SICHEL CHASES BRITISH QUALIFIER IN SWITZERLAND
Sanday's international ultra distance runner William Sichel, from Sanday, will attempt to surpass the UK Athletics qualifying distance for GB teams when he runs in the Basel International 24hour road race in Switzerland on Saturday and Sunday May 7 th /8 th.
UK Athletics (who have the toughest ultra distance selection standards in the world) have announced the selection criteria for ultra distance runners wishing to be considered for selection for Great Britain teams competing in future World and European 24hr Championships. The men's distances are 139 miles to qualify for team selection (minimum three qualifiers required) and 142 miles to gain individual selection regardless of whether other runners qualify.
Sadly even if William achieves these standards in Switzerland it will be too late for this year's World & European event in Austria in July as, despite William's appeal to the selectors, the selection date was April 13th and no dispensation was allowed for William's Basel result. Consequently no mens team or individuals have been selected. William still plans to compete in Austria but as a private entry.
"Losing my appeal was disappointing but I just need to go ahead and get the qualifying distance this year then I'm OK for next year's Championship events. My personal best is 153 miles set 5 years ago in Basel, so the qualifying marks are well within my reach and I hope to get it this time. I'm in good form and really looking forward to the race."
The Basel event is one of the best 24 hour races around with an ideal 0.7 mile road lap in the St Jacobs Park in northern Basel, enthusiastic teams of lap counters, live music around the course and a 24 hour kitchen providing a huge array of food and drinks for the 70 plus runners.
William is still on a 'high'' after his outright win in the "Across the Years" 24hr race in Arizona, USA on January 1st where he notched up 136.4 miles. Subsequently he has had a good two weeks warm weather training in Majorca and then tapered down ready for this weekend.
For the first time William will have the benefit of a specialist 'handler' in Basel as former ultra runner Alan Young from Dundee has volunteered to help William.
"Alan knows what it's all about and it's great that he'll be there for me this year. It is all part of the package that helps to produce a peak performance. Alan was my handler in the 'Devil o' the Highlands' hill race last August so I know we work well together"
William was voted Orkney's 'Veteran Sportsman of the Year' in November and has represented Great Britain 11 times at ultra distance running since 1996. William set new Guinness World Records for both 100 miles and 24hrs on the treadmill in December 2002. With his wife, Elizabeth, he runs the Orkney Angora mail order knitwear and yarn business in Sanday, Orkney.
William is grateful to sponsors The Ayre Hotel, The Orcadian , Crantit Dairy (Orkney Ice Cream), dion_networks and Loganair .
William's result will be posted on his web site as soon as practicable after the race and can be found at www.williamsichel.co.uk
Pictures: William competing in Basel in 2003.
Picture attached as a jpeg. TIFFs can usually be supplied if required.
Making contact:
William Sichel, Upper Breckan , Sanday , Orkney KW17 2AZ. Tel/Fax: 01857 600421. Mobile (whilst travelling only) 0794 128 3506. william@williamsichel.co.uk Running web site: http://www.williamsichel.co.uk/
Photographs:
Newsline Scotland (Press Agency). Tel 01224 594000. photos@newsline-scotland.co.uk
Ken Amer , Orkney Photographic. Tel 01856 873574, Mobile 07808 961780 info@orkneyphotographic.co.uk
William Sichel, ‘Free to use' photographs can be down loaded from my on-line photo album. Go to: http://www.williamsichel.co.uk/ and click on ‘Photos'.
2/05/05