Magic Millinery runner-up Sheena Langley and winner Hayley McKean. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
A fresh theme was just what was needed at the 151st Cooktown Races when thousands of punters and fashionistas took to the Turf Club grounds for a final dry season hurrah.
Cooktown saw some of its biggest Seaview Fashions on the Field categories at the annual races on 9 November, themed Bold Summer and inviting racegoers to dress in their boldest and brightest for a chance at a sash.
Eye-catching headwear, of course, is arguably the most important component of a race day outfit, and the competitors did not disappoint.
In the Magic Millinery category, Hayley McKean won the hearts of judges Kate Fraser, Sally Eales and Murray Penny with her handmade fascinator, while Sheena Langley took runner-up with her hand stitched offering.
“I was looking and I couldn’t find anything to match it exactly, because it is such a unique dress, so I wanted to make something that would mimic the flowers on my dress,” Ms McKean said.
“It was made out of wire and ribbons, so it took me a good three weekends, but we got there.
“Winning with my own creation was insane, because I spent so much time on it, and I was worried that it was a lot or too big, but I’m very grateful.”
Two new categories, the Local Lady and Local Gent, gave Cooktown’s best-dressed a shining moment for themselves.
Local Gent and Local Lady winners Rhys Cunningham and Sarah Frew. Photo: Cape York Weekly.
In striking citrus colours, Sarah Frew snagged the purple sash as Local Lady, while Rhys Cunningham was named Local Gent in cool beige.
“When I read ‘bold summer’, I just wanted something really bright and colourful, and I imagined tropical fruits,” Ms Frew said.
“The dress has little dragon fruit and the sorts of fruit we get in Cooktown, so that was my inspiration.
“I think the [Local Lady and Local Gent] is definitely a good category to have. It gives everybody a chance, and it’s a good way to step into Fashions on the Field if you want to go out to other races.”
The anticipation was high as the three judges took several minutes to come to a decision across the 10 categories.
Judge and Seaview owner Kate Fraser said this year had some of the biggest categories she had ever seen during her three-decade involvement with the Cooktown Races, with the popular 20-49 yrs Ladies category featuring a whopping 24 contestants, and filling the truck stage from end to end.
“I’ve attended race meetings in Flemington, Royal Randwick, many times in Cairns, and Cooktown, and this was by far one of the most outstanding Fashions on the Field event I have ever seen,” she said.
“The only challenge I found this year being associated with The Seaview Fashions on the Field was how difficult it was to be a judge — the calibre of the entries was just so high this year.
“It was incredibly challenging in several of the categories to split the top five or six to only select a first and a second. Sally, Murray and I felt so privileged to be judging this outstanding field of fashion forward competitors.”
