Team Norfolk Island

Known to many visitors as the jewel of the Pacific, this five by eight kilometre patch of land also is home to two Hillbillie world duathlon competitors - JH and Damo. (It's a small world after all.)

Norfolk Island was discovered, most people say by accident, by Captain James Cook in 1774 during his second voyage around the world. In other words, he got lost and ran aground. Here's the official version:

``Given the minute size and isolation of Norfolk Island, it's hard to imagine just how Cook managed to stumble across this Island 'Paradise'.'' source: Norfolk Island history - really!!

Anyway, it was first settled by convicts, not of their choice, as they were required to swim, run and cycle a lot and carry bricks at the same time or something. ``It was officially described as "a place of the extremist punishment, short of death". ''

When you meet JH or Damo, remember that English may not have been their first language.

''You'll hear the Islanders speaking Norfolk, a unique language derived from the speech of the Bounty Mutineers and their Tahitian wives and companions who settled Pitcairn Island in 1790.''

Psst Damo .. the island has 178 species of native plants predominant among the trees is the Norfolk Island Pine!!!