SICHEL ALL SET FOR 24HR WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT

The experienced Orkney based ultra distance runner, William Sichel (49) will step onto the treadmill in the Pickaquoy Leisure Centre, Kirkwall, Orkney at 1030 a.m. on Saturday 30th November in an attempt to break the 13 month old Guinness World Record for the greatest distance run in 24hrs on a treadmill.
William is well qualified to tackle the existing record of 105.18 miles which was set last October by Gavin Smith of Tauranga, New Zealand.

William, who has lived in the tiny Island of Sanday for over 20 years, has represented Great Britain ten times in 100km and 24 hours road running championships. “Every effort is being made to comply with the stringent Guinness World Records (GWR) criteria so that any performance achieved is recognised by them. Amongst other things GWR insist that the venue for the attempt remain open to the public for the full 24hrs; witness and event log books are maintained and that the calibration certificate for the treadmill is made available.”

William is being assisted in his record attempt by a team of students from Paisley University, led by William’s long term adviser David Murrie. They will carry out constant monitoring of William’s performance as part of their final year sports science degree projects. Information gathered will also be made available to William to assist in future 24hr performances on road and track.

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 knitwear 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.

Pickaquoy Leisure Centre, Muddiesdale Road, KIRKWALL, Orkney KW15 1RR. Tel: 01856 879900; Fax: 01856 879901.Assistant Manager: Mark Harrison mark.harrison@pickaquoy.com

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.orkneyangora.co.uk/photos.htm and click on ‘Running Photo album’.

27/11/02