Former Miss World Rosanna Davison to be one of races’ Best Dressed Lady competition judges

By Mary O’connor

Former Miss World Rosanna Davison will be one of the judges at the Best Dressed Lady Competition at the Galway Races on Thursday 2nd August.

Celebrating 10 years of sponsoring this prestigious event Anthony Ryan’s revealed this week that the judging panel will also include the fashion editor of the Irish Independent Bairbre Power and the editor of Social & Personal magazine PJ Gibbons. They will be joined by well known faces from the Galway fashion scene including Patricia McCrossan, the managing director of Galway Now and Mandy Maher of the Catwalk Model Agency.

This stakes are high for this year’s competition which boasts a prize fund of €20,000 with the Best Dressed Lady set to scoop a prize worth €12,000.

She will walk away with a one carat diamond solitaire pendant valued at €8,000, a shopping spree worth €1,500 at Anthony Ryan’s and €1000 cash. She will also receive a Lancôme presentation gift hamper worth more than €500 and a corporate hospitality package for Galway Races October Bank Holiday Racing Festival to include a dinner and champagne reception.

The prize for the winner of the ‘Best Hat’ is a €1,500 shopping spree at Anthony Ryan’s. The finalists will be presented with a special collection of Lancôme cosmetics compliments of University Pharmacy. Newcastle Road.

Celebrating more than 100 years in the fashion business, award winning department store Anthony Ryan’s Ltd is delighted to celebrate 10 years of sponsoring the Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat Competition.

“As Galway’s longest established independent department store we are proud to continue our association with the Galway Races as we mark our 10th year of sponsoring the Best Dressed Lady and Best Hat competition on Ladies Day,” said Anthony Ryan, managing director, Anthony Ryan’s Ltd.

“First past the post for style, flamboyance and extravagant ensembles Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed Competition has continued to eclipse all other events and attract participation levels unmatched anywhere else in the country,” he continued.

“Winners of the Anthony Ryan’s Best Dressed competition in previous years have impressed our judges with their stylish ensembles, appropriate for daytime summer racing. This year our distinguished panel of judges will be on a quest to find a lady with an innate sense of style who demonstrates the ability to put together a winning ensemble, complimenting the wearer and the occasion. Individuality, elegance and true style will be the order of the day.”

Women interested in taking part in this year’s event are asked to arrive from midday as the finalists will be chosen by 2.30pm. They do not have to enter the competition, scouts and judges will mingle among the crowd and will invite selected finalists to the judging marquee. This is located adjacent to the champagne tent in the race enclosure. The winning outfits will be announced at 3.30pm.

For further details check out Facebook www.facebook.com/ladiesday and on Twitter @ladiesdaygalway