SICHEL PRAISES CONTINUED LOCAL SUPPORT AS HE EMBARKS ON AMBITIOUS SEASON

International ultra distance runner, William Sichel from Sanday , who has represented Great Britain 11 times since 1996, has spoken out in praise of the Orkney business community who are continuing to support his ultra running career as he approaches one of his most challenging seasons so far.

"This is my tenth year of ultra running and I have been supported by some form of sponsorship for most of that time. I think that some credit should be given to those local companies that have made business like decisions to sponsor me. Also the fact that they have renewed their involvement over a number of years demonstrates their satisfaction with the arrangement and their confidence in me."

William is keen to point out that he is not talking about ‘charitable sponsorship' but what he prefers to call 'athlete advertising'.

"I offer a professional package of benefits to sponsors tailored to the level of sponsorship received. So for example Orkney Meat, who have renewed again as my main sponsor, have large advertising patches on promotional clothing, a prime position advert on my running vest and featured links from my web site as well as other benefits. Associate sponsors The Ayre Hotel, The Orcadian , Orkney Ice Cream and Loganair have benefits which include advertising patches on the front of my promotional clothing, get featured in press releases and have links from my web site."

It is a two way relationship with William working hard to keep his sponsors well informed throughout the year as well as giving them a good return for their investment through media coverage and public relations.

"I have enjoyed working with the my local sponsors and ‘selling' Orkney on my running travels. I try and act as an ambassador for Orkney at all times. I'm often approached and asked about Orkney and the companies I advertise when I'm away. One American family I met en-route to a race, emailed me to say they had sampled all the Orkney produce I advertise during their holiday in Orkney!"

William will need all the support he can get this year as he has a tough schedule of competition ahead. His first competition will be the Brno 48 hour indoor race in the Czech Republic on March 19 th -21 st . There William will try and pass 230km/143 miles during the first 24 hours as this is the tough new UK Athletic 24 hour individual qualifying distance for this year's World 24hr Championships in Holland.

Following that William will compete in the World 24hr event in May either as a Great Britain representative, if he qualifies, otherwise in the 'open' race.

In early August William will attempt his first long distance trail race when running in the "Devil o' the Highlands" 43 mile race from Tyndrum to Fort William which is the second half of the West Highland Way route. This is in preparation for his debut in one of the classic ultra distance events the Spartathlon in Greece – the world's longest point-to-point race at 153 miles - held in early October.

Finally William will travel to the USA in late December to compete in the "Across the Years" 24hr race in Arizona.

“It is a very demanding series of races but I have gained a lot of experience over the years and feel that I am ready for this type of program now.”

In December 2002 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 long term 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) and Loganair .

William's running web site, which is being developed as a resource for ultra running in general, can be found at www.williamsichel.co.uk

Picture caption: William shows off his promotional clothing.

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'.

22/02/04