Banbury woman tests fitness and skills at World firefighter challenge competition

Chrissy Downer, who is based out of Banbury Fire Station, was selected to be a part of the 12-strong team the UK sent to compete at the international competition.

Held at Saudi Arabia’s Dhahran Expo, the competition saw the fittest firefighters from 28 countries compete in a number of physically demanding events for the coveted title.

Chrissy was selected for the UK team after impressing at firefighter fitness challenge competitions in Britain over the past few years.

She said: “The format of the competition was one I had not done before; it is based on the Toughest Firefighter Alive competition, which is the hardest of these types of competitions.”

Despite the step up in competition, Chrissy achieved a decent placing in the table, which helped secure Team UK a hard-fought eighth position in the overall rankings.

The competition saw firefighters tackle a variety of events that required them to climb and crawl their way through obstacle courses and race against one another while carrying heavy objects.

Chrissy said: “We are in full firefighter uniform and carrying breathing apparatus, so we are wearing around 25 kilogrammes of clothing and equipment.

"We had to drag out hoses, carry mock casualties, climb over a wall, and run up stairs; it was definitely the toughest competition I have done.”

Speaking about her time at the competition, Chrissy said: “It was a fantastic experience; every bit of it was incredible, the competition and visiting Saudi Arabia."

This year’s competition was won by the team from the Czech Republic, who claimed an impressive seven gold medals, three silver medals and five bronze medals.