The Citizen, 2017-09-21, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2017.
Sports
Gibson returns from national FireFit competition
Brussels Firefighter Chris Gibson
is now back home after a decent
showing at the Canadian FireFit
national championship in Ottawa
earlier this month.
The FireFit competition is an
event that involves firefighters and
other emergency service individuals
donning their full bunker (or
firefighting) gear and taking on a
six -stage course.
During the national competition,
held Sept. 6-10 at the Canadian
Aviation and Space Museum,
Gibson came up short of his personal
best time, which he set last month at
the provincial competition in
Oshawa. He posted times of 1:54.23
on Wednesday, 1:48.16 on Thursday
and 1.45.35 on Friday in Ottawa. His
Friday time, however included four
seconds of penalties on the run.
He finished 16th out of 45
volunteer firefighters from across
the country and 104th out of 160
men under 40 years old.
Both Gibson and Huron East
firefighter James Yates of the Grey
hall earned berths at the national
competition by competing at the
provincial FireFit event in Oshawa
last month. Yates, however didn't
make the trip to Ottawa.
Ready for next year
Brussels firefighter Chris Gibson, left, competed at the National FireFit competition in Ottawa
earlier this month. Gibson finished in the middle of the pack and has already started training
for next year's competition. Grey Firefighter James Yates, right, competed at the provincial
FireFit competition in Oshawa last month alongside Gibson. He earned a berth in the national
competition in Ottawa, but didn't compete. Gibson and Yates also competed in the two -
firefighter team X3 challenge at the provincial level, however they couldn't shave off the three
seconds needed to earn a berth at nationals. (Photo submitted)
Artificial beach nets owner charges
A Wingham resident has been
fined $1,000 for constructing a
personal beach on Crown land.
Calvin Ruttan pleaded guilty and
was fined $1,000 for filling shore
lands under the Public Lands Act.
Ruttan removed the remainder of the
structure he erected on Crown land
prior to his court date.
Court heard that in late June 2016,
a conservation officer from the
Clinton office, along with a canine
unit from the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry (MNRF),
were conducting fisheries patrols
along the Maitland River in the town
of Wingham. On the patrol, the
officers observed what appeared to
be a man-made beach held together
with large rock cribbing. The
structure was clearly placed on the
bed of the Maitland River.
Follow-up through the summer
months with ministry lands
specialists and the Maitland
Valley Conservation Authority, led
officers to determine that the
structure had been built on
Crown land without any permits
from either the ministry or the
conservation authority. With
fluctuating water levels, the
structure partially washed out,
covering an important rainbow trout
and smallmouth bass spawning
habitat immediately downstream.
Justice of the Peace Sue Stewart
heard the case in the Ontario Court
of Justice, Goderich, on August 22,
2017.
To report a natural resources
violation, call the MNRF TIPS line
at 1-877-847-7667 toll-free any time
or contact your local ministry office
during regular business hours. You
can also call Crime Stoppers
anonymously at 1 -800 -222 -TIPS
(8477).
In Oshawa, Gibson ran a new
personal best of 1:42.89 in the event
while Yates posted a time of 2:53.09.
Gibson, in an e-mail to The
Citizen, said that training is already
underway for next year's
competition. He also said he is
hoping to add more members to the
team to promote a healthy lifestyle.
The FireFit competition includes a
six -flight, 60 -step, 40 -foot -high stair
climb with a 42 -pound bundle of
hoses called the High Rise Pak. The
pak is carried on the firefighter's
shoulder and adds to the weight of
the already -heavy bunker gear. After
reaching the top, the second event is
the Hose Hoist where a roll of hose
weighing 45 pounds is pulled up to
the top of the structure.
Following that, competitors must
descend the stairs, making sure to
use handrails and touch all steps on
the way down. The third event is
called "Forcible Entry" and includes
a chopping simulator. Using a nine -
pound mallet, competitors have to
move a beam a certain distance. A
zig-zag run follows, at which point a
fully -charged hose has to be dragged
75 feet then discharged in an attempt
to hit a target.
Finally, a simulated victim rescue
is the last event in which the
firefighter needs to drag a 165 -
pound mannequin backwards for a
distance of 100 feet.
For more information, visit
www.firefit.com or check out the
Huron East Combat Team on
Facebook for videos of Gibson and
Yates competing.
Auburn man charged
for hunting, fishing
An Auburn man has been fined a
total of $1,100 for hunting and
fishing violations which occurred
over the past year.
Justin Rodger pleaded guilty and
was fined $1,000 for hunting wild
turkey without a licence. Rodger
also pleaded guilty and received a
$100 fine for angling largemouth
bass during the closed season.
Court heard that on June 12, 2017,
conservation officers in the Clinton
office received information about a
posted photo of fishing activity on
Rodger's social media account. The
photo detailed Rodger actively
targeting largemouth bass on June
11, during the closed season for that
species. Further investigation into
Rodger's social media accounts
revealed additional hunting and
fishing violations, including a photo
of a wild turkey harvested in the
spring of 2016. Officers determined
that Rodger had not obtained a
turkey hunting licence nor taken the
Wild Turkey Hunter Education
Course, which was still required at
the time of the harvest.
Justice of the Peace Sue Stewart
heard the case in the Ontario Court
of Justice, Goderich, on Aug. 22,
2017.
Hunters are reminded that they are
required to have the appropriate
licensing before they venture out to
hunt. In addition, anglers are
reminded of the importance in
adhering to fishing seasons, as
closed times are set to protect fish
species during times which are
important in sustaining populations.
To report a natural resources
violation, call the Ministry of
Natural Resources and Forestry
TIPS line at 1-877-847-7667 toll-
free any time or contact your local
ministry office during regular
business hours. You can also call
Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-
800 -222 -TIPS (8477).
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