Sanday runner William Sichel (49) has been invited to run in the Road Runners Club Anniversary 100 mile track race incorporating the William Hill “Ton-Up” Challenge at the Crystal Palace track in south London on Sunday 20th October.

This will be William’s final event before he tackles the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance run in 24 hours on a treadmill, which he can now confirm will take place at the Pickaquoy Leisure Centre in Kirkwall on Saturday and Sunday 30th November/1st December.

The 100 mile race is a one-off, invitation only event which has been organised to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the world record for 100 mile which was set by Lossiemouth’s Don Ritchie in October 1977. This record, 11 hours 30 minutes 51 seconds, remains unbeaten and is currently the oldest track record in existence.

William Hill, the bookmaker, have offered a “Ton Up” Challenge award of £5000 to anyone who sets a new men’s world 100 mile record at the London race.

A string of top ultra runners have been invited and a number of overseas competitors have shown an interest in running including three of the best Russian 100km runners; Edit Berces (Hungary) and Yiannis Kouros (Greece) the world record holders for 24hrs for women and men respectively.

The number of runners competing has been restricted to 26 to allow everyone the best chance of running a fast time as they won’t have to keep running wide to pass lots of slower runners.

“I’ve had a good recovery from the European 100km Championships in Holland and I was pleased with my time of 7hrs 51minutes. I have never run a 100 mile race before but my best 100 mile time was done during my best 24 hour performance in Swizerland in May 2000 – there I passed the 100 mile point in 14hrs 33 minutes. In London, if all goes well I’m looking to go under 13 hours 30 minutes and get a big personal best but a lot depends on the weather.”

William’s World Record attempt at the end of November will be trying to break the current best distance of 105.18 miles held by Gavin Smith of Tauranga, New Zealand and set on 27/28th October 2001.

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

William is grateful to sponsors Orkney Meat (main sponsor), The Ayre Hotel, The Orcadian, Crantit Dairy (Orkney Ice Cream) and Saucony UK. William also receives a grant from the sportScotland Lottery Fund.

14/10/02