Claire Longstaff from Horsham and Isabella Orszulak from Warracknabeal
Two young women from the Wimmera are teaming up to make their mark at this year’s CFA/VFBV Firefighting State Championships that take place during the last two weekends in March at Mooroopna.
Claire Longstaff from Horsham and Isabella Orszulak from Warracknabeal have competed against each other for years at local demonstrations, but when female events were introduced at the State Championships, they saw an opportunity to combine their strengths.
“We go to a lot of demos together and have been friends for years,” Isabella said.
“When they first brought in the female events, it was a great chance to work together, especially since we were both the only senior female runners representing our towns at the time.”
Claire said their partnership has been a game changer.
"Teaming up with Isabella has been a great experience. We push each other to do our best, and it’s been exciting to see more women getting involved in the sport," Claire said.
The duo will take on a range of events, including the one-person and two-person races, the hydrant race, and the two-person water event.
After making the step-up from Juniors, Isabella admitted that competing at a senior level was initially daunting but became second nature over time.
“It wasn’t intimidating at first, but once you turn 16 and start running with seniors, you gradually find your footing at training sessions,” she said.
“Now, I love it.”
This year, she is looking forward to the challenge and hopes to improve on her personal bests.
“Hopefully, we can secure a few wins and maybe even break some PBs.”
For Claire, the Championships are about more than just winning, they’re an opportunity to connect with athletes from across Victoria and beyond, enjoy the camaraderie, and inspire more women to get involved.
“It’s just a great atmosphere to be part of, you have people from all around the state and even from places as far away as Western Australia all in the same location,” Claire said.
“If you’ve ever thought about being involved, I’d definitely recommend it.”
And when it comes to competition, Claire is ready for the challenge.
“We’ve got to show these blokes who’s boss,” she laughed.
If you’re interested in witnessing the CFA State Championships up close, all members of the community are welcome to experience the action.
Find out more information here.