mmg.com.au

Sunday’s Italian Plate Fashions on the Field attracted keen interest with ladies, gents and youngsters keen to get their hands on the great prizes on offer, and there were a couple of surprises.

Shepparton’s Ashleigh Barri, 26, decided her outfit on the morning of the race day and walked away with first prize, while Tatura’s Erin Lipshut, 27, was runner-up.

Miss Barri wore a Cue dress and her hat was from Shop 221 in Shepparton.

‘‘This was my first year in the fashions and moving back to the country it’s been fun to be able to do a few (fashions of the field) locally,’’ Miss Barri said.

With plenty of style and grace in the Goulburn Valley, competition for the prizes was hot, however this year a special guest entrant made the contest even tougher – thanks to Collins Booksellers Shepparton.

As well as the standard ladies, mens, pair and millinery sections, fashions on the field are well known for their Young Racegoer category and on Sunday the Tatura and Shepparton Racing Club welcomed a very special entrant, Olivia the Piglet.

And there was a big crowd on hand to see special guest judge, Grug, join Tania (Ella Bache) and Alex (CRV ambassador) select the most fashionable Young Racegoer after the first race.

Sam Miranda, Ella Bache Shepparton and Degani Bakery Café were the primary sponsors of this year’s fashions on the field and were joined by other local businesses in supplying a fantastic array of prizes for the competition.

Tatura and Shepparton Racing Club chief executive officer Desiree Pettit said Country Racing Victoria has also relaunched their ‘Country’s Best Dressed’ competition for summer and autumn.

She said more than $10000 in prizes were up for grabs between now and June and all entrants had to do at Tatura was pose in front of the CRD banner on course and share the photo on the CRD Facebook page.