Greater Manchester

Bolton Ace on Route to National Finals

Zakir Patel from our Bolton Depot has scooped First in Manchester's Driver of the Year title in a closely-fought competition at the Reebok Coach Park.

The event is held to identify the three delegates that go forward to the national UK Bus Driver of the Year competition.

The runner up was Terence Jackson also from our Bolton depot and last year's winner, Wigan ace Judith Dale, came third and also won the trophy for the Best Highway Code score.

All three will now go on to represent the company at the National Driver of the Year Finals at Blackpool over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of September.

The Manchester event started with 27 competitors, drawn from the company's depots across Greater Manchester.

Every driver is required to have an excellent driving record, with no 'at fault' incidents recorded in the previous 12 months, and had to pass a tough covert driving assessment conducted by a driving examiner. These requirements reduced the numbers to 21, all of whom went forward to the Manchester finals which were held Sunday 28 June.

The Reebok driving finals included a range of demanding tests and manoeuvres, each requiring high levels of professional driving skill, precision and concentration.

Included in the Manchester event are two special award categories. One is for novice drivers and the other for the driver with the highest score in knowledge and application of Highway Code rules.

Speaking after the Manchester competition, Zakir, who finished joint third last year and 6th in 2007, said: "It feels great to win the title. I have done well on the driving skills section in previous years and this year I have worked hard for the Highway Code test.'

Winner of the Novice of the Year competition for new drivers was Manchester's Roy Walker who achieved the top overall mark in the reversing skills. "We devised a particularly difficult reverse test this year - so Roy did very well,' said Competition Organiser Tina Haynes, who is the company's NVQ Scheme Co-ordinator. "The overall standard of driving was again very high and it was a close-run competition for the top positions.

Presenting the Manchester winner's awards, Bob Mason, Service Delivery Director for First's bus services in Greater Manchester said: "We believe each of our 2009 drivers stand a good chance of success in the Blackpool competition. I'd especially like to congratulate Zakir on winning the Manchester title and wish them all of them every success in September.'