High Fashion And Family Fun At Ellerslie’s New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival
Celebrating 20 Years of Fashion in the Field
Auckland’s institution, the Boxing Day Races, kicks off the New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival at Ellerslie in style, with a celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the consecutive running of Fashion in the Field competition.
Boxing Day means Glamour and Glory.
The day features a retrospective of the glitz and glamour from the past 20 years of the Fashions in the Field, including past winners, winning designers, and those who have helped make the iconic event what it is today.
The 2007 Deutz Fashions in the Field competition includes six best dressed prize categories; the Canvas Magazine Ladies Racewear, Suit Yourself Men’s Racewear, Alannah
Hill Under 25, Graeme Thomson Ascot Lady, Cyber-shot Avant-garde and Blue Lagoon Cruise Fiji Millinery. The winners from
each category will then be eligible to win the Deutz Supreme Award.
The winner of the Deutz Supreme Award will take home an incredible prize pack and gain automatic entry into racing’s premiere fashion event, the Mercedes
Prix de Fashion held during Auckland Cup Week in March 2008. All category winners, excluding Avant-garde, will gain
entry into the Mercedes Prix de Fashion as well.
The judging panel includes former model and fashion icon, Di Goldsworthy, Front Row Manager at Air New Zealand Fashion
Week, Ricardo Simich, Melbourne Cup Carnival’s 2007 Fashions in the Field winner and last year’s Mercedes Prix de
Fashion winner, Lorraine Cookson, and fashion designer Cybele Wiren.
Boxing Day’s on track action will provide plenty of excitement, with star horse Xcellent looking continue his winning
form in the Zabeel Classic. Other favourites Sir Slick and Alamosa will be racing throughout the day, competing for over
$700,000.00 in prize money.
Highlights for Boxing Day include:
Presentation of the Deutz Fashions in the Field Supreme Award.
Designer, Richard Holden showcasing his winning design from the inaugural 1988 Fashion in the Field Competition.
Designer Minh Ta with six of her winning designs from the past 20 years.
Ellerslie Ambassador Bridgette O’Sullivan, together with her 1993 winning outfit.
20th Anniversary Parade of Fashions in the Field, featuring designs, designers and winners.
The Zabeel Classic and the Great Northern Guineas.
The Classic Hits Mad Hatters Tea Party in the Ellerslie Infield, come along in a crazy hat to win great prizes.
The Lindauer Powder Room where ladies can enjoy a glass of Lindauer Special Reserve and some pampering from the Smashbox
Cosmetics makeup artists.
New Year’s Day – A day for all the family.
New Year’s Day is a perfect opportunity to relax with family and friends over a traditional kiwi BBQ on the BBQ Lawn.
For the kids there’s face painting, bouncy castles and fun for all to enjoy. This year, the Radio Sport 100m ‘Mascot
Dash for Cash’ returns, with mascots competing to be the fastest in the land and win prizes for their chosen charities.
First time runners, Toddles the Penguin and Willie the Weka, will compete against Life Education’s “Harold the Giraffe”,
Diabetes New Zealand’ Barnaby Bee, NZ Breakers “Cheeky Kea”, and last year’s winner, Mr LJ Hooker Bear. After the race,
the mascots will visit the Ellerslie Infield to meet their adoring fans.
New Year’s Day offers an exciting day of racing with top jockeys and horses competing for over $850,000 in prize money.
The $200,000 Don Ha City of Auckland Cup offers a special bonus to the first three place-getters guaranteeing themselves
a start in the iconic $700,000 Auckland Cup, run during Auckland Cup Week in March.
From the premier location of Cuvee, to the relaxed party atmosphere of the alfresco party lawn, Christmas Carnival can
be enjoyed by the whole family. More than 35,000 people are expected to enjoy summer racing’s true spectacle, with $1.7
million on offer over the three days of the Carnival (26th, 29th December 2007, 1st January 2008). The party doesn’t end
when the racing is over; the Birdcage Bash carries on into the night with Ellerslie’s resident DJ “Jandalman” providing the entertainment.
This year a change to Ellerslie’s liquor licensing means BYO alcohol will only be permitted in the Ellerslie Infield
area. This change brings Ellerslie in line with contemporary licensing laws. Auckland Racing Club is happy to continue
providing the infield BYO area for people to enjoy, and will provide extra outlets for alcoholic refreshments throughout
other non-BYO areas.
ENDS