
What’s more, the organisers like to ring the changes so there is always likely to be at least one surprise element along the course that geared to catch out the unwary. And it was no different this year when two tests of tail swing judgement resulted in many drivers acquiring heavy penalties
Drivers mainly came from the big groups with 26 from Stagecoach, 26 from FirstGroup, 16 from Go-Ahead, six from National Express, five from RATP Dev. Also, Lothian entered five drivers, while seven drivers represented other arms-length municipals and three came from independents Peoplesus and McGills. However, unlike previous years, neither Arriva nor Tower Transit were represented.
However, it was another win for a Scottish driver, while Stagecoach drivers took three of the top five positions with drivers from First and Go-Ahead also featuring in the top five places.
Overall winner Ian Field of Stagecoach East Scotland received £5,100 in prize money. 2018 was his fifth appearance in the Bus Driver of the Year Final, having come sixth at his last attempt in 2014. He has been a bus driver for 10 years.
Clearly overcome with emotion, Ian works out of St Andrews depot. He told routeone: “After a four year break I decided to give the competition one more try and see if I still had what it takes.”
Ian received £1,500 sponsored by the Road Operators’ Safety Council, plus £1,500 from Unite as well as being awarded the John Boxall Medallion as national champion (John founded Bus Driver of the Year in Coventry in 1967).
A further £1,000 was awarded to Ian as highest-placed Stagecoach finalist plus £500 as the highest placed driver from a ROSCO member, and as best competitor from a depot in Scotland he received another £100 accompanied by the Joe Mackie Shield.
The runner-up was Anthony Quinn from Stagecoach West, who won £1,500 plus a further £500 for being the second-placed Stagecoach driver, and a further £100 for the best competitor from a depot in England, winning the Giles Fearnley Shield.
Last year’s fifth placed driver, Raj Viswanathan of Go-Ahead London, achieved third this year, winning £1,000 plus two further sums of £1,000 for being placed highest Go-Ahead competitor and highest from London.
Nicholas Graham from First Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire came fourth, while Graham Hall from Stagecoach South East came fifth.
Ten other drivers received trophies and the obvious delight expressed by all the winners was reflected throughout the audience of competitors and their supporters when they gathered for the presentation of the prizes by Joan Aitken, the soon-to-retire Traffic Commissioner (TC) for Scotland.
It was the TC’s first visit to the BDoY final, something she said was long overdue.
However, she has long confirmed her support for the event and passion for the bus industry, making a point of sending letters of congratulations to all finalists from Scotland. “That’s how much we take it seriously,” she said.
Along with former TC Chris Heaps, she also judged the standard of presentation of the 15 buses loaned by participating operators for the driving tests. Although all the buses received praise, vehicles from RATP Dev London, Stagecoach Cumbria and Lothian were judged outstanding.
The next BDoY Final will again be in Blackpool on 1 September 2019.
Results and winners
First place, Highest from Scotland, Highest Stagecoach, Highest ROSCO: Ian Field, Stagecoach East Scotland
Second place, Highest from England, Second Stagecoach: Anthony Quinn, Stagecoach West
Third place, Highest Go-Ahead, Highest London: Raj Viswanathan
Fourth place, Highest First Group: Nicholas Graham, First Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire
Fifth place: Graham Hall, Stagecoach South East
Best from Wales: Glenn Foster, First Cymru
Best Theory Test: Adam Ksiazek, First Aberdeen
Highest ALBUM: Steven McLeod, Lothian Buses
Highest independent: Andrew Cawley, Peoplesbus
Second First Group: Toni Bradley, First Glasgow
Second Go-Ahead: Stephen Appiah, Go-Ahead London
Second London, Highest RATP Dev: Delfino Gouveia de Freitas, RATP Dev London
Highest National Express: John Black, Xplore Dundee
Second National Express: Stephen Bate, National Express Bus
Second RATP Dev: Terence Miles, RATP Dev London
Vice Presidents Cup – Newly delivered bus: RATP Dev London
Vice Presidents Cuo – Nearly new bus: Stagecoach Cumbria
Vice-Presidents Cup – Older bus: Lothian Buses
