50 of the country’s hottest mirror prospects descended on Mullingar Sailing Club on Saturday accompanied by the usual entourage of parents/pit crew/personal coaches, whatever you want to call them! There were some familiar faces from the top of the rankings these past few seasons and the anticipation was high as we waited to see how well they would make the transition into the driver’s seat.

The bronze fleet event is only in it’s second year, but it was great to see the 25 boats at an event that looks set to become an institution. Mullingar is like a miniature version of everything that is right about the mirror circuit, perhaps not the most glamorous, but unbelievably warm and friendly, and with a host of talented sailors.

The start of the first race was delayed slightly, because of some of the sailors working off the infamous “mirror time”, but as it turned out, the initial start had to be postponed due to a lack of wind. Soon, however, a gentle breeze set in, only to die away again and shift 45 degrees to the left after half a lap. The pack was well and truly shuffled, but the race committee held out for the promised wind, and eventually it came, although a shortened course still had to be used. Barry Armstrong, who had led for most of the race, obviously having learned his light weather skills from formed helm Gerard Healy, was just overtaken on the final stretch by Beth Armstrong, younger sister of the successful Sheila.

Áine Scott and crew Shane Egan made the most of the confusion to claim a brilliant third place, and were also the first novices to cross the line. Cian Hickey made sure we hadn’t forgotten about him by finishing in fourth, sailing Doire Shiels’ old boat. Fifth place was another ex-crew, Callum McLoughlin.

More wind in the second race was followed by another left shift, and some speedy mark moving was needed as a C flag was desperately dug out of a locker. Jack Hickey, a former international crew with Catherine Hilliard, led the race for just over a lap until he headed for the wrong mark, which cost him his massive lead, although he did hang on for second place. The winner was again Beth Armstrong. Don McCormack actually earned his mention this time, sailing a great race to finish third. Callum McLoughlin was fourth, and Cian Hickey finished fifth.

The wind has built for the third race and it was now that the attrition started to set in. Crew issues forced Jack Hickey in, just after he had started to find his form, Don McCormack suffered a broken rudder and Barry Armstrong was holed.  Some of the less experienced sailors were also having some trouble with the breeze, and decided to sail in. Beth, meanwhile, showed some mesmerising sailing as she almost literally flew to a two-leg victory.

In second place were local heroes Colm Hackett and John Buckley, who held off a challenge from another local combination in Ben Hogan and Joshua McCormick. These two pairings were the pick of the Mullingar crop, but also impressive, and with less helpful machinery below them, were Kevin Hackett, James Duggan, and especially Úna Shaw.

Fourth place was Mr. Consistency, Cian Hickey, and fifth the equally reliable Callum McLoughlin. With three bullets under her belt it was always going to be hard to catch Beth, but a poor start in race 4 gave hope to some of the challengers. Johnny Hill from Royal North, and his crew, cousin Adam Hill, showed great composure in freshening winds to record their first victory. Second place was Don McCormack, who determinedly robbed Barry Armstrong’s rudder so he could continue racing. Third place was a real ex-crew, Richard Meeke, who crewed for me back in 2003. Despite an uncooperative boat, Richard and crew Francis McNamara held off competition from another of my ex crews, my brother Andrew Collings. Andrew carried on my own noble tradition of finding new and original ways of breaking a spinnaker, this time running the halyard between the gaff and the mast! Beth, meanwhile, had scrapped her way back up to 5th.

There were plenty of retirees by this stage, but the quality was still high as the sailors adapted to the conditions. Johnny Hill capped his event with another victory, and with second placed Beth, showed off the benefits of the Bermudan rig. Third place was Don McCormack, finishing consistently to round off a good event.  Fourth was the fast yet erratic Colm Hackett, who you can’t help but feel will improve drastically with a bit of experience. Fifth was Andrew Collings with crew Philip Michalski, who paid Richard Meeke back for the previous race by just pipping him across the line.

Final standings saw Beth Armstrong and Hannah Cronin carrying on family traditions with a nearly flawless event. Second was the persistent Don McCormack, with his experienced crew Ciara Armstrong. Third overall, and first in the novice fleet, were Johnny and Adam Hill, providing the Northern connection. Fourth overall, and third bronze, was Cian Hickey and John Rooney, who faded towards the end of what was nonetheless a very dogged performance.

Second in the novice fleet was 8th overall Richard Meek and crew Francis McNamara. Although he has a (completely deserved) reputation for being lazy, Richard is one of the most talented sailors to emerge from the DMYC in recent years.

Third place in the novice fleet and 9th overall was David McGwynne and his crew Andrew Davis. A string of sixth places meant David had avoided getting into this report so far, but it would be unfair not to mention how fast he sailed in his first mirror event.

However, the most impressive part of the day was the sea of smiling faces at the barbecue afterwards, most of whom said they would definitely be back next year. However, judging by the speed on show, not many will still have bronze fleet status by then. The future is bright!