RHA members win at 2024 UK Coach Rally

Congratulations to the RHA members who took home silverware at the 68^th annual Coach Rally in Blackpool.

The event took place 13-14 April and featured a 50-mile road rally route through the Lancashire countryside and several other driving tests. The rally seeks to highlight the immense skill required in operating a PSV.

RHA Operations Manager for Coaches Andy Warrender said, “While a staggering amount of silverware was won by our members, the main takeaway is the sheer amount of skill on display from the coach industry in general. The weekend was great, the standard of drivers and vehicles, moreso.”

RHA members who took home awards are:

• Coach of the Year: Van Hool T16 Astron, DJ Thomas Coaches
• Midi Driver of the Year: Rosemary Williams, Williams Coaches
• Bernie Porton Memorial Trophy – DJ Thomas Coaches
• Best co-ordinated décor: Heathside Travel
• Top coach from Wales: DJ Thomas Coaches
• Coach Driver of the Year runner-up: Chris Bibby, Bibbys of Ingleton
• Top Touring/Express Luxury Coach: DJ Thomas Coaches
• Top Executive Coach: Acklams Coaches
• Irizar Trophy: Acklams Coaches, Irizar i6S Efficient integral
• Plaxton Trophy: Fowler’s Travel, Volvo B8R Plaxton Leopard
• Van Hool trophy: DJ Thomas Coaches, Van Hool T16 Astron

We’d also like to congratulate Lothian Motorcoaches for winning the Tony Roose and Volvo trophies. Lothian Motorcoaches hosted a National Coach Week open day at their premises in Newbridge where people were able to try our driving simulator.

We unveiled our Coach Manifesto during National Coach Week. It underlines our campaigning priorities for passenger vehicles and showcases the important place coaches hold in the UK economy.

You can view it HERE.

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