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Photographed at the official launch of the 7 day Listowel Harvest Racing Festival, from Sunday 13th to Saturday 19th of September, was model Aisling McDaid with fashion expert Orlagh Winters, judge of the Listowel Tidy Towns Group, in association with An Taisce, Best Presentation of an Authentic Vintage or Up-cycled / Re-styled outfit on the closing day of the Festival. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE biggest race meeting in Kerry is set to take place next month as the Listowel Harvest Racing Festival was officially launched at the course yesterday.
The seven days of racing starts on Sunday, September 13 and continues until Saturday, September 19 and includes the €175,000 Guinness Kerry National Handicap Steeplechase (Grade A) Chase on Wednesday 16th; the €55,000 Guinness Handicap Hurdle on Thursday 17th and the Listowel Races Supporters Club Sponsored Race ‘The Slan Abhaile” on Saturday 19th September.
Fashion lovers will be well catered for with Thursday, Friday and Saturday all hosting competitions for men, women and the environmentally conscious.
The fashion highlight of the week is the McElligott’s Honda Ladies Day on Friday, September 18, judged by model Alison Canavan and former TV apprentice, Brian Purcell with a total cash prize fund of €5,750.
This year there are three additional new categories, including the McElligott’s Honda Best Dressed Couple, the McElligott’s Honda Jazziest Headpiece and the Listowel Races Most Glamorous Young Racer.
The winner of the McElligott’s Honda Ladies Day will receive a cash prize of a cheque for €3,000. The first runner up will receive a cheque for €1,000 and second runner up a cheque for €500.
In addition, Listowel Races are sponsoring a prize of €500 for the most Glamorous Young Racer under 25 years of age, with a runner up prize of €250.
The winners of the McElligott’s Honda Jazziest Headpiece will receive €500 and the McElligott’s Honda Best Dressed Couple will win a weekend for two in Carton House.
Almost 28,000 people attended last year’s Ladies Day and organisers are expecting even bigger crowds this year – so get to the course early !
Sunday, September 13 with the Kerry Group Family Day. This year, the Listowel Racing Committee have expanded the Family Day programme to include performers, stilt walkers, fire eaters and face painters – all for free and remember children under 12 have free admission to the race course, when accompanied by an adult.
This year, the Lyons of East River Best Dressed Man is on Thursday, September 17 with a prize of €1,000 to be donated to the winner’s charity of choice and the Listowel Tidy Towns Group, in association with An Taisce, Best Presentation of an Up-cycled / Re-styled or Authentic Vintage outfit is on Saturday, September 19.
This alternative and fun fashion event is looking to highlight the potential of Waste Minimisation, in the imaginative re-use and up-cycling or re-styling of items previously discarded.
The judges, well known fashionista and TraleeToday.ie columnist Orlagh Winters and Susan Vickers from An Taisce will shortlist 5 male and 5 female finalists and the overall winner in each category will receive €200 cash prize.
The Ladies prize will be sponsored by Listowel Race Company and McCarthy Brokers of Listowel will sponsor the winning male. The 1st runners up will each receive a Clarins Hamper worth €100, kindly sponsored by Oonagh of Broderick’s Pharmacy and all remaining 6 finalists will receive an attractive “Goodie Bag” donated by the local businesses in Listowel Town.
Admission is €20 each day / OAP / Students: €12 and children under 12 have free admission to the race course, when accompanied by an adult.
For more information on Listowel Races contact 068 21144 / 21172 or visit www.listowelraces.ie
