| The team members will take part in the sort of firefighting drills and relay challenges which they practice on a regular basis in Wednesbury |
A group of young fire-fighter cadets will be carrying the hopes of a UK work wear manufacturer with them when they take part in an international competition in Hungary. The 10-strong team from the Wednesbury Young Fire-fighters Association (YFA) have been sponsored by Stockport-based Ballyclare Limited for their trip to the city of Szombathely, to take part in the national Hungarian Fire Cadet competition.
“This is a very unusual opportunity for us to show our skills in what is actually a Hungarian national competition, and we’re delighted that Ballyclare were able to help us,” says Crew Commander Paul Ratcliffe, the officer in charge of Wednesbury YFA. “We were invited to take part as special guests through connections we had made in previous competitions, and as we’re funding the trip from our own resources the help that Ballyclare has provided will be a great boost for us.”
Fire fighting drills and relay challenges
Aged between 11 and 16, the team members will take part in the sort of fire fighting drills and relay challenges which they practice on a regular basis at home in Wednesbury. “The Wednesbury branch of the Young Fire-fighters Association was founded in 1993 and it helps the cadets to improve their skills in many different areas and to test themselves,” adds Ballyclare Managing Director, Carlton Greener. “It’s a great way of helping young people to explore their potential and we wish them all the best when they reach Hungary.”
Ballyclare will also be helping the cadets publicise their efforts by staging an Instagram takeover day during the competition, to help distribute pictures of the team in action.
“These competitions are very popular in Europe, and we will be the only UK team competing in Hungary,” concludes Paul Ratcliffe. “We did well in a major competition in Poland last year, and we’re hoping to do even better this time as we have our eye on the 2017 international championship which will take place in Austria!”