2015 New Jersey Firefighter’s Bicycle Race Results
The 18th annual NJ Firefighters Bicycle Race to raise funds for the St. Barnabas Hospital Burn Center Foundation was held on Sun., July 26, 2015 in downtown Stirling. It was another successful event with more than 50 firefighters racing, including 3 female firefighter riders. Each year this event, the only one of its kind in America, is hosted by the Stirling Volunteer Fire Co. whose members spent more than 200 hours to make this event a success.
A large crowd of on-lookers cheered on the racers as they completed the two mile race in full firefighter turn-out gear (less boots because it is too difficult to keep boots on the pedals). The weather for the race was sunny and in the mid-80s with low humidity. After the race, Stirling firefighters hosted a picnic lunch in the air conditioned firehouse for the racers and their guests. After the meal, trophies were awarded to the winners by firefighter race chairman Frank Reilly and Burn Center Foundation director Kathy Conlon. Both thanked the racers and Stirling firefighters for participating in this unique fund raising event and they were given a well-deserved round of applause. Ms. Conlon told the group how important fund raising events such as this are to the successful operation of the non-profit Burn Center Foundation.
The top 10 winners were: 1st place Dawher Castro, Stirling Vol. Fire Co. (this was the second year he won the race); 2nd place Peter Aprahamian, Liberty Corner Fire Co.; 3rd place Eric Murphy, Liberty Corner Fire Co.; 4th place Richard Freyer, Dunellen Fire Dept.; 5th Place Richard Owens, Wilkes-Barre PA Fire Dept.; 6th Place Charles Mazzucco, Millington Fire Co.; 7th Place Kurt Meaney, Hampton Fire Dept,; 8th Place Tom English, Berkeley Heights Fire Dept.; 9thPlace Dan Roth, Millington Fire Co.; and 10th Place Will Wallace, Millington Fire Co.
First place female firefighter racer was Isabella Satore of the Millington Fire Co.
Best Teams of 4:
1st Place: Millington Fire Co. with racers with Anthony & Christopher DeBiasse, Isabella Satore, and Will Wallace. A recount after the race revealed the 2ndMillington team of 4 tied the first team, the first tie in the history of the race. The members of that team were: Nick DeThomasis, Charles Mazzucco, Connel Rae, and Dan Roth.
2nd, 3rd and 4th place team finishers: Second was the Liberty Corner Fire Co. with only two finishing positions off from tying for first place. On that team were Peter Aprahamian, Christopher Hurst, Max Halper, and Eric Murphy. Third and forth place team finishes were Berkeley Heights Fire Dept. (Tom English, Andrew Krasny, Joey Kolzot, and Matthew Ward); and the Stirling Fire Co. (Deputy Chief Alex Gallo, Dawher Castro, Travis Snyder, and Randy Wojeck).
Oldest racer was Kenneth Larson, a fit 67 year old firefighter, from the Green Brook Fire EMS Dept. He finished 47th and was presented with the “Oldest Firefighter Racer Award”, which he accepted with much fanfare.
A first ever in this year’s race was a pair of identical twins: Christine and Victoria Loughran and their father Bill. All are members of the Sea Girt Fire Dept. Bill finished near the front of the pack and the young ladies finished in the middle; which was very respectable for their first time in this race.
Stirling Vol. Fire Co. racers were Deputy Chief Alex Gallo and firefighters Dawher Castro, Travis Snyder, and Randy Wojeck. Castro was a bit under the weather the race day morning and almost didn’t race, but when he was encouraged by his brother firefighters and he put on his turn-out gear he felt better and went on to win the race to the cheers of all the firefighters, his wife, and the on-lookers.
The participating fire departments were: Berkeley Heights, Dunellen, East Franklin, Forked River, Green Brook, Hampton, Kingston, Liberty Corner, Millington, North Branch, North Stelton, Pequannock, Perth Amboy, Plainsboro, Sea Girt, Stirling, and Wilkes-Barre PA.
For photos of the race go to Stirling’s website: www.stirlingfd.com and click on the Facebook icon. The 2016 race will be held on Sunday, September 26. Please plan to attend and participate as a firefighter racer if possible. Information and registration information will be on this website next spring.
Dunellen Fire Dept’s Rich Freyer is presented with the 4th place trophy by race chairman and former Dunellen firefighter Frank Reilly and Burn Center Foundation director Kathy Conlon.
