A SOLDIER is preparing to be pushed to the limits of physical and mental endurance.

Captain Louise Brown will spend the weekend competing against nine other female hopefuls towards earning a place in next year's Fulda Challenge, an annual Arctic survival contest in Canada.

The 29-year-old, who serves with First Battalion, the King's Regiment, at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, will be put through her paces by the Royal Marines at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone, near Exeter.

As well as being tested on her off-road driving and survival skills, the soldier will compete in a 20km road race and a 23km mountain bike race.

She will also take part in chasm-crossing, rope-climbing and car-pulling tests.

"I'm determined to give the event my best shot," said the captain.

"I'm a keen competitor in 24-hour adventure races and, hopefully, this experience will stand me in good stead.

"Although it will be hard work, it will be worth it to try and get through to the elimination stage."

This contest will take place in Sulden, Italy, in September. A field of ten will be narrowed down to just one man and one woman to travel to Canada and represent the UK.

Ten teams from Europe and North America will compete in the Fulda Challenge, a race against time across 2,000km of the Canadian Arctic.