Selden Mirror Nationwide Series at Blithfield Sailing Club

Chris Rust & Oliver Newman win the Mirror Inlands and Selden Nationwide Series at Blithfield © Simon Lovesey

The final round of 2007 Selden Mirror Nationwide Series saw the fleet descend on Blithfield SC for the Inlands, this was also the last of the Selden Nationwide Series that determines the class rankings for the year. Typical of this season where we have experienced the extremities in weather, the event was beset by light winds.

With the flags barely moving during the briefing things were not looking promising and Race Officer Jon Moore signalled a postponement, keeping the fleet ashore.

Eventually the barest of breezes filled in and the first race got underway. This saw 2005 World Champion, Ross Kearney and Katy Jones in the P&B boat win from single hander Len Kniveton, with Charlotte Fitzgerald and Annie Sibthorp sailing their new Winder MK3 Mirror in third. At this stage Ross who had been leading the rankings for the later part of the season was looking in a comfortable position to take the Nationwide Series title.

Race Two was again sailed in a drifter, which saw Chris Rust and Oliver Newman, recent graduates from the RYA National Squad take the bullet from sisters, Emma and Martina Barry, both from Brightlingsea SC. Natalie and Grace Roach from Plymouth finishing in third place.

With still no sign of any real wind and a highly unfavourable forecast for the next day, the Race Team managed to get in another race to give a series. This saw David and Beth Grey from Royal Windermere YC battle it out with Chris and Oliver, with single hander Fred Gil bert in third place.

The competitors were treated to one of Blithfield's famous Hog Roasts on Saturday evening, followed by the last of Selden prize draws, which saw Natalie Roach scoop the top prize of a new rig. The evening finished with a packed meeting of those interested in competing in the 2008 European Championships in Sweden.

As forecasted, Sunday dawned flat calm and misty, leaving no choice for a postponement to see if any wind would fill in. With the sun eventually burning through and seeing the mist off, it was disappointing for all that no wind came, leading to an abandonment at lunch time. This meant that Chris Rust and Oliver Newman were crowned Inland Champions, with David and Beth Grey Second and Emma and Martina Barry third.

With Ross Kearney and Katy Jones slipping pack to 10th in the Inlands, David and Beth Grey leap frogged them to take top spot in the Selden Nationwide Rankings, winning by one point.

Overall Results:

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