The crowds took to the
Titanic slipways to enjoy the Ultimate Firefighter competition on day 6 of the
Games. An estimated 4,000 spectators graced the tourist hotspot to witness over
70 fire fighters battle against one another in an obstacle extravaganza.
The day was spilt into stages
with individuals competing in four events in pursuit of the quickest time. Many
of the stages were structured to replicate real life emergency situations.
Stages one and four were held in the morning session, the Hose Task and the
High Rise. Weight and Strength combined with the Obstacle Course to complete
stages two and three, and were held in the afternoon. All stages were created
to test the key credentials associated with the typical fire fighter, speed,
agility, strength and stamina.
Brazil dominated proceedings
in the young firefighter categories, as participants from Australia, Spain,
Czech Republic, Belgium and Canada also featured on the ultimate podium.
Stuart Knight from Northern
Ireland did his home crowd proud with a respectable third place finish in the
30-35 age category. Terrance Banon, also from Northern Ireland, claimed the
bronze medal in the senior aged category, much to the delight of the tremendous
support from the side lines.
The event continues on
Wednesday on the slipways at 10am. Get yourself down for an action packed and
energetic spectacle.
Ultimate Firefighter, which
kicks off today on the Titanic Slipways at 10am, is one of the absolute
highlights of the games! It tests the fitness and special skills required by
the very best firefighters from around the world, while providing a great
spectacle of speed, strength and stamina for spectators!
The event is open to the
public to spectate and entry is free. It will feature competitors from a wide
range of countries including the US, Canada, the UK and Europe.
Here’s everything you need to
know!
Individual Event
Tuesday 6th August and
Wednesday 7th August
Titanic Slipways
Start time: 10am with Hose
task and High Rise. Lunch and changeover at 1pm. Weight & strength task and
Obstacle Course begin at 2:15pm.
Team Event
Thursday 8th August
Titanic Slipways
Start time: *11am with Hose
task and High Rise until 12:15pm. Lunch and changeover take place from 12:15pm
until 1pm. Weight & strength task and Obstacle Course take place from 1pm
until 3pm.
*Times are subject to change
for the Team event
Ultimate Firefighter features
four tasks designed to test the fitness and special skills required by the very
best firefighters:
Stage 1 – Hose Task
Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to
2 separate 150 foot (45.72 meter) lengths of 2 ½ inch (63.5 millimeter or 65
millimeter) hose lines. Place one line over each shoulder, advance the lines to
a full 150 feet (45.72 meters) and drag both lines an extra 30 feet (9.144
meters) across designated line.(Note: it is allowed at any point to leave the
second hose, drag the first hose over the shoulder across the line and return
to the second hose over the shoulder to complete the drag.)
Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to
two 50 foot (15.24 m) unrolled sections of 2 ½ inch (63.5 millimeters or 65
millimeters) hose. Roll each hose line and carry 60 feet (18.288 meters) to the
finish line.
Hose rolls will be carried
one in each hand or stacked on top of each other carrying with both arms to the
finish line. Hose rolls must be tightly rolled (cannot fall apart). No tag ends
hanging or loosely rolled hose. If hose unrolls, competitor must stop and
re-roll hose.
Stage 2 – Weight and Strength
Task
Run 50 feet (15.24 meters)
from start line carrying a 24 foot (7.3152 meters) extension ladder to wall.
Put butt of ladder against wall. Raise ladder 6 rungs, lock it off, and rest it
against the tower (butt of ladder must be pulled back from the wall to a designated
line – to facilitate a proper climbing angle). Run to base of tower.
Pick up 100 feet (30.48
meters) 1 ½ inch (38.1 millimeter) hotel (high rise) pack and carry up the
stairs to the top of the tower. At the top of the tower place hotel (high rise)
pack in box or designated area. From the top of the tower, hoist a 40 pound
(18.144 kilograms) hose attached to a rope to the top of the tower and place
hose in box or designated area.
Descend the stairs to the
base of the tower. Pick up a master stream nozzle and axe. Run 25 feet (7.62
meters and screw the nozzle onto an appliance. Place the axe blade end into a
block of wood. Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to finish line.
