Written about us

Countywide Victory

Firemen from the Nuclear Power Plant of Paks scored a splendid success at the firemen’s contest, Tamási, 26/27 May, where official, service, voluntary, youth and student firemen measured their professional knowledge and skills. They returned home with four cups, many certificates and a gold in pocket. Gergely Bartha, Roland Fehér, János Hahn, József Horváth, István Kovács, Tamás Kozma, János Lacza, Szilárd Papp, Tamás Szabó and Ferenc Széles were on the victorious team. The team was trained by István Major and Géza Sipter.

They won 4 x 100 m relay race, 100 m steeplechase and small engine-powered fire extinguisher mounting competition in a strong contest. Since they scored victory in all events, they deservedly won the Challenge Cup established by Tolna County’s Disaster Prevention Administration in 2000.

In 100 m steeplechase singles, Tamás Szabó was placed second of 30 competitors (only by 0.2 seconds behind the winner). Following him, the rest of team members came in nearly neck and neck.

The team of official firemen of Paks, placed second in all events, was following in Nuclear Power Plant Firemen’s track, so they scored the silver in team competition.

This series of competition is organized in an ascending scheme, with an in-house and a countywide competition held each year and a nationwide one arranged every second year. Preparation of the Power Plant’s firemen commences with preparatory matches between their groups arranged on a continuous basis; this period may as well last a month or two. Independently of competitions, a professional sports teacher trains members of the fire personnel in the barracks every morning with a view to maintaining skills, physical condition and resilience they’ve already acquired. Of course, this is a great contribution to keeping them in shape and practice.

The newest team member, Tamás Kozma, is still considered a fledgling in the fire personnel of the Nuclear Power Plant. Getting over a half-year long professional training course, he entered into service in February, in shift C.

“What kind of experience did the race bring to you?”
“For me, that was the very first test of this kind, so I was in a funk to a certain degree. It was good to see and experience how hard the whole team was striving for the success and what cohesive force had developed among us by the end of the contest. I think it’s a very good team I’m in, and now they treat me as an equal. I haven’t encountered anything similar to the trials of the race ever before, but I managed to properly acquire the necessary skills and practice during the preparatory period. It was a close contest of strength where we had to overcome very strong rivals indeed. I feel that I performed as a first timer quite well in the 100 m steeplechase singles’ race. I am confident it’ll turn out even better in the future.”

Tamás Szabó can already be called a man of practice. He demonstrated his skills and capabilities on ever so many occasions, be they either football matches, first aid contests or dragon boat races.

“What the teamwork was in your opinion?”
We had a real good preparatory and training period. The newcomers, one or two only, have fit themselves well to our experienced team that has perfectly cemented into real unity. Results we scored also demonstrate that there were no problems at all as we were the winner of all events in the race. As for me, I couldn’t, unfortunately, get the gold in 100 m steeplechase singles’; I was placed second only by 0.2 seconds. Last year I won this race. To sum up the results scored, our team presented a splendid performance and deservedly got the challenge cup for scoring victories in all three events.”

Congratulations for the remarkable results. As always, performance by the Nuclear Power Plant’s firemen wasn’t a disappointment to us. Wherever they enter for a race, it’s sure they’ll rank among the first three ones. I wish you all the best for going on like this.

by Mrs. Anna Lovászi
Nuclear Power Plant Bulletin, June 2006