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NEWS from Orkney’s
William Sichel
www.williamsichel.co.uk
Sponsors:
Myprotein, Loganair & The Orcadian
Scotland’s leading ultra distance runner William Sichel, from Orkney, becomes the first Scot ever, to compete in the prestigious Surgères 48 Hour race in western France on Friday 16th to Sunday 18th May.
An invited field of 12 men and 12 women, representing 12 nations, have been invited to the 23rd edition of this unique event. Run on a specially prepared, 300 metre cinder track in the centre of town this event has produced a mass of world and national records over the years and is rightly considered the de facto World Championships of the 48 Hour event.
William considers it a big step forward in his multiday running career to have been invited to this event.
“I certainly feel honoured to have been invited this year and to be able to race in such illustrious company. I feel it is also a tangible form of recognition for my performances over the last two years in particular.
Highlights have been a British record (and 7th place overall) in the world’s hottest race the 135 mile Badwater Ultramarathon in July 2006; a Scottish record and 9th overall in the 153 mile Spartathlon (the world’s longest point-to-point race) in September last year; two outright wins and course records in the Monaco 6 day races of 2006 and 2007 (502 miles) giving world ranking of No1 and 3 respectively and a Scottish 48hr indoor record (213.92 miles) in the Czech Championships last year giving me a World Ranking of 12 in the 48 Hour event.
These performances obviously haven’t gone un-noticed.”
William has recently returned from a two week, warm weather training camp in Lanzarote.
“The Surgères race is well known as frequently being a very hot one. I am now well prepared for the heat and am in good form after a good training spell in Playa Blanca. Temperatures soared to 39°C whilst I was there which was excellent preparation for me.”
William’s web site will have links to the race where updates can be followed during the race allowing supporters to keep track of his progress - www.willimsichel.co.uk
William is grateful to sponsors: Myprotein, Loganair & The Orcadian
William competing in Greece in March
Notes:
William is the current World No3 for the Six Day event after winning in Monaco in November 2007 and World No12 in the 48 Hour event.
William is the current Scottish 48 Hour record holder (indoor) with 213.9 miles.
The first Commonwealth Championships for the Ultra Distance running events of 100km and 24 Hours will take place in Keswick in October 2009.
William currently lies 5th on the “All time” list of British road 24 hour performances with his run of 153.3 miles/246.70km in 2000. He is also 3rd on the Scottish “All time” list of 6 day performances.
William is a member of the Orkney Athletic Club and in November 2006 was honoured by the Orkney Islands Council for “outstanding achievements in sport”.
With his wife, Elizabeth, he runs the Orkney Angora (hand dyeing specialists) mail order business in Sanday, Orkney.
Although born in the Northamptonshire village of Welford and brought up in the south east of England, William has lived in the Orkney island of Sanday since 1982. William’s father was born in Kelvinside, Glasgow before moving south at a young age.
Making contact:
William Sichel, Upper Breckan, Sanday, Orkney KW17 2AZ.
Tel: 01857 600421; Fax: 0709 288 3499; Mobile 0794 128 3506.
william@williamsichel.co.uk Web site: www.williamsichel.co.uk.
William's CV:
World No3 for the Six Day event with outright win and course record in Monaco Six Day race -809.230km/502.8 miles (2007)
Scottish event record in the world's longest point-to-point race - the 153 mile "Spartathlon" in Greece (2007)
First Scottish Record- 48 Hour 344.267km/213.92 miles (2007)
World No1 for the Six Day event with 770.247km/478.60 miles, Monaco course record & outright winner (2006)
British event record in the 29th running of the "World's Hottest Race" the Badwater Ultramarathon (2006)
First Scot, ever, to complete the world's longest point-to-point race - the 153 mile "Spartathlon" in Greece (2005)
"Across the Years" 24hr, Phoenix, Arizona, outright winner (2005)
World 24Hr Championships Age-Group Silver (2004)
Guinness World Records (treadmill) 100 miles & 24hrs (2002)
World 24hr ranking No12 (1998 & 2000)
Basel 24 Hr, Switzerland, outright winner (2000)
British 100km Champion (1999)
Masters World 100km Champion (1998)
European 100km Championships: Team bronze medal (1997)
Scottish 100km Champion (1994)
Represented Great Britain 11 times since 1996:100km team x 8 & 24hr team x 3
William's Personal Bests
Marathon: 2:38:17 (1995)
100km: 7:07:49 (1996)
12hr: Track 141.50km/87.92 miles (2001)
24hr: 246.70km/153.30M (2000)
48hr: 344.267km/213.92 miles (2007) – Scottish record
Six Days: 809.230km/502.8 miles (2007)
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