LET THE GAMES BEGIN: Assistant Commissioner Rob McNeil, director of regional operations from Sydney at Tamworth’s Cross Park which is hosting the 2012 State Firefighter Championships. Photo: Barry Smith 151012BSC01
IT’S on for young and old firies today as the 2012 State Firefighter Championships begins the first day of competition.
Crowds are expected to pack Tamworth’s Cross Park for the three days of competition,
getting a taste of the best of the best in NSW firefighter action.
The first event will kick off at 9am, and Tamworth state MP Kevin Anderson will officially open the championships at 10.30am, before the real competition gets underway.
Today will feature ladder practice, urban pump collector and hose and hydrant events with single and team events throughout the day.
Last night a welcome for all attending firefighters was held at Wests’ Diggers, with the host brigades, Tamworth City and West Tamworth, welcoming the visitors.
Fire and Rescue NSW Commissioner Greg Mullins said he was looking forward to travelling to Tamworth for the championships and thanked the city of Tamworth for their support of the event during its history.
Tamworth has hosted the state championships on three previous occasions, most recently in 2008. The modern firefighter championships started in 1932.
CommissionerMullins wished the 36 competing teams the best of luck, saying the competition was an opportunity for the community to see first hand how firefighters respond to emergency scenarios.
“This competition is a chance for FRNSW permanent and retained firefighters to test their skills against their
colleagues from around the state, interstate and overseas,” Commissioner Mullins said.
Over the three days of competition, brigades from as far away as New Zealand and country Victoria will compete in 15 events.
Commissioner Mullins said there would be a lot of events the community could get involved in, including fire safety information and educational displays.
The public are also invited to the Wednesday night torchlight procession along Peel St and Kable Ave.
The state championships are widely recognised as a warm-up event for the World Firefighter Games which will be held in Sydney on October 19, and which several Tamworth firefighters will be attending, including Tam-worth’s Brent King.
The 2012 State Firefighter Championships are on at Cross Park today until 4.30pm.