Round 2 of the Selden Mirror Nationwide Series was sailed at Ullswater YC, over the Whitsun Weekend.

The event saw an excellent turnout of 43 Mirrors, a record fleet in recent years for the Northern Championships.

This was also the second and final qualifier to select Team GBR for the 2007 World Championships in South Africa, with National Coach Peter Aitken in attendance doing some talent spotting.

As befitting the family nature of the class, there were a wide range of ages competing, with the youngest being six years old through to over 50. The fleet enjoyed some very close racing and great hospitality from Ullswater YC.

The fleet arrived to calm conditions, but as predicted the wind built to a good stiff breeze, with gusts of 20 knots in the squalls, there was some fast and exciting racing.

The first race saw National Squad girls Lilly Carlisle and Becky Wallbank master the gusty and shifty conditions to take a well deserved win, their first Championship bullet.

The second race saw the breeze building, with the biggest gusts saved until the leaders reached the gybe mark, causing some of these to capsize. Youth Squad ladies Anna MacKenzie and Holly Scott, seized the opportunity to weave through the carnage and take the race.

It was again an all girl affair for race three, with Hansen sisters, Eloise and Kayleigh winning.

Sunday brought a pleasant moderate breeze and smoother water, and after the girls dominated the results on the Saturday it was now the turn of the father and son teams to show the way home. National Champion Hector Cisneros sailing with son Ben stepped up a gear to take race 4, with John and Jamie Clementson winning race 5.

With five different race winners, the championship was still wide open, the Cisneros duo rose to the challenge to take the last race and with it the Northerns.

Royal Windermere YC retained the club trophy for the second year running.

The prizegiving was packed, with competitors keen to acknowledge the event winners but also to see if they had won one of the many prizes in the Selden draw. Finally Peter Aitken announced those who had automatically qualified for a World’s place.

The Selden Mirror Nationwide Series is formed from five of the area Championships and the Inlands. Further details: www.ukmirrorsailing.com