SICHEL SETS PERSONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BEST BUT DISAPPOINTED OVERALL
Orkney ultra distance runner William Sichel ran a championship best distance of 127.26 miles/204.814kms in last weekend's combined World/European 24hr Championships in Uden, Holland. This gave William a finishing position of 45 th (2 nd British and 37 th in the European Championships)) from a starting field of 205 runners. The British team finished 13 th out of 22 national teams in the World Championships (11 th in the European Champs).
Although the best William has run in an actual championship event his distance was still well down on his best achieved in non-championship competition. Overall William expressed his disappointment with his performance which was, once again ruined by stomach problems during the race.
“I had an excellent start passing through 100kms (62 miles) in just over 9 hours which was setting me up very well for an excellent result. But after 10½ hours I was sick and had repeated problems with vomiting until 18 hours into the race. I was then able to run steadily to the finish but had lost too much distance in the middle hours.”
The weather conditions were conducive to good performances with cool, overcast conditions on the Saturday, a cold night and cool but sunny weather on the Sunday.
As predicted last week, William's overall personal best distance of 153 miles would have given 10 th place in the race and the winner exceeded 160 miles – in fact the Belgian Paul Beckers completed 167.8 miles to overtake the Japanese Sekiya in the dying minutes of the race.
William now takes his end of season break, reviews the season and makes plans for next year.
“I am determined to sort out the feeding problems which have ruined several of my best opportunities. I have just started working with a sports dietitian who I hope will lead to further improvements in race performances. I know that everything else is in place it is just this last piece of the jig-saw which is stopping me from realising my full potential.”
Last December William 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, Loganair, The Orcadian and Crantit Dairy (Orkney Ice Cream).
Picture caption: William passes the British team refreshment tables during the final stages of the World 24hr Championships in Holland.
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'.
14/10/03