Hunt is On to Find UK’s First ‘Iron Dog’

Looking for the ultimate iron dog!

The World Firefighters Games takes place in Liverpool later this month and for the first time in its history, the Games is hosting an event that the four-legged friends of the Fire Service are eligible to take part.

The Iron Dog competition will be ultimate test of agility and stamina but the main emphasis will be having fun. Fire Service staff can enter with either pet dogs or working dogs.

The three-day event takes place between August 27-29 and covers three disciplines – agility, casualty water rescue and a cross country challenge.

Dogs can enter as many parts as they like, with medals for each section as well as an overall winner.

Organiser Joanne Stephens said: “I have put together the different sections to make it appealing to as many dogs as possible. The range of different sections means that dogs of all breeds and sizes can take part and stand a chance of taking home a medal – dogs that excel at the water sections may not be as strong in the agility and vice versa.”

The agility section will give dogs their own mini Olympics consisting of 50m hurdles, 50m sprint, high jump and long jump. They will get three attempts to do each, with the best time being recorded.

Dogs will then be tested in the water, recovering a floating casualty and swimming 30m, towing the casualty to quayside to their awaiting handler (floatation jackets will be provided).

The final section will take dogs and their handlers through a one mile course of fields, woods and water crossing. The cross country challenge will include low crawls, pipe crawls, scrambles, dog carry and other challenges that are designed to test the endurance of dog and handler as a team.

Joanne added: “This is the first time there has been an event for dogs and handlers in the World Firefighters Games. It is a fun event and we want people to come along and bring their pets or working dogs and have a good time.”

All iron dog events will be conducted in accordance with animal welfare guidance in consultation with the RSPCA.

Thousands of competitors are expected to arrive in Liverpool from 40 nations for a 10-day festival of sport and camaraderie between August 24 and September 2, 2008. And hosts Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service has set itself the mammoth task of staging the biggest and most successful Games in WFG’s 20-year history.

A large number of travelling competitors will be accompanied by their families, so the event will have a huge economic boost on the city and surrounding areas. So much so, WFG08 is working with The Mersey Partnership to accommodate visitors, 1,000 hotel beds and 2,300 beds in student halls of residence across the city are provisionally booked – making the Games affordable for all.

Firefighters will compete at world-class venues across Liverpool and the North West region, including the city’s new £164 million Liverpool Echo Arena (the Official Games Village), Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool Football Club’s Training Academy and the brand new Wavertree Aquatics Centre.

A programme of 73 sporting and unique events in 43 venues means there will be something for all abilities in both individual and team sports, featuring everything from chess, poker, table tennis and fishing, to football, triathlon, snowboarding and boxing, as well as a Firehouse Cook-off and the very first Iron Dog contest.

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