KANGAROO FLAT competitors scorched the field as brigade members demolished records at the state volunteer urban firefighting championships in Bendigo.
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The brigade's feats included Jackson Dargaville making history in the ladder climb.
Mr Dargaville should be considered one of Bendigo's best sportspeople, event committee member Wayne Pattison, has long argued, because no-one in the championship's 136 years had come close climbing to so many ladder wins.
"He missed out last year only because he slipped (on a ladder rung) at the top. Others have won maybe four or five, but not eight, and Jackson's only 25-years-old," Mr Pattison said.
"He's an athlete and just a superstar of this sport. All the kids like him, they all know him. He's a hell of a nice kid as well."
More photos: State Urban Championships begin in Bendigo
Among a slew of other highlights at the three day event was a Kangaroo Flat team beating a 43-year-old 16.05 second record in the prestigious champions four event.
It was the first time a team had broken the 16 second barrier, he said, in a race where teams run out a length of hose and fire it at a target.
"In fact, I said to a person before the race ran that I thought it would never be broken," Mr Pattison said.
The Kangaroo Flat team took the win with a 15.90 second run.
Mr Pattison, who had strong ties with the Kangaroo Flat brigade, said it was an emotional moment. He was still "a bit jittery" in the hour following the race.
"They are young guys who I have had a lot to do with, so it's been very special," he said.
Two brothers from Tatura, Matt and Nathan Rennie, came first and third respectively in an individual hydrant race Sunday morning after graduating from junior competitions last year.
"I've never seen that before, either," Mr Pattison said.
"It was such a great effort. They are in their late teens and running against very seasoned runners."
In the hunt for glory in overall points sections, Maryvale (80 points) lost for the first time in four years, falling just short of Dandenong (85 points) in the A class. Kangaroo Flat (76 points) came in third.
Osborne Park (53 points) took out an even tighter B class, pipping Werribee (52 points) and Moe (47 points).
2019 marked the final time in three years that Bendigo hosted the urban championships, with Mr Pattison thanking the City of Greater Bendigo for its longstanding support.
The competition will next year moved to Mooroopna, with Mr Pattison saying organisers and other stakeholders would welcome the event's return in future years.
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