Firefighters prove to be at the peak of fitness

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Friday, 05 July 2013 09:30

Two teams from Avon Fire & Rescue Service have proved to be at the peak of their fitness after winning first and second place in the national fire service Three Peaks Challenge.

The Avon Jampotters B team, made up of Mike Cooper (Training department), Lee Francis and Kurt Hunt (Weston-super-Mare Fire Station), Simon Fellows (Temple Fire Station) and drivers Dave Leeworthy (Speedwell Fire Station) and Jon Burns (Avonmouth Fire Station) won the A event of the competition.

They scaled Ben Nevis, in Scotland, Scafell Pike, in England and Snowdon, in Wales in 16 hours and 23 minutes, which included 11 hours driving from peak to peak.

The Avon Jampotters A team, made up of Mike Collin (Speedwell Fire Station), Nick Baldwin (Bath Fire Station), Pat Foley (Temple Fire Station), Aaron Spells (Yate Fire Station) and drivers Rob Atkin and Steve Coleman (Patchway Fire Station), won the B event of the completion in 15 hours 39 minutes, including 11 hours driving.

It’s the first time in the event’s 20 year history that the same fire and rescue service has won both the A and B events.

The teams raised a total of £4,300 for The Fire Fighters’ Charity.

Avon Jampotters B team leader, Mike Cooper, said: “Being fit and active is a huge part of life in the fire and rescue service so being able to combine a sporting challenge with the chance to raise money for charity has been very rewarding.

“It was a tough challenge but all those involved were very committed and wanted to achieve a great time. To have our teams finish first and second overall is fantastic.”

The Fire Fighters Charity provides support services and treatment to serving and retired firefighters in times of need.