It was third time lucky for UK Bus Driver of the Year 2019, Adam Stitt of Lothian Buses. Having finished 23rd last year, he said: “I was just hoping for a better result. I’m overwhelmed; I can’t believe it.”

One of the last competitors to set off, with start number 80, he preferred this to being third to go last year because it gave him time to have a good look at the obstacles before taking to the course in one of Blackpool’s ADL Enviro 400Cs. In fact it was a very clear victory as not only did he get the best theory test score (and a cheque for £300), he was the only driver to score more than 1500 from the possible maximum of 1730 points in the combined tests, with a total of 1518.

Winning the title comes with more trophies than one person can safely carry. These included the Road Operators Safety Council Award (with a cheque for £1,500), the Unite Trophy (with a cheque for £1,500), the Coventry Trophy, The John Boxall Medallion, the highest placed driver from an ALBUM member (with a cheque for £1,000) and the Joe Mackie Shield for the best competitor from a depot in Scotland (with a cheque for £100).

Adam, based at Lothian’s Central depot, was one of many drivers who had brought along the family, including his mother, partner and three boys, for moral support. They were able to share in his success along with colleagues and Lothian MD, Richard Hall, who was one of the first to congratulate him. He thought the prize money of £4,200 might go towards a new motorcycle; possibly a Honda Africa Twin.

Second-placed Adam Ksiazek from First Aberdeen has been Mr Consistency in the past few years. Entering for the fourth consecutive year, his runner-up spot followed 14th position last year, winning the competition in 2017 and finishing fourth in 2016. With First since 2007 and accompanied by the man who originally trained him, Adam thought this year’s event had been “a very tough competition, although everybody had the chance to win.” His advice to others was: “Get used to the bus and relax.” He thought the £3,000 won in prize money would go towards the cost of a house he is building. He is likely to be back in Blackpool before next year’s competition because, among his prizes, was a two-night break at The Grand Hotel where the event was based.

For third-placed Amanda Hough of First Hampshire, Berkshire & Dorset, it was her fifth attempt in the competition, her previous best result having been 26th in 2017. Based at Portsmouth and 17 years with First, she was clearly both shocked delighted to have done so well.

“When you are driving you can’t really tell where you’re placed. I hadn’t got a clue how I had done,” she said. Attending with one of her best friends, she said: “It’s a great weekend. I love coming here. I do like to try and swot up on the theory beforehand.” Amanda hadn’t yet decided what to do with the cash awards totaling £1,600: “I might pay off the credit card, I might do something fun, I might treat my husband to a holiday,” she said.

For the driving tests, drivers had to imagine that they were in the employ of the Middle Walk Bus Company. They had to follow the company’s policies as laid out in documents provided and pay heed to a list of driving requirements laid out beforehand. There was also a very difficult driver knowledge test paper, marked out of 200, that had to be sat in one of three sessions at the hotel. A successful breathalyser test was another requirement.

For the road section, starting from the rear of the Metropole Hotel (where the trade display is situated at the UK Coach Rally), the test route ran North along the Middle Walk of the promenade where a series of precision tests were laid out for each driver to negotiate. After this, drivers had to cross the tram tracks and turn left before rounding a roundabout and returning along the top section of the Promenade, past the Grand Hotel, and returning to the start area. Tests were designed to show their skills in bus bays, at bus stops, when turning left and right, in checking the bus before duty, in regard to other road users such as cyclists and also precision in the placing of the bus.

Members of the public were encouraged to participate by travelling on the buses during the tests and I took advantage of this several times. Though each of the drivers I travelled with seemed to me to be driving faultlessly, they were not among the highest placed competitors, illustrating how high the overall standard was, how exacting the requirements are and how narrow the gap between success and failure is.

This year’s total of 82 competitors is fewer than for some previous years, a result, I was told, of the Arriva Group’s disappointing decision not to play any part in the event, running its own competition instead.

The standard of vehicles made available for the competitors to use was very high indeed. The overwhelming majority of them were double-deckers, though there were a few single-decks. The Sunday was the first day of the new 69 registration plates and Stagecoach Manchester somehow contrived to have two Enviro400 MMCs carrying them among its contingent.

