A Tonga Navy team won the Inaugural Services Swimming Championship, held at the Masefield Naval Base, Touliki on Friday, 9 September.

The Championship marked the end of a 10-week swimming program that was conducted by the Tonga Swimming and Aquatic Association (TSAA) for members of the Tonga Police, Fire, Prisons, Defence and the Navy.

The program was initiated by TSAA Officers Rochelle Fineanganofo and Lesley Vick who were looking at ways to get more people to swim.

Rochelle said these services are known for their fitness so the idea was to get them to learn to swim properly, and so encourage communities, adults and kids to learn to swim.

The program included water safety and basic swim techniques. In addition, all four strokes of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly were taught.

"The idea of swimming 50m, being timed and having to touch the wall at the end was very strange at first. But some fantastic results were achieved," she said.

It is anticipated that this will become an annual event.

Australian Federal Police assisted in holding the championship.