Dedicated follower of fashion crowned
A MOSGIEL woman rose above losing everything in a house fire to be crowned the fashion favourite at Wingatui yesterday.
It was a day of bee swarms and good behaviour at the racecourse’s Melbourne Cup day meet yesterday.
Fashions in the Fields winner Lisa Lamb clinched the competition with a black lacy dress she bought weeks earlier and a visor which cost about $15 to make.
‘‘We had a house fire earlier this year. I usually have 30 or so dresses to choose from, which we lost this year, so my husband was good enough to let me go on a bit of a shopping spree.
‘‘This is actually a bridesmaid’s gown I think because I bought it off the internet from a bridal shop.’’
Flames gutted the Chain Hills Rd home in February after an electrical fault.
‘‘My son and I got out of the house OK, but we lost everything we own.
‘‘Now I’m winning Fashions in the Fields with something I bought a couple of weeks ago.’’
The family was renting and would then live in a caravan until their new house was built.
She likely had about 2% of the clothes she owned previously, she said.
‘‘But I’m working on it.’’ Before the semifinals of the event a swarm of bees flew into the crowd, making punters duck and scream.
Sergeant Kevin Davidson, of Mosgiel, said it was a common natural occurrence.
The crowd was both one of the smallest and bestbehaved police had seen, he said.
‘‘We’re very, very happy. It’s the first time in seven years they’ve had good weather, so that just sets the mark I think, people’s attitudes change.’’
Otago Racing Club general manager Rebecca Adlam said it was a ‘‘fantastic day’’.
‘‘Numbers at the start of the day were a wee bit down on last year, but we’ve had a fantastic walkup crowd.’’
The sun shone and behaviour was great, she said.
‘‘It is a flagship event for the club.’’