Some buses had travelled long distances to be there including three from Lothian, one from Dundee and one that had come across the sea from the Transport for Ireland fleet. ADL also made an Enviro400 MMC from its demonstration fleet available. I think the oldest bus used was a 59-plate ADL Enviro400 in Ribble Timesaver livery as part of Stagecoach’s celebration of the Ribble centenary. It is a far cry from the days when the vehicles provided were often not of the highest standard and on occasions broke down.

Recognising the efforts made by the bus donors, three vice President’s plaques were awarded, though judges Chris Heaps and Mike Morgan found it very difficult to differentiate. In the ‘up to one year old’ category the prize went to the ADL Enviro400 City of Go-Ahead’s Bluestar fleet. In the one to five-year-old category the victor was the Wrightbus Borismaster (New Bus for London) of RATP Dev that had last year won the ‘up to one year’ category, while the ‘over five year’ trophy went to a National Express Explore Dundee ADL Enviro400 in a rainbow livery promoting Dundee Pride.

Financially supporting the BDOY are a number of corporate, individual and union sponsors without which it would be impossible to stage the event. They fall into Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze categories, on top of which there are those sponsoring the awards to trophy winners.

Last word

Extremely well organised and with stewards on the course to ensure that any issues arising are swiftly resolved, the Bus Driver of the Year Final does credit to the industry. It is always encouraging to see an event that operators, manufacturers and the Unions can unite to support, that not only recognises a body of people who are crucial to the success of the industry but also encourages members of the public to participate and see for themselves how high the standards being set are. Anybody witnessing the proceedings in Blackpool over the weekend can only have come away with a positive impression.

About the BDoY

The last of a number of high profile events staged in Blackpool during the year, The Bus UK Driver of the Year Final is a truly national event, drawing competitors from the length and breadth of the UK.

From small beginnings in 1967 involving those members of Coventry Corporation’s driving staff who had achieved an accident-free record the previous year, the event has evolved and grown with the purpose of ‘raising the standard of driving and passenger care through pleasurable competition while promoting a pride in the job.’ Supported by all but one of the major bus operating groups, including ALBUM, and a formidable line up of sponsors, it offers drivers the opportunity to compete for trophies backed with significant cash prizes.

Not only are there first and second place prizes for employees of each of the groups, there are national awards for England, Scotland and Wales, a prize for the best score in the theory test, and cash and trophies for the top five places. All of the competitive elements are contained within the Sunday, while Saturday evening is given over to a Gala Dinner at the town’s Grand Hotel.

Doing all of the planning and organising is the Council of the Bus Driver of the Year Association Ltd, which has John Boxall MBE as its President. Bryan Constable (Vice-President), Joe Mackie (Chairman), Andrew Braddock (Vice Chairman), John Winstanley (Finance Director), Tina Haynes (Company Secretary), Paul McKay (Competition Secretary), Douglas Bailey MBE, Keith Fieldhouse, Chris Heaps, Bill Holmes, Frank Llewellyn, Paul Martin and Dave Williams make up the rest of the Council.

Supplementing them for the competition are National Stewards, Mike Grant, James Powell and newly appointed Mel Holley. Clerk of the Course and Operations Director is Keith Fieldhouse assisted by Dave Williams. The written test was drawn up by Paul Martin.

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE FULL RESULTS

BDoY Results 2019

 

