SICHEL STORMS HOME AS 2ND SCOT IN 35 MILE “TWO BRIDGES” RACE

Sanday’s international ultra distance runner William Sichel (49) was delighted to come home as the second Scottish finisher (9th overall) in the 35 mile “Two Bridges” road race last Saturday from over 100 starters.

In warm conditions William passed the marathon point in 3hrs 3 mins and then continued on the tough, hilly part of the course to finish in 4hrs 7mins 30secs, less than 2 minutes behind the first Scottish runner, Les Hill from Dumfries. The race was won by Royal Marine Brian Cole in 3hrs 39 mins 48secs.

“Amazingly this was my shortest race for almost 3½ years and I was more than delighted with both my time and my finishing position. It was strange going back to running on the open road again as so many 100km and 24hr events are on closed lap courses. Crossing the Kincardine and Forth Bridges was also a strange experience as well. The last 2 miles seemed to go on for ever and there were two nasty climbs approaching the finish in Rosyth but it was a great feeling to see the finish line banner at last.”

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).

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’.

25/8/03