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Fire Service host successful swimming event

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Fire Service host successful swimming event

Representatives from 15 different Fire Services around the country took part in a prestigious swimming event hosted by Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) at the weekend.


The Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association (FSSAA) National Swimming Championships took place on Saturday 26 June at Worcester Swimming Pool in Sansome Walk, Worcester. A post-competition reception and medal ceremony followed at Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Headquarters, off Charles Hastings Way, Worcester.

The competition is the premiere annual event in the Fire Service swimming calendar, and includes Open and Masters events for both men and women. Swimmers from London Fire Brigade were the overall winners of this year’s Championships but many participants, including several from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, achieved Personal Bests (PBs).

James Bainbridge, Watch Manager at Training and Development Centre, based at Droitwich, swam in Saturday’s competition and also helped in the organisation of the event. He said: “We always look forward to this event and this year’s Championships certainly lived up to expectations. The quality of the swimming was very high and we’d like to pass on our congratulations to everyone who participated, particularly those who swam in the winning team from London.

“We’d also like to thank everyone who helped to make the day so successful, with our local Young Firefighters deserving a special mention.

“Station Manager Ian Jallands, based at HWFRS headquarters, swam particularly well for the Hereford & Worcester team, and achieved several PBs.”

Teams from as far north as Strathclyde and as far south as Cornwall took part, and while numbers were slightly down on previous years, there were more female competitors than ever, as well as 24 Competition Best Times achieved.

The FSSAA National Swimming Championships are run with assistance from the National Swimming Section and their representative Samantha Morris, from Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service, added: “We’d like to pass on our thanks to Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service for hosting the competition, particularly Watch Manager James Bainbridge for his commitment and hard work and Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates for his support throughout.

“We would also like to add our congratulations to the swimmers from London Fire Brigade and indeed to all participants for making it such a successful event. We’re very much looking forward to next year’s competition, scheduled to take place in Lincolnshire. It will be held over two days and will include water polo for the first time. This is sure to bring an extra edge to the competition and no doubt firefighters from across the UK will rise to the new challenge this will offer!”