The scoring in full

Position	No.	Competitor Name	Company	Left-hand Tail Swing	Bus Bay	Right-hand Tail Swing	Forward Separation Test	Bus Lay-by	Bicycle Test	Stop Line	Bus Stop 1	Bus Stop 2	Right Turn Prom	Driver Knowledge	Total
1	80	Adam Stitt	Lothian Buses	70	190	120	90	180	90	120	190	190	110	168	1518
2	23	Adam Ksiazek	First Aberdeen	120	170	70	110	210	60	120	190	170	110	152	1482
3	42	Amanda Hough	First Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire	120	190	100	90	180	90	80	190	150	110	160	1460
4	70	Stephen Wibden	Lothian Buses	80	190	100	130	180	60	80	190	190	110	144	1454
5	65	Steven Williams	Oxford Bus Company	40	160	120	130	180	50	120	170	190	110	168	1438
6	36	Nick Graham	First Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire	80	210	80	110	180	70	80	190	210	110	112	1432
7	31	Raj Viswanathan	Go Ahead London	40	140	90	130	190	90	80	210	190	110	152	1422
8	30	Graham Hall	Stagecoach South East	80	190	60	90	180	70	120	210	190	110	120	1420
9	29	Marks Nobrega	Bournemouth Transport	40	180	120	130	180	50	120	180	190	110	112	1412
10	47	Iskren Mitev	Blackpool Transport	80	170	80	90	190	60	120	190	190	110	128	1408
11	46	Stephen Appiah	Go Ahead London	80	190	90	130	210	90	80	190	170	110	56	1396
12	6	Andrew Potter	First Midlands –  Potteries	80	190	80	130	190	90	80	190	170	70	104	1374
13	69	Delfino Gouveia de Freitas	RATP Dev London	40	150	100	60	180	60	120	190	190	110	160	1360
14	84	Stephen Tyrrell	RATP Dev London	70	170	80	90	210	60	120	160	210	110	72	1352
15	55	Michael McDonnell	First Cymru	60	150	70	110	210	90	120	170	190	70	104	1344
16	50	Brian Usher	Stagecoach North East	40	170	50	110	180	70	120	160	190	110	136	1336
17	8	Mike Ogden	Stagecoach Manchester	100	210	30	40	190	70	120	190	170	110	104	1334
18	9	Liam Bishop	National Express West Midlands	90	100	120	70	190	60	80	190	190	110	128	1328
19	56	Dave Whitehead	Stagecoach East Midlands	80	180	70	90	180	90	120	190	140	60	128	1328
20	17	Stewart Gunton-Bunn	Go South Coast – Southern Vectis	70	210	50	70	180	60	120	150	170	110	136	1326
21	85	Daniel Baines	Stagecoach Yorkshire	50	140	40	130	180	70	120	180	180	110	120	1320
22	48	Brian Mackie	Stagecoach East Scotland	60	160	60	100	160	60	80	190	210	110	128	1318
23	68	Graham Crabb	Stagecoach London	80	140	70	100	180	60	120	180	190	110	88	1318
24	43	Barry Thorne	Go Ahead London	80	160	80	10	210	90	120	160	190	110	104	1314
25	63	Scott Crosbie	Lothian Buses	60	150	80	40	210	60	80	180	190	110	152	1312
26	81	Kristopher King	Stagecoach South	80	140	40	90	180	60	120	210	170	110	112	1312
27	2	Ed Love	Reading Buses	60	140	80	80	180	60	120	180	170	110	128	1308
28	27	Mateusz Adamczyk	First Aberdeen	40	160	70	90	190	70	120	190	210	60	104	1304
29	79	Anthony Quinn	Stagecoach West	40	180	40	70	180	50	80	190	210	110	152	1302
30	35	Saverio Santulli	Go Ahead London	80	160	70	40	190	90	80	190	190	90	120	1300
31	83	Mike Beard	Stagecoach West	80	150	120	50	180	60	80	180	210	70	112	1292
32	1	Matthew Curtis	Go South Coast – Swindon’s Bus Company	60	180	70	80	180	60	120	180	170	110	80	1290
33	14	Craig Lockyer	National Express	80	190	80	40	160	70	120	180	170	110	88	1288
34	52	Dean Swinwood	Stagecoach North Scotland	90	140	80	110	180	60	80	160	170	110	104	1284
35	40	Leon Black	Go Ahead London	60	140	120	90	150	90	80	160	210	70	112	1282
36	33	Richard Cadman	Blackpool Transport	60	160	50	90	180	90	120	160	190	60	120	1280
37	60	Ian Field	Stagecoach East Scotland	0	140	100	90	160	90	80	180	210	110	120	1280
38	45	Kevin Lewington	Peoplesbus	60	160	60	90	180	90	80	180	190	110	80	1280
39	39	Julian Sirbu	Stagecoach North Scotland	90	150	10	70	180	60	80	210	190	110	128	1278
40	76	Simon Oxby	Stagecoach Yorkshire	60	180	90	60	190	60	80	190	170	110	88	1278
