Published: August 27, 2008 12:00 am            

Firefighters sweep events in Altus

Combat Challenge team eyes nationals

The Team Norman Sonic Combat Challenge Team recently competed in the Southwest Regional in Altus, and swept all the events with the exception of Relay -- the only event in which TNS did not enter a team.?

"Needless to say we are all very proud of the Team Norman Sonic showing," said Norman Fire Capt. Greg Blackburn.

The Altus Fire Department hosted the Scott Firefighters Combat Challenge competition Aug. 15 and 16. Team Dr. Pepper, the host team from Altus, awarded Oklahoma State Championships -- with Oklahoma teams from Norman, Edmond, Tulsa, Sand Springs, McAlester, Lawton and Altus competing.

TNS members won the following Oklahoma State Championships:

Open Individual: Don Balm; Over 40 Individual: Don Balm; Over 50 Individual: Greg Blackburn; Open Tandem: Jack Ingram -- Robert Carrick; Over 40 Tandem: Brent Porter -- Don Balm; Over 50 Tandem: Bob Callaghan -- Greg Blackburn.

TNS members placed in numerous events in the overall Southwest Regional competition, with teams from Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Boston vying for a slot in the national championships.

TNS results were:

Over 40 Individual First Place: Don Balm; Over 50 Individual First Place: Greg Blackburn; Open Tandem Third Place: Jack Ingram -- Robert Carrick; Over 40 Tandem First Place: Brent Porter -- Don Balm; Over 40 Tandem Third Place: Kurt Holley -- Mike Shuffield; Over 50 Tandem First Place: Bob Callaghan -- Greg Blackburn.

Team Norman Sonic members have qualified for and will participate in the upcoming nationals in Atlanta, Ga., and the world championships in Las Vegas.

The Firefighter Combat Challenge attracts hundreds of firefighters each year from the U.S. and Canada. Regional competitions are held throughout the year, culminating with the world championships in November.

The challenge seeks to encourage firefighter fitness and demonstrate the profession's rigors to the public. Wearing "full bunker gear" and breathing apparatus, competitors simulate the physical demands of real-life firefighting by performing a linked series of five tasks including climbing the five-story tower, hoisting, chopping, dragging hoses and dragging a life-sized, 175-pound dummy 100 feet to the finish line.

Blackburn said team members credit their sponsors, Norman area Sonic restaurants, Steve Owens and Associates, Gregg Byram and Roy Oliver, for enabling them to participate in the Firefighter Combat Challenge.

Tom Blakey 366-3540 tblakey@normantranscript.com

        

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