Laura Noble from the London Fire Brigade

My name is Laura Noble, I am 33 and I have been a fire fighter with London Fire Brigade for over ten years. This will be my second trip to Northern Ireland and my parents are coming out to support me in my events which are Bench Press and Ultimate Fire Fighter. These events are new to me, as in previous World Games, I have competed in Karate and Indoor Rowing, but this time I fancied a change! I have been training since January and getting lots of help and advice from my colleagues.

Meeting new people and forging new relationships with like-minded people is one of the things I am most looking forward to about these Games. I am the co-ordinator for the London Fire Brigade entrants, working alongside our Welfare Fund to help and support them. I was lucky enough to visit Belfast in April and see first-hand the venues and accommodation on offer and of course, experience the great hospitality!

The camaraderie and atmosphere at the World Police and Fire Games help to make them unique from other sporting events. My stand out memories from my first WPFG in New York 2011, is the generosity and friendliness of the people. Even during Hurricane Irene, they went out of their way to ensure my safety and well-being. I was staying with a FDNY Despatcher for the first few days and she arranged for transport and a stay in a hotel during the hurricane even though her own home was damaged through the storm.

I am really looking forward to the Belfast Games. I have already booked to see an Irish dance/music show and hope to visit The Giant’s Causeway as well as several drinking establishments within the city, see you there!

Let the Games begin!

My name is Nicci Gregg and I am going to be a volunteer at this year’s World Police and Fire Games, as part of the media team.

Although the actual Games are not kicking off until August, for me as a volunteer, this weekend’s orientation event is the beginning of my WPFG journey and I am so excited to see what’s in store.

I found out just this month that I have been accepted as part of the media team and I could not be happier.  When I decided to volunteer I was really hoping I would get the chance to help out with the media side of things as it relates to my career - I work for Coca-Cola within the PR and Communications department and I think working at the Games will give me a great opportunity to really enhance my skills and learn new ones.

I am really excited about the orientation event this Saturday; I think it will be great to have a better idea of what to expect this summer, and I hear the infamous ‘Da’ from Give My Head Peace is hosting, which is sure to provide a few laughs!  I am also intrigued to find out what our volunteer uniform is going to look like. I had a dream Roberto Cavalli designed it; that could be true, right?

I have been asked to speak on stage this Saturday to represent the media team. I have never spoken to over 3000 people before, so that is sure to be an experience I will never forget, hopefully in a good way. If I faint, someone please catch me….maybe an ‘Ultimate Fire Fighter’?

See you on Saturday, I’ll be the girl trembling on stage. Don’t laugh!

John Kitsco from the Toronto Fire Service

Hi, my name is John Kitsco and I am an Acting Captain with the Toronto Fire Service where I have been a fire fighter for the last 22 years.

I'm currently based at Fire Station 313 where I work with an outstanding group of guys and I am very proud to represent my crew, and the whole Toronto Fire Service, at this year’s Games in Belfast. I am really looking forward to competing in the bodybuilding event.

Bodybuilding is a passion for me and I've enjoyed competing in it for over twenty years. I have taken part in National level events as a top-ranked amateur, as well as in three previous WPFG events in Quebec, Vancouver and New York where took the gold medal at each one.

Now, as a senior competitor, I'm enjoying all the training and preparation for this year’s Games.

I am really looking forward to the camaraderie, seeing old friends and meeting new ones. To me being part of an epic event such as WPFG stands for something more than just sport.

So, I'll be proudly representing Toronto Fire in Belfast training hard to win, but more importantly I am looking forward to enjoying the whole of the Games and all the social aspects of it too! I am reassured that Belfast will best social experience!!

Running, blogging and brewing beer!

My name is Eduardo Flecha Pérez and I am a 32 year old fire fighter from Spain. I am crazy about trail running and well, all sports in general!

In 2011, I competed in the New York Games where I took part in the 5k Cross Country. It was a really great event but this time round I am taking things to another level….. I have signed up for TWO events – Mountain Running and Toughest Competitor Alive.

I am well into my training for both of these events and I have even created a Blog to share my experiences and photos with everyone – please click here to have a look at what I have been up to. And when I am not running up a mountain or writing up my Blog, I am busy with my other passion – brewing beer! I’m looking forward to sampling some of the local beers in Northern Ireland!

See you in Belfast everyone, I am VERY excited about it!!

Are you competing in this year's Games and have a story to tell? Please send us an e-mail and we'll share it with other athletes on our Blog! 

Meet Andy from Scotland!

Hello, my name is Andy Cowie and I am an Assistant Chief Constable with Police Scotland, based in Inverness.

I’m really looking forward to the Games this year and in particular the Cycling Time Trial at Carrickfergus. It’s going to be a great opportunity to test my cycling speed and strength against colleagues from across the globe!

I took up cycling five years ago as part of the ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme and I decided to give up the gym to concentrate on my cycling. I tend to do 150 miles a week during the winter to build a solid base, mixing that up with interval training. Due to the winter weather in the Scottish Highlands (it can be below freezing for weeks at a time and it seems dark for about 6 months of the year!) a lot of my training time is spent in the garage on a turbo trainer. 

There is a strong club scene in the north of Scotland with a massive boost in numbers reflecting the national picture. I am a member of Moray Firth Cycling Club, which has around 80 members. I picked up a lot from the club riders who have many years' experience under their belt. The club has now got a strong road racing and time trialling element in it, as well as beginners.

I'm blessed with having a very supportive family that lets me put the hours in at work and cycling. I've been coached by Tony Hay, a very strong national level rider with coaching/sports science qualifications, for the last couple of years and that has meant not one pedal stroke in training has been wasted. Train smarter, not longer!

The timing of the WPFG in the season is pretty good, coming just about 6 weeks from the UK Emergency Services Cycling TT Championship, being held in Scotland later this month. I've medalled at this event in the 25 miles TT in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, to commemorate the end of the Northern Constabulary, my colleagues Sgt. Alan McCaffery, Sgt. Mel Fowler , Sgt. Andrew Shaw and I targeted the UK Emergency Services Championship. We took the 10 mile TT Police Sport UK Team trophy and were just pipped by Lothian and Borders Police for the 25 mile TT trophy! So Time Trialling is alive and well and, as part of the newly formed Police Scotland, we look to put in a good time at the WPFG TT at the iconic setting of Carrickfergus Castle!!

My colleagues are doing all the road events in Northern Ireland - other duties and my recovery ability mean that I will just be focussing on the TT, but nonetheless I'm certain it will be a great time and one to tell the grandkids about in my dotage!