FULLER FIRE FLAG

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 126, 13 March 1950, Page 6

FULLER FIRE FLAG

ASHBURTON SCOUTS WIN INTERESTING COMPETITION The Fuller fire flag competition for Boy Scouts was held on Mona Square on Saturday afternoon in very unfavourable weather. The flag was presented for competition among Christchurch Scout troops in recognition of the valuable work done by' Scouts on the occasion of a fire in a Fuller Theatre, Christchurch, over 30 years ago. The first competition was held in 1917. About six years ago it v/as decided to allow country teams from Canterbury to compete, and on that occasion the Ashburton Tropp was runner-up. Ashburton did not compete again until -last year, when it succeeded in winning, with the result that the competition was held here this year. The competition consists of a fourman event and a one-man event run on similar lines to fire brigade events, and a fireman’s lift and resuscitation event.

The first two events were controlled by members of the Ashburton Fire Brigade—Lieutenant S. Preddy, Foreman J. W. Smith and Firemen J. Hickey, J. McCormick and P. Baker, under the direction of Deputy-Superin-tendent R. Kerr. Mr D. Cox, of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, judged the final event.

Wet Hose a Handicap

Teams came from Kaikoura (2), New Brighton (2), Burwood, Temuka and Ashburton. The extra weight resulting from having a wet hose proved something of a handicap in the fourmen event, and was responsible for increasing the times. In the four-man event Ashburton was first in 13 2-5 seconds, and New Brighton A second in 18 3-5 seconds. Ashburton won the one-man event in 21 3-5 seconds,’ with New Brighton A second in 23 1-5 seconds. Ashburton also won the fireman’s lift and resuscitation, with Temuka second.

Points for the whole competition were: —Ashburton 31, New Brighton A 23, Temuka 20, Kaikoura A 18, Burwood 11.

The winning team consisted of A. Wood (leader), R. Gluyas, B. Jolly, R. Tait (four-man event). R. Tait competed in the one-man event and R. Gluyas the resuscitation. The team was trained by Messrs S. Preddy, J. Hickey and D. Cox. Commissioner Mclvor, of Christchurch, presented the flag to the winners and offered thanks to all who had assisted in conducting the competition and hoped for a larger entry next year.