SICHEL TACKLES 14 YEAR OLD BRITISH ROAD RECORD

Sanday runner William Sichel (49) is planning to make his first ever attempt at a British road record when he travels to Cologne for the International 48hr road race on July 11th, 12th and 13th. The current record of 312.212kms/194 miles is held by Al Howie (now resident in Canada) and was set in 1989.

William is quietly optimistic about his chances of success.

“I have had an excellent spell of training since covering 218.75km/135.9 miles in the Basel 24hr road race in early May – that was my best performance for 3 years. Although I’ve never run a 48hr race before, I’m hoping my 24hr experience will carry me through. Also I believe I have sorted out my feeding problems which have always bedevilled my 24hr runs.”

The Cologne race, William’s debut 48 hour race, will take place on a scenic 1.5km (almost a mile) long course next to the Rhine in central Cologne. His main opposition is likely to come from the United States 48hr record holder Roy Pirrung.

William is currently leading the British 24hr rankings for this year and has twice been ranked in the world’s top 12 for the 24hr event with a best of 153.30 miles set in 2000. Formerly a British 100km Champion, William decided to specialise in the longer event 3 years ago.

“My ambition has always been to win medals at international events and I feel that my best chance of doing that is in the 24hr event. I am tackling the 48hr event mainly as over-distance experience – I’ve noticed that most of the world’s leading 24hr runners, including both men’s and women’s world record holders, compete at 48hrs as well - and secondly to have a crack at the UK record.”

William is no stranger to setting records. Last December he set new Guinness World Records for both 100 miles and 24hrs on the treadmill.

William was voted Orkney’s first ‘Sportsman of the Year’ in November 2000. He is a member of the Orkney Athletic Club. With his wife, Elizabeth, he runs the Orkney Angora mail order knitwear business in Sanday, Orkney.

William is grateful to sponsors Orkney Meat (main sponsor), The Ayre Hotel, The Orcadian and Crantit Dairy (Orkney Ice Cream).

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’.

6/7/03