41	32	Andrew Cawley	Peoplesbus	40	140	90	70	210	60	80	210	150	110	112	1272
42	72	Matthew Bickle	Stagecoach London	40	160	100	90	180	50	80	210	180	70	112	1272
43	58	Steven Fiddes	Stagecoach East Scotland	80	120	100	90	170	50	80	180	210	70	120	1270
44	34	Martin Shaplin	Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs	60	180	50	90	180	60	120	160	170	110	88	1268
45	71	Daryl Smith	Oxford Bus Company	0	150	90	90	180	60	120	170	190	110	104	1264
46	25	Stuart White	Bournemouth Transport	80	130	40	60	210	60	120	160	170	110	120	1260
47	5	Hannah Cundall	Go South Coast – Southern Vectis	40	170	90	130	180	60	120	150	130	110	80	1260
48	26	Stephen Walsh	Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancs	90	180	80	90	180	60	80	190	110	110	88	1258
49	51	Steve Clement	First Cymru	100	170	50	90	180	70	80	150	140	110	104	1244
50	38	John Black	National Express – Xplore Dundee	40	140	60	70	210	60	80	190	150	110	128	1238
51	73	Colin Kelly	East Coast Buses	50	140	60	80	160	60	80	150	190	110	152	1232
52	41	David Hind	Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs	40	140	70	40	180	70	120	190	210	60	112	1232
53	18	Jonathan Berkolds	Reading Buses	0	140	120	60	150	60	120	180	170	110	112	1222
54	67	Sandy MacKay	Lothian Country	40	160	50	110	180	90	80	160	170	60	120	1220
55	78	Claire Palmer	RATP Dev London	40	160	80	60	180	50	80	180	150	110	128	1218
56	19	Karl Totney	National Express	80	50	90	130	140	50	120	170	170	110	96	1206
57	20	Steven Healey	Stagecoach Manchester	50	170	10	90	160	90	80	180	170	110	88	1198
58	64	Jevone Robinson	Stagecoach London	10	150	60	90	190	70	80	170	150	110	112	1192
59	4	Tanith Griffiths-Scott	East Yorkshire	70	170	40	60	160	90	80	180	150	110	80	1190
60	61	John McAdam	Stagecoach London	60	120	70	70	160	60	80	160	210	110	88	1188
61	74	Pete White	Stagecoach South	80	140	80	20	160	60	80	190	170	110	96	1186
62	66	Marcus Warner	Stagecoach in Oxfordshire	10	140	70	60	180	60	120	190	150	110	88	1178
63	44	Anita Tuleveite	Stagecoach East	50	140	80	70	130	60	120	180	140	90	104	1164
64	3	Jonathan Wood	National Express	40	100	60	90	170	50	120	160	170	110	80	1150
65	82	Joanne Keenan	Go North East	0	140	40	70	180	50	120	170	190	110	80	1150
66	77	Sean Wheatley	Go North East	20	150	40	60	140	60	80	190	210	110	88	1148
67	24	Ross Germon	Cardiff Bus	30	170	60	70	150	60	80	180	130	110	104	1144
68	53	Steve Edgar	First Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire	0	160	70	100	130	60	80	210	190	70	72	1142
69	22	Amir Nawaz	Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancs	0	130	120	60	160	60	80	190	190	70	80	1140
70	10	Howard Derbyshire	First Midlands –  Potteries	40	130	40	70	150	60	80	170	170	110	112	1132
71	13	Keith Chesher	First Midlands – Leicester	20	120	90	90	170	60	120	160	170	60	56	1116
72	7	Ashley Merewether-Helps	Go South Coast – Unilink	80	140	10	80	180	60	80	160	170	70	80	1110
73	28	David Clapson	Stagecoach South West	70	130	40	70	180	90	80	180	150	70	40	1100
74	12	Alex Murray	Go South Coast – Morebus	40	150	40	60	160	60	80	160	150	110	88	1098
75	15	Richard Shetstone	Stagecoach Manchester	10	150	40	90	180	60	80	190	170	60	64	1094
76	59	Paul James	First Eastern Counties	0	130	50	70	120	60	80	210	170	70	104	1064
77	57	Alfie Clarke	First Eastern Counties	0	180	20	60	100	60	80	190	170	110	72	1042
78	62	Derek McGovern	Go Ahead Ireland	30	130	30	50	140	90	80	150	170	110	48	1028
79	54	Alex Gladus	Stagecoach South Wales	10	160	30	60	100	60	120	160	210	60	40	1010
80	16	Steven Marriott	East Yorkshire	0	10	40	70	130	50	120	210	170	60	120	980
81	11	Willie McSorley	McGill’s	0	70	0	60	110	50	120	180	90	110	64	854
82	21	Ian Andrews	McGill’s	0	0	0	10	20	90	40	150	90	50	64	514
			Maximum score possible	120	210	120	130	210	90	120	210	210	110	200	1730