Photos by Linny Folau and Sia Adams

The Friendly Islands Triathlon (FIT) has introduced Adventure Sports to its calendar of events for 2011.

FIT's inaugural adventure sports program, the 'Eua Eco-Challege was held at 'Ohonua, 'Eua on Saturday, March 5.

The event consisted of a 400 meters swim in 'Eua Harbour, a 6km cycle from the harbour to the 'Eua National Forest, a 4km run through the forest, then a 6km cycle back to the starting point at the harbour.

Twelve competitors participated in the event (ten men and two women).

There were eight individual men, two individual women and one team.

Individual men ( total time for four events):

Tom Carr 1hr 3mins 26secs
Alo Fe'iloakitau 1hr 8 mins 49 secs
Haati Sanft 1hr 9 mins 36 secs
Kantaro Oishi 1hr 13mins 0 secs
Dominic Walton France 1hr 14 mins 16 secs
Richard Warner 1hr 18mins 21 secs
Lyndon Quirke 1hr 23mins 35 secs
Salesi Fineanganofo 1hr 30mins 51 secs

Team

Pesi Fonua and Lano Fonua 1hr 29mins 38 secs

Individual women:

Lisa Harper 1hr 18mins 34 secs
Frances Cameron 1hr 22mins 14 secs

In addition to the sports events there was also a nature walk through the forest on the western coast of the island.

Tricia Emberson, FIT's Program Organizer, said that the inclusion of Adventure Sports is an attempt to introduce the activity to the Tongan Tourist Industry, "by developing a series of events that can be put on Tonga's Tourism Calendar to encourage tourists to come to Tonga, and at the same time help our local athletes to pursue their sporting talents."