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Connellsville Twp. firemen win tug of war

By Jackie Beranek 3 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Connellsville Township took a first place in the Tug of War contest Thursday night at the 68th annual Fayette County Firemen’s Convention at New Haven Hose Volunteer Fire Company on 7th Street. A large crowd gathered to watch the Tug of War, Fire Truck Pull and Gear Scramble contests and root for their favorite team. South Connellsville 2 was the first place winner in the Fire Truck Pull contest with a time of 26.03 (in seconds).

Firefighters were still competing for first and second place in the Gear Scramble at press time.

However, eight of the 16 firefighters finished the contest.

In the Tug of War contest the team’s total weight was not allowed to exceed 1,500 pounds, so on some teams there were six firefighters while on others there were eight firefighters.

Winners were as follows: Hopwood 1 beat Ronco; Dunbar beat Fairchance 2; Connellsville Township beat North Union 1; Hopwood 2 beat South Connellsville; Hopwood 1 beat Ronco; Connellsville Township 1 beat Fairchance; Farmington beat Hopwood 2; Dunbar beat North Union 2; Connellsville Township beat Farmington; and Hopwood 1 beat Dunbar.

Connellsville Township took home a first-place trophy while Hopwood 1 took home the second place trophy.

In the Fire Truck Pull contest firefighters literally were required to pull a fire truck. South Brownsville took first place with a time of 21.50 (in seconds) while South Connellsville 2 had a time of 26.03.

Other fire companies who participated and their times were: South Connellsville 1, 36.13; North Union 2, 38.69; Farmington, 32.45; Perry Township 41.30; North Union 1, 1:26.12; Ronco, 31.44; Point Marion, 32.22; Connellsville Township, 39.29; Dunbar 2, 40.18 and Fairchance 1, 29.57.

Dunbar 1, Hopwood and Fairchance 2 were disqualified.

The Gear Scramble was a single-man contest with 16 contestants.

The focus of the contest is to start in street clothes and when the whistle blows the contestant dons their turnout gear, including Nomex hood, gloves and helmet and run 100 feet to don their S.C.B.A. gear and be ready to enter a toxic atmosphere before running back to the finish line.

Only eight contestants had completed the task at press time. They were Dave Waggett, Connellsville Township, 1:48.41; Rob Leiberger, Connellsville Township, 1:34.30; Colby Brooks, Farmington, 2:14.34; Roger Bricker, Uniontown, 1:58.45; Marco Pantolo, Fairchance, 2:22.97; Mike Brooks, Connellsville Township, 1:36; Blaine Brooks, Connellsville Township, 2:26.37; and Nick Napolillo, Connellsville Township, 1:39.84.

Friday’s schedule of events include Cruise Night on 7th Street at 6 p.m. and the musical group Brass Knuckles at 7 p.m.

Saturday’s events include the firemen’s bike ride and registration of delegates at 9 a.m.; the county meeting from 10 a.m. until noon; county voting and swearing-in of officers at 1 p.m.; parade at 4 p.m.; the musical group Punch at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 10:30 p.m.

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