UNDERDOGS Moonbi Kootingal Rural Fire Service showed their bark and bite at the Regional Firefighter Championships.
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A number of the challenges used equipment exclusive to Fire and Rescue NSW, but not even that could stop the local firefighters from taking the top spot at the event.
The win has got them an automatic invitation to the Australasian Championships in Tamworth later this year.
"We only train for three events out of the eleven," senior deputy captain Allen Madden said.
"We're pretty handy on the pumps, we've been doing the championships for well over 10 years now.
"It's all about handwork and coordination, with good clear runs you can pick up how to use the pumps and Fire and Rescue NSW appliances easily."
Mr Madden, Kendall Thompson, Billy Hartmann, Tristan Laurie and Sean Barton made up the winning team at the weekend.
The benefit of the championship is that both the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW can strengthen their ties.
More often than not the two organisations fight fires together, Mr Madden said.
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"It hones our skills for whenever we turn up to a job together, generally a house fire or motor vehicle accident," he said.
"We know how their gear and our gear works so we can gel in with them and work well together."
The Kootingal team was followed by Nowra in second and Wyong in third place.
An Armidale team came sixth and Tamworth City RFS came seventh.
The Australasian Championships will take place in Tamworth in October.