SICHEL PLANS AMBITIOUS SEASON
Orkney’s world ranked ultra distance runner, William Sichel (47), has revealed his ambitious plans for the 2001 season this week. His main targets will be the European 24hr Championships in Holland in late May and the World 24hr Individual Track Challenge (title to be confirmed) in Italy in late September.
The highlight of last season was William’s victory in the prestigeous Basle 24hr Road Race in Switzerland last May when he set a new personal best distance of 246.704km/153.2 miles, the best by a British runner for over 8 years. This performance led the world rankings for some months and eventually gave William an end of season ranking of World No12 for road 24hr performances. William has ranked as GB No1 for the past 3 years.
"My targets this year include holding a World Top 5 ranking and getting a medal in the European 24hr Championships. To do this I will need to run nearer to 160M which means another personal best performance will be needed. Thanks to the timely arrival of a treadmill I have had an excellent winter’s training, despite the snowy conditions."
This year William will open his competitive season with a long journey to the Far East to compete as an individual in the Soochow 24hr Track Championships in Taipei on March the 3rd and 4th.
A spell of warm weather training will follow in mid March when William returns to his training base in northern Majorca for a couple of weeks.
A 6hr track race in Sheffield may be attempted as a build up to the European Championship 24hr race in Apeldoorn, Holland on May 25th and 26th.
A return to 100km racing is planned for July 15th when the Scottish Championships takes place in Edinburgh. The second peak for the season will be attempted at the World 24hr event planned for Verona, Italy on September 25th and 26th.
William, who was Orkney’s first ‘Sportsman of the Year’ last year has also revealed that all his sponsors have renewed their support for the current season.
"I am delighted that everyone has signed up again this year, including all my local sponsors. Once again I will be acting as an unofficial ‘ambassador for Orkney’ as I travel around undertaking my running commitments. It’s great that Saucony UK (running shoes) have also renewed their sponsorship for the seventh consecutive season."
William is a member of the Moray Road Runners as well as 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 Scottish Lottery Sport Fund.
Making contact:
William Sichel, Upper Breckan, Sanday, Orkney KW17 2AZ. Tel/Fax: 01857 600421.
Mobile (whilst travelling only) 0794 128 3506. williamsichel@orkneyangora.co.uk
Running web site: www.orkneyangora.co.uk/ultra.htm
Photographs:
Ken Amer, Orkney Photographic. Tel 01856 873574, Mobile 0780 896 1780 orkneyphoto@sol.co.uk
Jean Maclachlan. Tel 01857 600350 jean.maclachlan@bhs-inter.net
5/2/01