The Community Press, Tioga County, NY, August 2005 Owego Fire Dept Hose Teams Win Central NY Firematic Races Three Owego teams place first, second, and third  The Owego Fire Department Hose Racing Teams placed first, second, and third at the Central New York Firematic Hose Races on Saturday in Lee Center, NY at the 112th Annual Central New York Firemen's convention.  The three teams defeated all other competitors.      Owego's Susquehanna Hose Company #1 won the overall points title sweeping to first places in the ladder, wye, and straight lay hose competitions. The team successfully defended its title from last year winning its second leg on the overall traveling trophy. Three legs are required to retire the trophy. Team members included Dave Churchman, J.T. Fisher, Patrick Gavin, Tim Gavin, Bill Herwerth and Lou Striley.  Firematic hose races are timed events where firefighters test their skills. Five member teams must connect nozzles to hoses, hoses to hoses, and hoses to the fire hydrant and knock down targets in the quickest time. Hose races improve basic firefighting skills.     Owego's Croton Hose #3 had a second in the ladder and third places in the wye and straight lay to finish second overall. Third place went to Hiawatha Engine #4 of Owego with a second in the wye, a third in the ladder and forth in the straight lay. All three teams donated their prize money totaling $425 to the Owego Fire Department Training Tower Fund.  The Susquehanna Hose Team #1 is expected to defend the overall point's trophy again next year at the Central races which are to be held in New York Mills, NY next July.        The Community Press a free newspaper, published monthly, serving the Tioga County, New York, area Copyright 2005 Brown Enterprise and Marketing