Entertainment
20 September, 2024
Fashions drew crowds
AFTER three successful days of competitive racing and hotly contested fashions last weekend, the Cairns Amateurs Carnival has officially wrapped up its 66th iteration with over 5000 attendees at Cannon Park.
Defying the forecasts, the carnival was blessed with great weather over the three days (September 12-14), great races and stunning fashion, drawing over 100 competitors for the fashions on the field and for a share in an almost $20,000 prize cache across 10 judging categories.
This year, Brittney Tamou from Townsville nailed the ‘tropical elegance’ brief to secure the ultimate sash for her stunning springtime ensemble, while Tablelands jockey Lacey Morrison and her horse Cashin’ Chex took home the Cairns Amateurs Cup and $87,000.
Steering committee member Rebecca Conlan said Amateurs had something to offer everyone.
“We were very lucky because we had great weather,” she said.
“On Thursday we successfully kicked off the carnival with Gordon’s Pink Gin high tea on the Esplanade and this was a sold-out event, that’s approximately 480 people in attendance.
“Lady of the day was Kate Konrad and best millinery was Verelle O’Shanesy which was very hotly contested, and it really set the platform for the rest of the Carnival with the quality of fashions. Then we had the welcome party at the Pullman for an evening under the stars with almost 100 attendees and then we kicked off day one of the races on Friday and the first fashions on the field categories where Verelle O’Shanesy was the winner in the gold class for women over 50, the open ladies winner was Kymberlee Cockrem and the local ladies winner was Maria Barry.
“On the Friday, all local horses won every single race. So it was great. All the money stayed locally.
“We had couples on the Saturday, won again by some great local fashionistas. The open men’s was won by Tim Marsh, who is a regular competitor up here, but he also competes down south, open ladies classic racewear winner was Brittney Tamou and the open ladies contemporary racewear winner was Dannielle Atkinson.”
Ms Conlan said that the event had been a success for the two new committees and since the takeover by the Cairns Jockey Club.
“The general admission crowd was probably down slightly, likely due to the weather, but the corporate areas and the ticketed areas were really well represented,” she said.
“This was our first year as Cairns Jockey Club and the steering committee, and we felt that the people of Cairns came out to preserve the 66-year history.
“There was something for everybody, whether it was the high tea, the fashion, the gala ball, the fireworks on the Esplanade or the racing people joined in to meet wonderful people and be in community.”
