By Volunteer Zoe Cunningham
It was just an average Wednesday really, down at Titanic Slipways hanging out with a multitude of firefighters from around the world – it’s tough job but someone’s gotta do it, right?
Right indeed! Jokes aside, the competition going on today left no doubt in my mind that the job of a firefighter is an extremely tough one and I have an endless amount of admiration and respect for the men and women who risk their lives on a daily basis for a job they are so clearly passionate about.
With the fittingly dramatic backdrop of Titanic Belfast, this morning got underway with stages 2 and 3 of a four stage competition of skills tests designed to replicate the tasks firefighters have to complete every day.
Stage 2 was based on weight and strength and began with putting up a ladder and running up a set of high rise steps carrying a heavy fire hose. Once at the top the firefighters had to lean out and hoist another 40lb hose up from ground level before running back down the steps and hitting a large log with an axe. All in a day’s work for these guys and girls!
Stage 3 took the form of an obstacle course of running round cones, driving a ground weight along with a 9lb shot mallet hammer and dragging a weighted rescue dummy for a distance of 100 feet. Although each section only took a couple of minutes to complete, the skill, strength and effort it required was evident and the pressure of performing in front of such a buzzing crowd was surely a challenge for the athletes.
Hundreds packed out the spectator area around the Titanic Slipways and cheered on local and visiting competitors alike. One particular head-to-head saw two firefighters who work together in Boyne, Co. Roscommon compete against eachother in one of the closest races I saw. Although competitors went head to head in each section, their individual times were noted and at the end of the competition, it was those with the fastest combined times who were victorious.
On a break between stages I caught up with Canadian Michael Lavers, who has been a firefighter since 2006 and is enjoying his first trip to Northern Ireland and of course the competition.
Michael explains, “It’s my first time visiting Northern Ireland and everyone has been so friendly. The venue for this competition is really fantastic. Ultimate Firefighter is such a tough competition and the nerves certainly get to you. The four stages are just like what we have to do in our actual jobs only it’s all against the clock and we have chips in our shoes which record our times for each stage.”
Michael and his Canadian team mates will be competing again in tomorrow’s team event, which starts at 11am. Good luck guys!
In the afternoon, stages 1 and 4 got underway as the crowds continued to flock to the Titanic Slipways. Stage 1 was the hose task which involved running with a huge 150ft hose slung over each shoulder and extending them in full and for an extra 30m and then rolling up two smaller hoses and carrying them to the finish line. These hoses must have weighed a ton – well not quite, but you catch my drift!
Finally, stage 4 involved running up and down the high rise steps first carrying a firefighters pack and then carrying a chainsaw. By the time the competitors collapsed onto the crash mat at the end of this stage I was exhausted just watching them and ready to crash myself!
All in all, Ultimate Firefighter was an amazing event, a true test of strength, speed and endurance which showed the overwhelmed crowds just how fit those in the profession need to be. Our local competitors, including Connor Fitzgerald, Linda McKane and Lynsey Elwood did us proud and I for one am really looking forward to tomorrow’s team event – bring it on!
Find out more at: www.2013wpfg.com
A firefighter have to go through a tough training period. To clear out these stages one need to be prepared mentally as well as physically. Stages-6 seems very difficult running with pipe really not a easy task.
ReplyDelete