Canpro PHOTO COMPETITION 4 - Technical Rescue Magazine

EVENTS
GRIMPDAY 2010
(RESCUE-DAY)
Namur - Belgium
Our Man Jim Hutchen again attended this
Belgian organised annual rescue event as part
of a 5-man team from Hampshire Fire &
Rescue so expect a slightly biased report!
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Rope Rescue team has just returned
from an international competition with a new addition to the trophy cabinet.Competing
against top European mountain rescue teams from countries
like Switzerland, Italy and France, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
came fourth – the top performing
British team – at
Grimpday 2010.
Grimpday is a multi disciplined
challenge where firefighters
are faced with the
technical rescue of people
from heights, or those
trapped below ground.
This annual event is held in
the picturesque city of
Namur, Belgium and is an
opportunity for European
rope rescue teams to come
together and share best
practice and learn whilst
undertaking a timed rope
rescue circuit.
It is also an excellent training
ground for British teams taking
part in the UK Rescue
Challenge, which is being
held in Hampshire this
September.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has taken part in Grimpday for the
past four years and has steadily improved its rankings and is now competing
for a place in the top three.
The Hampshire team is also ranked number 1 in the UK after taking gold
at last year’s UK Rescue Challenge – an event which it is hosting in 2010.
Hampshire’s Rope Rescue team leader, Dave Heybourne, said: “Grimpday
is always a challenge for UK teams because we are competing against
teams from areas where they carry out rope rescues as part of their every
day job. So for us to come fourth is a really positive achievement.
“Grimpday is an excellent opportunity for all involved and every year we
come away having learned something new that we can adapt to our local
needs and thereby strengthen the service we offer here in Hampshire.”
Grimpday is dedicated to rescuing people trapped in perilous conditions
and came about as a means of sharing various techniques used in different
countries.
The Hampshire team was made up of team captain Keith Bellamy, Paul
Murray, Lee Giffard and medics Richard North and Jim Hutchen.
Simon Whelan acted as the team casualty and Dave Heybourne and Alec
Martin provided support.
20 TECHNICAL RESCUE E-magazine17
FURTHER INFORMATION
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service will this year be hosting the UK
Rescue Challenge – a national event showcasing the areas of vehicle
extrication, trauma care and rope rescue.
This event is the largest of its kind being held anywhere in the world this
year and will feature 50 participating teams from around the country
with international delegates also in attendance.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s vehicle extrication team are world
champions and have managed to attain this position through vehicle
donations from the public.
The United Kingdom Rescue Challenge is being hosted at HFRS headquarters
from September 30 to October 2 and is being sponsored by
Silverlake Autoparts and Packexe Smash.
www.t-rescue.com