Stagecoach drivers have won the top three awards in this year’s Bus Driver of the Year (BDoY) National Final.

Delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the 54th National Final held in Blackpool yesterday (Sunday 2 October) attracted 89 entrants who represented 35 large and small operators from around the UK. Entries were up on the previous year’s event.

Crowned UK Bus Driver of the Year 2022, Michael Evans won the BDoY Trophy and £4,600 prize money. He is a driver for Stagecoach South Wales at its Porth depot, where he has worked for five years having changed career from being a car salesman.

Runner-up was Anthony Quinn from Stagecoach West, winning the BDoY Trophy and £2,100.

In third place was Ian Field of Stagecoach East Scotland took home the BDoY Trophy and £1,100.

Fourth place went to Michael Leech of First West Yorkshire and Brian Mackie of Stagecoach East Scotland was in fifth.

Tom Cunnington, Head of Business Development at Transport for London, presented the awards at a ceremony in the Imperial Hotel where 300 supporters and family joined the competitors to hear the results. Joe Mackie, Chairman of the UK Bus Driver of the Year Association, congratulated all the trophy winners and thanked the dedicated volunteers who make the competition possible and the industry sponsors for their generous financial support.

Winners

Bus Driver of the Year: Michael Evans, Stagecoach South Wales

The Bus Driver of the Year Trophy

The Coventry Trophy donated by Coventry Road Accident Prevention Council

The Road Operators Safety Council Award and £1,500 cheque

The Unite Trophy and £1,500 cheque

The John Boxall Medallion donated by the UK BDoY Council

Runner-up: Anthony Quinn, Stagecoach West

The Bus Driver of the Year Trophy and £1,500 cheque

Third place: Ian Field, Stagecoach East Scotland

The Bus Driver of the Year Trophy and £1,000 cheque

Fourth place: Michael Leech, First West Yorkshire

The Bus Driver of the Year Trophy and £750 cheque

Fifth place: Brian MacKie, Stagecoach East Scotland

The Bus Driver of the Year Trophy and £500 cheque

Best Theory Test Result: Brian MacKie, Stagecoach East Scotland

The Bus Driver of the Year Trophy and £300 cheque

Best competitor from a depot in England: Anthony Quinn, Stagecoach West

The Giles Fearnley Shield and £100 cheque

Best competitor from a depot in Scotland: Ian Field, Stagecoach East Scotland

The Joe Mackie Shield and £100 cheque

Best competitor from a depot in Wales: Michael Evans, Stagecoach South Wales

The Donald Macdonald Memorial Shield and £100 cheque

Highest-placed competitor from an ALBUM member:  Kevin Chalmers, Lothian Buses

The ALBUM Trophy and £1,000 cheque

Highest-placed competitor from a ROSCO member: Michael Evans, Stagecoach South Wales

The ROSCO Trophy and £500 cheque

Highest-placed competitor from an independent company: Andrew Cawley, Peoplesbus

The Bus Driver of the Year Trophy and £1,000 cheque

Highest-placed FirstGroup competitor: Michael Leech, First West Yorkshire

£1,000 cheque

Second-highest-placed FirstGroup competitor: Paul Leppington, First West Yorkshire

£500 cheque

Highest-placed Go-Ahead competitor: Kyly Summerfield, Plymouth Citybus

£1,000 cheque

Second-highest-placed Go-Ahead competitor: Stephen Appiah, Go-Ahead London

£500 cheque

Highest-placed Stagecoach competitor: Michael Evans, Stagecoach South Wales

£1,000 cheque

Second-highest-placed Stagecoach competitor: Anthony Quinn, Stagecoach West

£500 cheque

Highest-placed National Express competitor: Chris Neal, West Midlands Travel

£1,000 cheque

Second-highest-placed National Express competitor: Lee Grantham, West Midlands Travel

£500 cheque

Highest-placed RATP Dev competitor: Kastriot Lika, RATP Dev Transit London

£1,000 cheque

Second-highest-placed RATP Dev competitor: Nimish Jamnadas, RATP Dev Transit London

£500 cheque

Best-presented buses: (a) newly-delivered – Arriva Northumbria and First West Yorkshire. (b) one- to five-years-old – Stagecoach Cheltenham and Gloucester. (c) over five-years-old – First Potteries and Stagecoach Cumberland