Stage 3 – Obstacle Course
Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to
Keiser force machine. Drive (hit) the beam 5 feet (1.52 meters) to the end,
with a 9 pound (4.08 kilograms) shot mallet hammer. Place hammer in designated
area.
Run 10 feet (3.048 meters) to
obstacle course – run through the course around the 5 pylons to the Rescue
Dummy and drag dummy 50 feet (15.24 meters) to and around cone and back 50 feet
(15.24 meters) across the finish line (all of the dummy must clear the line).
Stage 4 – High Rise
Run 25 feet (7.62 meters) to
the base of the tower. Pick up a 100 feet (30.48 meters) 1 ½ inch (38.1 millimeters)
hotel (high rise) pack and climb the stairs to the top of the tower.
Place hotel (high rise) pack
in a box or designated area. Descend stairs to base of tower. Pick up a chain
saw and climb stairs to the top of the tower. Chain saw can be carried on
shoulder.
Place chain saw in a box or
designated area. Descend stairs to the base of the tower. Run 25 feet (7.62
meters) to the finish line.
Further information about the
‘Ultimate Firefighter’ events, including updates on schedules, is available here.
Please check the website for any schedule changes before attending.
An 8.00am start and it was
still cool down at Bangor sportsplex as competitors arrived for registration.
Lots of stretching and jumping around the track as competitors warmed up
literally not just for the cross country 5k but for heat.
As soon as the 5k cross country was
underway I'm pretty sure they weren't complaining about the cool weather! First
across the line was German Peter Wiek followed by Finland Kasia Haikola.
There are eight events that
make up the TCA(Toughest Competitor
Alive) event so winning one event won't make you the overall winner as Steven
McIlveen staff at games said:"It's
all done on a points basis so really it's anyone's game until the end. Everyone
does the cross country together then at the end are divided into their groups
so in theory it should be a smooth continuous flow from event to event."
The shot putt event showed
off power and strength with women throwing a 4kg ball and the men 6kg. Each
competitor took two shots and their best distance was recorded.
Chuck Foot director from the
federation of WPFG said: "I have been involved with the WPFG since it
started in '85 and to win medals in the TCA event you need to be able to do all
events well. If you're no good at shot putt then get a coach and a few lessons.
You can tell those teams that mean business out on the track already."
Sore arms tired legs and next
up was the 100m sprint. This was fast so it shows age and sex is no defining
issue in sport! Track suits on, banana munching and energy drink downed, the
athletes boarded the bus down the road to the high tech Aurora Sports Centre.
The Aurora sports centre in
Bangor hosted the 100m swim followed by the packed out hall to watch the rope
climb. First female to reach the top was from Spain followed by a fellow team
member over half of the women managed the climb. The Spanish team blitzed the
rope climb with nearly all of them reaching the top. There is a disc at the top
that is covered in black that marks the athletes hands when touched - this
shows the judges that they did actually reach the top.
The atmosphere in the
hall was electric filled to the rafters with cheers in a multitude if languages
and you didn't need to be a linguist to understand what everyone was shouting.
More often than not all the men reached the top they just needed to be quick in
order to set themselves apart.Tom from
Alaska was delighted as he managed the rope climb for the first time so he was
able to hold his head up high and return home no matter what the outcome of the
competition.
As the events went on with
pull ups and bench press. The girls were pushing anything around 50kg and the men
more than double this
The obstacle race saw leaps
and swings pushing them to the limit finally it was all over
nearly 12 hours later and the much deserved medal places were awarded to:
Women's
45-49 Camilla Argen Sweden
35-39 Mikaela Kellner Sweden
39-34 Adorcion Alonso-lore
Spain
18-29 Jenna Norwood
Men's
60-64 Arthur Weyenberg
Belgium
55-59 David Milkos USA
50+ heavy Mark Winchester
USA
50-54 Raymond Soto USA
This is my last blog for the
games and what a great event to finish on. I have met many inspiring
individuals from athletes to volunteers and will leave with very fond memories.
Thanks to the organisers, the athletes and supporters who have made these games
truly enjoyable.
