Chap runs, first to board public transport (8)
I believe the answer is:
tristram
'chap' is the definition.
(Tristram is a man's name)
'runs first to board public transport' is the wordplay.
'runs' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'first to' becomes 'ist' (I've seen this in other clues).
'board' indicates putting letters inside.
'public transport' becomes 'tram' (type of public transport).
'r'+'ist'='rist'
'rist' inserted into 'tram' is 'TRISTRAM'.
(Other definitions for tristram that I've seen before include "' - - Shandy' Sterne novel" , "Arthurian knight - Shandy" , "K" , "Cornish knight of the Round Table" .)