Strenuous training helped firefighter achieve top 20 finish 13 · Friday, December 4, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Continued from page 11 eral times just because of exhaustion." Henderson first tried to compete in the World Firefighter Combat Challenge in 2004, but was unable to qualify. Through intense workout routines and practice at the Oakville Fire Training Campus, Henderson noted the obstacle course has gradually become easier. Even so, he said this year's Las Vegas experience was extraordinary. "We were on Fremont Street, which is old Vegas, and the area of the competition was covered with a canopy that was also a giant TV screen. On finals night, they actu- "On the final night, they actually had player cards on this huge screen so your head is the size of a football field up above you." Oakville firefighter Shaun Henderson ally had player cards on this huge screen so your head is the size of a football field up above you," said Henderson. "The closer the race was the more energy there would be from the crowd. When I was doing the tandem, two-man relay, you could just feel the energy, everyone screaming and yelling." Henderson said there were a few hairy moments during the first qualifier of the individual competition when he fell while carrying the dummy, however, he made up for this during the second qualifier when he completed the obstacle course with a personal best time of one minute and thirtytwo seconds. A similar run during the final night of competition solidified Henderson's position in the top 20. Henderson also excelled in the two-man relay portion of the competition achieving a first place standing with the help of his part- ner Dwayne Drover of the Waterloo Fire Department with a time of one minute and fourteen seconds. "We ended up winning by like two seconds," said Henderson. "It was a second and a half off from being a world record." Henderson noted that he has every intention of participating in next year's World Firefighter Combat Challenge and pointed out that the Oakville Fire Department is looking for sponsorship so that its firefighters can participate. Anyone interested in helping the fire department in these efforts can call 905845-6601, ext. 3602. PAYMENTS UNTIL SPRING 2010 NO FPO FROM $128 FOR 2010 LANCER FROM $189 FOR 2010 OUTLANDER B I -W EEK LY FI N A N C E PAY M EN T S OAKVILLE MITSUBISHI 191 Wyecroft Road, Oakville 0 % PURCHASE FINANCING ON SELECT 2010 MODELS N oak vill emit subishi.ca 905-337-3388