Firefighters raring to repeat tall order

Waipukurau Volunteer Fire Brigade firefighter Mark Bean celebrates making it to the top of the Sky Tower.

Six Waipukurau Volunteer Fire Brigade members are keen to take on the Firefighter Sky Tower Stair Challenge again next year after successfully knocking it off last weekend.

More than 750 firefighters from about 200 brigades nationwide set a new fundraising record for the challenge last Saturday, raising more than $1 million for Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand.

The Waipukurau team contributed $8147.40 after a four-and-a-half month campaign to raise funds and prepare for the gruelling event that sees firefighters ascend 1103 steps of the Sky Tower in full firefighting kit weighing 25kg.

It was team member Bodee Oliver's first time taking part, and he said there were some nervous moments in the lead-up, not knowing what to expect.

"The veterans of the challenge were cool, calm and collected before the event, but myself and Graeme Fisher, who was also doing it for the first time, were feeling the anxiety of the unexpected."

The hours of training in the months beforehand, however, held them in good stead and all made it up the 51 flights with no issues, Mr Oliver said.

Nick Hamilton, who had completed the challenge four times previously, recorded the fastest time of the team, making it up the stairs in 15 minutes 42 seconds, followed closely by teammate Sam Swanson, a veteran of two previous challenges, in a time of 15 minutes 43 seconds.

Mark Bean last competed in 2012 and managed a time of 18 minutes 28 seconds this year and, on his first outing, Mr Fisher made it in 20 minutes 6 seconds.

Mr Oliver took 22 minutes 2 seconds and Richard Elworthy reached the top in 26 minutes 45 seconds.

While happy with their physical efforts, Mr Oliver said the team was also proud to have raised the funds they did, contributing to the record total.

On behalf of the team he thanked all the sponsors throughout the campaign, especially the individual member sponsors of Cervus Equipment, Pedersen Spreaders, The Leopard Hotel, Jane Hamilton - Property Brokers, DAC Legal, and Harvey World Travel.

"A special thank you also to the community who has really gotten behind the boys and supported the cause," he said.

"The 2016 challenge is eagerly anticipated."