(Utica, NY – July 2014) The Utica Fire Department once again ended up in the winner’s circle in the 2014 Bob Ingalls Police and Fire Competition. The awards ceremony took place July 23 at the F.X. Matt Brewery 1888 Tavern.
This was the tenth year the Boilermaker Road Race has featured the Police and Fire Competition which was renamed in 2009 to the Bob Ingalls Police and Fire Competition in honor of its late founder. The department with the five fastest Boilermaker 15K runners receives a traveling trophy, and more importantly, bragging rights.
“It’s great seeing the healthy competition among these two groups” said Jim Stasaitis, Race Director of the Boilermaker Road Race. “In the end, whether they win or not, it’s simply a real treat to get a chance to acknowledge these great individuals.”
The Utica Fire Department’s team finished with a combined finish time of 6 hours and 14 minutes averaging 1 hour and 14 minutes per participant. The Utica Police Department had a combined time of 6 hours 43 minutes with an average of 1 hour 20 minutes. The winner of the Deputy Chief William Aquaviva Award was Christopher Tullar of the UFD that had the fastest overall time, clocking in at 67 minutes 59 seconds. Deputy Chief John Toomey was the leader of the UPD posting a 75 minute 47 second finish and winning the Officer Thomas Lindsey Award.
“I congratulate the Fire Department for again prevailing as a team and winning this allegedly friendly competition” said Mayor Rob Palmieri.