Four months after giving up international rowing Carolyn Jones has been chosen to represent Great Britain in adventure racing.

Carolyn JonesShe left her home in St Lucian's Lane, Wallingford, last Thursday, to compete in the Discovery Channel World Championship Adventure Race in Switzerland.

Three four-member British teams will push themselves to the limit over a 460-mile course between St Moritz and Geneva.

The British teams will compete against teams from Russia, USA, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe.

Each team must have at least one woman member. Carolyn has been invited to join the team of Oxfordshire businessman Mark Blythe, of Wharf Road, Shillingford. Mr Blythe, 34, is the director of specialist publishers, GTI, based in Preston Crowmarsh.

The race includes mountain biking, mountain running, glacial traversing, kayaking, canyoneering, white-water rafting, and via ferrata - crossing ravines using cables and ladders.

Carolyn, 33, a self-employed development aid consultant whose background is in forestry, said it would be a challenging experience.

She said: "I'm alternating between being incredibly excited and absolutely terrified."

Starting today, the teams will have until Saturday to cover the alpine course, crossing 15 passes over 2,000m in height.

Carolyn trains at least once a day and has discovered some "great runs". She said: "I enjoy the variety and social life of adventure racing. It doesn't take up as much time as rowing.'

Picture: Richard Cave