Mirror National Championship 2026 at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, sponsored by Trident UK

by Andy Tunnicliffe 1 Aug 20:23 BST 25-28 July 2026

47 teams and their support crews travelled to one of the premier sailing venues in the North for three days of racing to find the winner of the 2026 Mirror National Championship.

The club had created a brilliant family vibe and a friendly atmosphere, with many parent-and-child team combinations along with a handful full of youth teams. Most boats arrived the day before to rig and get in a practice sail, and were greeted with sunshine and 30 knots of wind — which meant only one thing: a day of boat fettling in the dinghy park instead.

The event was sponsored by Trident UK and saw three Gebhard boats entered.

Day 1

Competitors woke to a pleasant 15-knot south-westerly for the first day of racing. After the briefing, teams got ready to launch, but as the wind began to build rapidly, launching took longer than expected and the first race was delayed while a squall blew through.

Hot off the blocks in Race 1 were Ian and Ted Dobson, showing they meant business. After a hard-fought battle with Matt and Pippa Burge, Team Dobson took the win, with the Burges close behind. Alex and Sasika Leonard took 3rd, proving that knowing the sailing instructions and the course pays off.

Race 2 saw two more teams show they weren't going to make it easy for anyone to get a grip on this event. Andy and Izzie Tunnicliffe took an early lead ahead of Paul and Peter Smalley, but the Smalleys' upwind decision-making proved too strong and the Tunnicliffes couldn't hold them off. Team Smalley took the win, the Tunnicliffes came 2nd, and Matt and Albie McGovern took 3rd.

With winds gusting past 25 knots, and much to the crews' disappointment, the race officer sent the fleet ashore, feeling the helms were tiring and needed a rest.

The evening saw an "in it to win it" prize draw with prizes donated by Winder boats and Impact Marine. The days race winners also received their trophies and other goodies.

Day 2

With an earlier start time, teams were ready for Day 2, knowing there'd be a little less wind but four races to complete.

Race 3 started with Team Burge and Team Dobson popping out in front, both trying to get a hold on this event. The Dobsons fought hard all race to keep the Burges behind them, but the Burges managed to squeeze past at the final mark rounding. Team Burge took the win, the Dobsons came 2nd, and the McGovern's took 3rd.

Race 4 got under way with a new team wanting to prove they weren't just making up the numbers. James and Meris Date took a dominant lead, leading comfortably from start to finish, while the McGovern's held off Team Leonard to take 2nd and 3rd respectively. With four different race winners in four races, the event couldn't have been closer.

After a short break the breeze began to build, and on a new course in a different part of the lake, the shifts were bigger and good boat handling and decision-making became vital. Race 5 showed that Team Smalley, after a mixed morning, were back and here for silverware. Team Dobson took 2nd, and Phil and Lucy Smith — another event favourite — finally showed up to take 3rd.

Race 6 told a similar story: the tactical brain and silky sailing of Team Smalley saw them shoot out in front again and hold on for the win, ahead of the Dates, with Team Smith dragging their way back into contention with a 3rd.

With one day left, the points couldn't be closer — any of eight teams could realistically still take the title, with the second discard now coming into play.

Once more another "in it to win it" draw saw the majority of the fleet collect something from the sponsors.

Day 3

With the wind forecast to build even more than on the previous two days, and everyone feeling the toll of the racing so far, teams launched ready for three races.

In Race 7 the Tunnicliffes set about mixing up the overall standings, leading from start to finish and comfortably holding off Team Dobson, who tried as hard as they could but were no match. Team Tunnicliffe took the win, the Dobsons came 2nd, and Toby and Molly Wincer rounded out the podium close behind.

Race 8 saw the Smalley's out ahead again, leading from start to finish and closing up the top of the overall standings. Team Dobson just managed to hold off the Tunnicliffes this time, but it took a toll on their boat, with a broken mainsheet block. The Smalleys' win took the title race down to the very last race: if they won it, they could beat Team Dobson to the overall title. With four more teams also chasing the final podium positions, the tension ahead of the last race was unbearable. The Dobsons managed to fix their mainsheet block before the start, so the fight was well and truly on.

