It was a brilliant performance in Upper Austria: Yesterday, the volunteer fire brigades from St. Martin im Mühlkreis and Hinterschiffl were chosen as the winners of the fire brigade world championships in Celje, Slovenia. The firefighters defied the hot temperatures and prevailed against the international competition in competitions in hook ladder climbing, obstacle relay races and in firefighting attacks. A fire brigade from the host country Slovenia came in third.
Markus Mahringer from FF St. Martin im Mühlkreis had already described the cohesion of the team as the “greatest strength”. Today the firefighters were able to defend their 2019 World Championship title: “It’s an indescribable feeling,” said Mahringer. “After the firefighting attack we were behind, but also thanks to the fans we were able to put in an incredible performance and win in the relay race.” The victorious fire brigades let the evening end together. “St. Martin and Hinterschiffl have become strong together – competition stimulates,” said Mahringer.
Mixed youth results
The youth have already completed their competitions: three Upper Austrian youth groups made it into the top ten. The youth of the FF Waldneukirchen achieved third place. “Secretly I was hoping for fourth or fifth place, but the boys wanted to get on the podium,” said the youth leader of the Waldneukirchner, Christian Dietermayr.
Since the team was only the penultimate turn and the results of the competition were already available on the Internet, the boys had to “switch off their cell phones” to keep their focus, the youth leader said.
As a reward for the outstanding performance, the young firefighters were allowed to stay up a little longer than usual, and at dinner, the young people wanted to eat pizza.
Two other youth groups were also able to assert themselves: The youth fire brigade from St. Martin im Mühlkreis placed fourth behind Waldneukirchen. The girls from the FF Mitteregg-Haagen-Sand achieved fifth place in their group. The girls were the youngest in the starting field, reported youth worker Georg Kranawetter. Unfortunately, the group missed third place due to a mistake.
“But they still showed backbone and set the best time in the relay,” Kranawetter said proudly. But the girls are also happy for the Waldneukirchner. “The friendship welds together, no matter who wins a medal for Austria – it is duly celebrated.”
The world champion from 2019, Bad Mühllacken, only achieved 21st place this time. “He who doesn’t dare, doesn’t win – that was our motto. We took risks and unfortunately it went haywire this time,” said youth worker Max Kastner. But the disappointment didn’t last long. The nine to 16-year-olds now enjoy the leisure program with the other firefighters from different countries.
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Source: Nachrichten
