Windsor’s 2010 “Team Parker Construction" are pictured above.

Darren Hillman - a seventeen year veteran and a qualified Captain, Darren enters his 12th year on the Combat Challenge course. Darren is the current over 40 Men’s Individual and Over 40 Men’s Tandem World Champion. He holds eight World Titles since joining the team in 1998 and once held the World Record in the Open Men’s Individual category. His goal is to retain his current titles and to help his teammates win their third World Championship in the Team category.

Jack Bailey - began his Combat Challenge career back in 1997 and quickly established himself as one of the sport’s elite. He held the Men’s Individual World Record from 2002 until it was broken in 2008, holds several National Individual Championships and was instrumental in Windsor’s Team success with six World Championships to his credit. He is excited to be back after a three year break and is once again ready to help Team Parker compete for top spot at World Challenge XIX.

Rob Fawcett - has been competing since 1999 and was part of the powerhouse Windsor Team from 2001 through 2006. Rob has five World Championships to his name and was a key member of the Windsor Relay team's success. Rob has a Top Five Individual finish at Worlds and brings experience and a competitive edge to this year’s Team Parker Construction. He is back for one reason, and that’s to help his team win!

Laureano Cordeiro - is in his seventh year of competing and is excited to be back with Windsor’s Team Parker Construction. He brings tremendous speed and strength to the team making him an important part of both the Team and Relay competitions. His goal is to hoist the World Championship trophy this November in Myrtle Beach.

Locky Gelinas - has been competing since 2006 and has become one of the sports strongest competitors. His goals for this season are to be competitive for the top spot on Windsor Team Parker Construction and to win his first Team Championship at World Challenge XIX in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Locky went back to basics in the off season and has come back in the best shape of his career and is ready to win.

ABOUT THE CHALLENGE:

The Toughest 2 Minutes in Sports ! As seen on TSN, ESPN2 & Versus, the Firefighter Combat Challenge was developed to showcase physical fitness and is about people doing their job safer and better. 3 to 5 person teams compete individually against the clock wearing full firefighting gear. The Challenge tasks are timed and completed sequentially.

In USA, Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge® began in 1991. In early spring, the Challenge attracts hundreds of U.S. and Canadian municipal fire departments to over 25 events and has expanded to New Zealand, Germany, Argentina, Chile, and South Africa. At the USA regional level, competitors must complete the competition course within a certain time limit in order to qualify for the world championships. In 2010, the World Championships will be held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Windsor’s “Team Parker Construction” will be featured during FIREFEST at Windsor’s Riverfront Festival Plaza August 20 & 21. FIREFESTis the hottest 2 day, family event of the summer ! The event will bring large groups of firefighters, family & friends to Windsor for this South Western Ontario regional stop. Firefighters from across Canada and the USA will compete.

The festival will feature Corporate and Media Combat Relay Teams stumbling through the course on Friday night while the professionals tear up the course on Saturday. The KID ZONE will provide entertainment for the little ones. Proceeds benefit Transition to Betterness. This is the 9^th year for FIREFEST which has raised over $50,000 for local charities.

In 2008, Parker Construction came on board as the title sponsor of Windsor Fire & Rescue Service's Combat Challenge Team. Windsor’s “Team Parker Construction” are 2-time World Champions and 5-time Canadian Champions. The Windsor team is competing in the Firefighter Combat Challenge for its 13th year. During this time, the team has donated their season winnings to Windsor fire departments - equalling over $130,000 worth of fire equipment. In 2010, Parker Construction has also agreed to be the title sponsor of FIREFEST.

Here are links to several related websites:

Three to five-person teams compete individually against the clock wearing full turnout gear (helmet, coat and pants with liners, boots, and gloves) while breathing from SCBA. Competitors provide their own NFPA approved structural firefighting turnout gear and boots. Scott 4.5 Air-Paks are supplied.

The first event is the high rise pack carry. The 100' 1.75 inch Hi Combat hose load (42 lb.) may be carried in any manner, but must be deposited in the container on the top floor (equivalent to a five story building) of the tower (42 ft., 6 sets of risers with 10 steps each). The hose load must stay in or on top of the box or the competitor is disqualified. The hand rails may be used in climbing the tower. Steps may be taken in multiples on the way up, but every step must be contacted and both handrails grasped when descending the tower. Failure to touch each step or use the handrails on the descent will result in a 2 second penalty per infraction.

A 45 lb donut roll of Angus LDH hose and 5/8" kern-mantle rope are used for this event. The competitor is not allowed to stand on anything other than the top platform while hoisting. The evolution is complete when the roll clears the railing of the top of the tower and is placed in the container (Both feet must be in contact with the landing.) The donut roll must stay in or on the box, failure to do so results in disqualification. A fallen donut roll may not be retrieved.

The Forcible entry evolution utilises a Keiser Force Machine (a chopping simulator). Using a 9 lb. shot mallet provided, the competitor must drive the 165 lb. steel beam a horizontal distance of 5 ft. Pushing, raking or hooking the beam is not allowed; it must be struck only by the head of the mallet. The handle must not come in contact with the beam at any time. Also, both hands must be above the tape mark on the handle (12 inches from the head end) at the point of impact. The upper edge of the beam will be covered with pressure sensitive tape, making infractions visible when a mark appears on the tape. The competitor will receive a warning for the first handle strike that makes a mark. A 5 second penalty is assessed for each infraction thereafter. The hammer must be dropped onto the 2' x 3' matt and remain touching or a 2 second penalty is assessed.

After advancing a 140 ft., the competitor must pick up the nozzle end of the 1.75" charged Hi-Combat hoseline (it must be grasped and pulled forward of the tape line 5 ft. from the tip) and drag it a distance of 75 ft. Once the nozzle crosses the 75ft. stripe, the competitor opens the nozzle, hits the target with the water stream, shuts down the nozzle and places the nozzle on the pavement. Opening the nozzle before it crosses the 75 ft. stripe is a 2 second penalty. If the nozzle is not shut before it is placed down, the competitor must go back and close it. If the nozzle opens again after hitting the ground, there is no penalty and the competitor can continue to the victim rescue.

A 175 lb. Simulaids Rescue Randy mannequin must be dragged backwards a distance of 100 ft. Carrying the dummy is not permitted. The mannequin must not be grasped by its clothing or appendages. Time stops when the competitor and victim completely cross the finish line.

All competitors must perform the Combat Challenge in less than seven minutes. Failure to do so results in the competitor being disqualified and removed from the course. The course Marshal, at his/her discretion, may stop any contestant who, in the Marshal's opinion, presents a danger to themselves or others.