Race 9 started with all teams coming off the line at full speed — a couple with too much speed, as Team Date and Team Smith were both OCS, their podium hopes fading fast. Disaster then struck as Team Dobson's jib downhaul snapped halfway up the first beat, forcing them to retire from the race. Did this mean their championship hopes were over? Fortunately for them, the Smalley's had a poor start and were caught back in the pack fighting for position — which meant Team Dobson still looked set to take the overall title, leaving the fight on for the remaining podium places.

The Tunnicliffes sailed a blinder of a first beat to round the top mark first, with a chasing pack right behind them. At the bottom of the reaches it was Tunnicliffe from Burge, with the McGovern's close behind — game on. Up the next beat the Tunnicliffes' luck ran out and they dropped back to 5th, while Team McGovern sailed a perfect beat to take the lead. The order held down the next run, and on the final beat the McGovern's showed their class to stay out in front. Team Tunnicliffe clawed their way back up to 2nd by the last windward mark, but the McGovern's were too far ahead to catch, comfortably taking the race win and securing 2nd overall. Burges taking 2nd from Team Tunnicliffe in 3rd, which was enough to secure them 3rd them 3rd overall.

All teams came ashore into glorious sunshine, with just enough breeze left to keep everyone cool while packing up.

Prize-giving was held once everyone had recovered from the day's sailing. Ted and Ian were worthy 2026 National Champions and Ian was happy to take the microphone to thank the club, the race officer, and all the safety crews for a great event. It was fantastic to see so many young sailors out on the water, especially in such challenging conditions — youth sailing in the Mirror class is going from strength to strength, which is especially exciting given next year's new Youth and Junior Championship to help showcase it.

The event concluded with a celebration night in memory of Jackie Gebhard. This saw Mirror sailors old and new congregate in the clubhouse bar or on dance floor with the full contingent of Jackie’s family.

All in all, it couldn't have been a better warm-up for the World Championships at Poole Yacht Club in 2027.

Overall Results:
If you finished in the top ten at the Mirror nationals then enter your Gear Guide information

