Armagh’s Aidan returns from USA as Fire Service bags 20 medals

by
Micheal McKenna
July 8, 2015

Armagh Watch Commander Aidan Sutton and his Fire Service colleagues have returned from the USA with a bagful of medals!

Aidan and co collected a fantastic 20 medals at the World Polce and Fire Games held at Fairfax in Virginia in the United States.

Along with Warren Campbell and Stuart Knight, the Armagh man lifted a silver medal in the Ultimate Firefighter team event.

Participants from the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are celebrating a score of medals across a number of different disciplines.

Retired NIFRS Station Commander Gary Davison gained the most accolades as he collected eight gold medals and two silver medals in events such as the half marathon, 800 metres and the individual biathlon.

Wholetime Firefighter Peter Stewart, based in Lisburn Fire Station, received four gold medals and two silver medals in Taekwondo, indoor rowing and the stair race.

Gold medals were awarded to Wholetime Firefighter Mark Montgomery (Springfield Fire Station) for Jujitsu and retired Firefighter Aidan Magennis in the Ultimate Firefighter event.

Following on from the success of the 2013 World Police & Fire Games held in Belfast, where over 100 medals were won across various different disciplines, NIFRS continued in this rich vein of form to enjoy further success in Virginia this year.

NIFRS Interim Chief Fire & Rescue Officer Dale Ashford said: “Congratulations to all the NIFRS medal winners and competitors at the 2015 WPFG in Fairfax.

“It is two years since Belfast hosted the hugely successful 2013 Games and I’m delighted to see that the success of Belfast 2013 has continued in Fairfax 2015.

“The effort that each competitor put into training, preparation and commitment has been rewarded by this fantastic medal haul.

“Not only have these individuals been fantastic participants for Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, but they are also great ambassadors for Northern Ireland.”

A list of NIFRS medal winners is listed below:

Gary Davison; gold biathlon individual, gold biathlon (50+team) silver biathlon (18+team);
Gold 3000m steeplechase;
Gold 1500m;
Gold 5000m;
Gold 10000m;
Gold 800m;
Gold half marathon (time 1:25:20)
Bronze 4×400 relay;
Peter Stewart 3 gold &1 silver for Taekwondo;
Gold stair race;
Silver indoor rowing
Mark Montgomery gold team Jujitsu, silver Judo
Aidan Magennis Gold Ultimate Firefighter (individual) silver team Ultimate Firefighter;
Stuart Knight, silver team Ultimate Firefighter
Warren Campbell, silver team Ultimate Firefighter
Aidan Sutton, silver team Ultimate Firefighter
Mark Beresford silver, Triathlon
Brian Coombs bronze, hammer throw