Residents and visitors sought shelter where they could and made the most of the relaxed picnic atmosphere, to enjoy the eight-race program at the Warrnambool racecourse. 

A large crowd attended the family day which catered for children with organised activities including sack races, tug of war, limbo, cricket, basketball, volleyball and more. The chair-o-plane was popular and the long line-up for the inflatable children’s slide showed both young and old punters were enjoying all that was on offer. 

Woodford Racing Club fashions on the field ambassador Eileen Maher said the fashion entries were excellent and dresses and two-piece outfits in floral, lace and ever-popular black and white were some of the trends among the female competitors. 

“It showed a great understanding of the trends that are in vogue at the moment.

“All of the contestants were dressed suitably for the day. They were certainly all very classy entrants,” she said.

Fashions on the field winner Sharon Wilson, from Warrnambool, made her dress and hat the day before the races. Her white dress featured a neutral and black floral design and was accompanied by one of her own custom-made Sharon Wilson Millinery designs.

“I love fashions, I like making things and I suppose this is a real opportunity to make things and wear them,” Mrs Wilson said. 

“There’s not many places you can wear a hat to. 

“I love wearing hats.” 

Her millinery skills were appreciated by Warrnambool’s Renee Roberts, who wore one of her creations to win best hat.

Mrs Roberts was thrilled by her first fashions on the field win, her stylish headwear complementing a black and white dress from Warrnambool retailer Oranges and Lemons.

“I had a different dress and had the hat made, and then I changed the dress because I loved the hat so much. 

“I do love black and white. It’s just a classic and it’s something you can feel good in,” Mrs Roberts said. 

Fashions on the field runner-up was Maria McDonnell from Ireland, who is in the south-west visiting her partner Connor who is working on a local farm. 

“I brought it (the dress) over because we had planned on coming to the races.

“I’ve had a lovely day and the weather’s just been perfect,” Ms McDonnell said.