Pos	Sail No	Helm	Crew	Club	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	Pts
1st	71053	Ian Dobson	Ted Dobson	Royal Thames SC	1	(DNC)	2	5	2	6	2	2	(DNC)	20
2nd	71059	Matthew McGovern	Albie McGovern	SSSC	4	3	3	2	‑6	4	5	‑8	1	22
3rd	70668	Andy Tunnicliffe	Izzie Tunnicliffe	Bassenthwaite SC	6	2	4	‑7	5	‑14	1	3	3	24
4th	70964	Paul Smalley	Peter Smalley (Sun)	Chew Valley Lake SC	‑11	1	6	9	1	1	‑12	1	7	26
5th	70967	James Date	Meris Date	Burghfield SC	7	‑8	5	1	4	2	4	5	(BFD)	28
6th	70960	Matthew Burge	Pippa Burge	Poole YC	2	4	1	‑13	‑12	7	6	10	2	32
7th	70922	Toby Wincer	Molly Wincer	Hayling Island SC	‑14	5	11	4	9	5	3	7	‑13	44
8th	70832	James Stewart	Rhys Stewart	Netley SC	9	‑10	8	6	‑37	8	7	4	4	46
9th	70856	Alex Leonard	Saskia Leonard	Bassenthwaite SC	3	‑13	7	3	11	‑15	10	12	6	52
10th	70721	JP Marks	Clara Marks	Dalgety Bay SC	‑12	11	12	‑16	10	10	11	11	8	73
11th	71036	Josh Gebhard	Austin Gebhard	Derwent Reservoir SC	10	‑21	(OCS)	15	21	11	8	6	5	76
12th	71069	James Eastbury	Felix Eastbury	Gresford SC	5	7	18	10	8	16	‑30	18	‑23	82
13th	319	David Gebhard	Edward Gebhard	Derwent Reservoir SC	(DNF)	6	10	26	14	13	‑28	16	10	95
14th	70883	Matthew Bromley	Georgina Sebastian	Budworth SC	8	12	13	‑28	19	‑24	18	13	19	102
15th	58171	Fiona Rigg	Duncan Rigg	East Lothian YC	16	19	14	18	16	‑20	15	‑25	9	107
16th	70893	Becky Priest	Ella Saunder	Staunton Harold SC	(DNC)	15	17	19	‑22	18	17	15	11	112
17th	71063	Chris Robinson	Alex Robinson	RWYC	15	(DNC)	19	20	15	12	14	21	(DNC)	116
18th	7101	Oliver Smith	Naomi Smith	Bassenthwaite SC	19	18	16	‑31	13	17	‑22	17	20	120
19th	71013	Phil Smith	Lucy Smith	Bassenthwaite SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	OCS	8	3	3	9	9	BFD	128
20th	70534	Robert Forbes	**	Island Barn Reservoir SC	22	17	(DNC)	12	‑30	22	13	30	14	130
21st	71073	Dave Kent	Lowenna Lowry‑Kent	Gressford SC	18	14	21	‑29	17	25	‑26	20	15	130
22nd	69746	Hannah Blore	Hester Bonner	Gresford SC	25	23	(DNC)	17	24	‑28	24	14	12	139
23rd	63193	David Coady	Tilly Mitchell	Derwent Reservoir SC	23	16	24	14	‑26	21	20	22	‑26	140
24th	70840	Olivia Coady	Sophia Smith	Derwent Reservoir SC	(DNF)	(DNF)	20	24	18	19	21	26	17	145
25th	70818	Ali Mitchell	Harriet Mitchell	Derwent Reservoir SC	13	20	‑25	22	‑29	23	23	24	21	146
26th	70790	Huw Beverley‑Jones	Alex Beverley‑Jones	Restronguet SC	24	22	23	‑25	23	‑27	25	23	18	158
27th	70639	Neil Baker	Fionn Baker/Max Baker [Monday]	Derwent Reservoir SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	9	11	7	9	DNC	DNC	DNC	180
28th	71074	Julia West	Hazel West	Leigh and Lowton SC	20	(DNC)	22	21	25	(DNC)	19	27	DNC	182
29th	1007	Harrison Smalley	Gabriel Nichols	Chew Valley Lake SC	26	(DNC)	30	27	20	29	‑33	28	24	184
30th	70584	Pete Lindley	Tabitha Lindley	Carsington Water SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	28	26	16	19	16	201
31st	69667	Martin Egan	Coraline Beverley‑Jones	Restronguet SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	27	30	27	DNC	27	29	22	210
32nd	43066	Alasdair Rigby	‑	Derwent Reservoir SC	28	(DNC)	29	33	(DNC)	34	32	31	27	214
33rd	70995	Matt Rhodes	Zack Rhodes	Derwent Reservoir SC	27	(DNF)	32	‑35	33	33	34	33	28	220
34th	70608	Tim Smith	Phoebe/Zack Smith	Bassenthwaite SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNF	32	31	30	29	32	25	227
35th	53899	David Crabtree	‑	Derwent Reservoir SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	35	36	35	31	35	35	29	236
36th	70969	David Carpenter	‑	Sunderland YC	(DNS)	(DNC)	34	38	34	32	37	37	30	242
37th	70683	Roger Tait	Henry Tait	Ripon SC	17	(DNC)	15	23	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	247
38th	70805	Veronica Forbes	Maisie Jones	Island Barn Reservoir SC	29	24	33	39	38	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	259
39th	70685	Emma Mitchell	Amy Rhodes	Derwent Reservoir SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	28	34	32	DNC	31	DNC	DNC	269
40th	71037	Jethro Gebhard	Evelyn Gebhard	Derwent Reservoir SC	21	9	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	270
41st	37573	Matthew Coates	‑	Derwent Reservoir SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNF	DNC	36	35	38	36	DNC	289
42nd	70972	Ron Vass	‑	Reading SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	36	34	31	293
43rd	70201	Olivia Leonard	Phoebe Leonard	Bassenthwaite SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	31	37	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	308
44th	71007	Paul Nichols	Raphael Nichols	Chew Valley Lake SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	26	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNF	DNC	DNC	314
45th	70852	Peter Smalley	Anna Smalley	Chew Valley Lake SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	336
45th	65647	Matthew Richardson	‑	Derwent Reservoir SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	336
45th	70525	Scott Bonner	Erin Bonner	Gresford SC	(DNC)	(DNC)	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	DNC	336