Published: Wednesday, 27th August, 2008 12:30
Central Scotland firefighters up for the challenge
By Hamish Hutchinson
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The Central Scotland team who took part in the UK Rescue Challenge 2008.
Pic by: Jan van der Merwe
CENTRAL Scotland Fire and Rescue Service extrication team lifted the second top award at the UK Rescue Challenge 2008.
The team, made up of firefighters from Alloa, Tullibody, Denny and Falkirk, are world experts in their field but were narrowly pipped for the top spot by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
However, two members of the team – Stewart Robertson and Mark Duffy – did walk away winners of the John Noble Memorial trophy for the technical rescue in the trophy’s debut year.
Central Scotland Fire and Rescue hosted the UK Rescue Challenge for the first time at the University of Stirling on Friday and Saturday.
Over 500 firefighters from across the UK travelled to Scotland to compete in challenges and workshops.
Thirty-three teams – including Central – displayed their skills in the Trauma Challenge focusing on casualty care, seven teams in the Rope Rescue Challenge had to rescue a casualty from a purpose-built scaffold structure and 42 teams – including Central – had just 20 minutes to rescue a casualty trapped in a simulated car-wreck for the Extrication Challenge.
Over 30 teams attended the range of Educational LGV, Hybrid Vehicles, and New Vehicle Technologies Workshops.
As well as the demonstrations from the crews, a 15-certificate film of the Safe Drive Stay Alive road safety stage show was screened at the event.
Central Scotland team leader Jason Sharp was pleased with the result for a team that had never competed together before on the national stage.
He said, “Our team had recently changed. We were a very successful team when Iain McCusker was the officer in charge. He gave up the mantel and I was moved from technical officer to officer in charge and Mark Duffy moved to technical.
“This was the first year we have competed together on the national arena and it was really close between first and second place. Dumfries and Galloway came in third and it shows that the training we have in Scotland is top class.”
Jason added, “The personnel of Central Scotland Fire and Rescue pulled out the stops to make the event a success.”
The Central Scotland team was: Gary Wilson, Jason Sharp, Mark Duffy, Stewart Robertson, Gordon Pryde, John Mumford.
The award ceremony was held on Saturday night at Stirling Castle, presented by television host Carol Smillie, and the visitors were entertained by Clanadonia and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers.
Chief Fire Officer Steven Torrie said, “This event has been an enormous success in demonstrating the best of the skills and dedication of the fire and rescue service in the UK.
“I am extremely proud of our team not only for their achievement as competitors in the event, but also for the organisation of the whole event which has showcased central Scotland to so many visitors.”
The team will now prepare for next year’s world extrication challenge.
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