WHEN Anne Marshall picked up her copy of Your Car last week and saw she had made it through to the final, her joy was short-lived.
The 20-year-old pharmacy student had found out on April 15 that one of her third-year university exams was scheduled for May 14, the same day as the Press and Journal’s finals day at Knockhill, in Fife.
But she was hoping, against the odds, that The Robert Gordon University would be able to come up with an alternative arrangement, allowing her to take part in the competition and sit her all-important exam.
Sadly, it was not to be.
“I knew the final was the same day, but I didn’t know I would get through,” Anne said.
“When I saw my name in the paper, I was pleased to be through but was hoping something could be arranged to do the exam a different day.
“I thought because it was such a big event, RGU might have been able to reorganise the exam, but they just said it would compromise its integrity, so it was either the competition or the exam.”
When she contacted the Press and Journal, it was decided that the contestant with the next highest score from the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) assessment drive would take her place, and she was absolutely delighted to find out it was her big brother, Brian.
She said: “I was really disappointed that nothing could be done about it and I’m really pleased I made it into the final, but it was so lucky that Brian came 13th because he has now got a chance to get the car.
“It compensates for not being able to go to Knockhill myself. At least it’s staying in the family.
“I’m just so pleased Brian can go instead.”
Despite this setback, Anne, from Muir of Fowlis, Alford, is still determined to take her driving to the next level and plans to sit her advanced driving test with the IAM in the near future.
Both siblings passed their tests at 17 and also completed Pass Plus, the Driving Standards Agency training scheme for newly qualified drivers.
Yesterday, big brother Brian, 21, an electrician, said: “It’s a real shame for Anne, but it is fine that one of us has still got a chance to win the car.”
More than 100 people applied to become the Press and Journal’s Young Driver of the Year. The first hurdle was a test of their knowledge of the Highway Code, including 20 questions selected by Grampian Police. Entrants were also asked what they thought should be done to reduce the toll of death and injury among young drivers and came up with a raft of ideas, including night curfews, skid-pan training, limits on the number of passengers they can carry and restrictions on engine size and speed.
The top 25 scoring entrants went through to the semi-final, at which point they were invited out for an assessment drive with a member of the IAM.
The top 12, announced over the past two weeks, have now been invited to take part in a thrilling day of driving at the home of Scottish motorsport, at Knockhill, on May 14, when they will face a series of driving challenges under the tutelage of driving instructors from both Knockhill’s Centre for Driver Excellence and Grampian Police. The winner will be announced at the Taste of Grampian Motor Show in June.
Brian fell just outside the top 12.
Six of the Press and Journal’s Young Driver of the Year semi-finalists were up against their siblings for a chance of winning the top prize.
Ailidh Nealgrove, 17, beat big sister Rona, 20, to finals day at Knockhill, and brothers Rory Cruden, 20, and Callum, 17, from Kiltarlity, also missed out on a place in the final stage of the tough driving competition.
When selected as semi-finalists, Anne and brother Brian said there would be no hard feelings if one beat the other.
At the time, Anne said: “We compete against each other all the time on the golf course, so it’s nothing new. There won’t be any animosity if one of us wins.”