Fashion

There was a thrilling and controversial finish to our recent "Best of the Best Dressed" competition, where we invited you to tell us who you thought was the most stylish of the racecourse's "Best Dressed" award winners.

Check out the brilliant gallery of images.

Approaching the line it seemed that Jennifer Hunter, representing the all powerful pre-race favourites Royal Ascot, had the race in the bag as she was clearly leading the public vote. 

However, a well timed late swoop from a lively outsider in the form of Pontefract, represented by Debbie Grogan, left judges scratching their heads as to exactly who had got their noses in front, with technology proving unable to separate the two.

Ascot sets the pace
All the early running was made by Ascot's Jennifer Hunter, from Reading. The 20-year-old medical student at Oxford University was chosen as the Face of Ascot at the Royal Meeting this year after being spotted on the opening day by scouts from Models 1, partners of the annual competition.

Jennifer is caught on camera by the BBC

Jennifer was invited back to attend the last day of the meeting to present the trophy to connections of the winning horse in the last race, the Queen Alexandra Stakes. Part of the prize was also a full makeover, when she was styled in a dress from the Linea range at House of Fraser and a hat specially designed to complement her outfit by local milliner, Ilda Di Vico who has a shop in the neighbouring village, Sunningdale.

The image lovetheraces.com users loved

She was unveiled live on the BBC as the winner of the Face of Ascot 2011 which was judged by Models 1 Director, Karen Diamond, who stated that “Jenny definitely has the potential to embark on a career in modelling”.

Jennifer, the third female winner of the competition said: “It was such a shock and an incredibly surreal experience to be chosen. It has been such a fun day today - I have never modelled before so this is very exciting.”

 Jennifers modelling career is now under way

For Jennifer, the future looks promising. She’s already enjoyed having professional portfolio shots taken at the Models 1 studios in London and will be as acting as an ambassador of the racecourse until she hands over the post to the new winner at Royal Ascot next year.

Pontefract swoops
However, it was not to be an easy ride for Ascot, as Pontefract's highly impressive runner Debbie Grogan, backed by Sharper Millinery, had other ideas.

Debbie, and Milliner Sally Harper-Kenn, between them launched an ingenious campaign to take the title- by requesting for friends and colleagues to pitch their votes at the very last moment, in order to take the crown from under the very noses of the early leaders.

 Debbie as one of the Pontefract Best Dressed winners

Indeed, their plan was so effective that it has now driven Pontefract clear of Ascot- but also left unsuspecting lovetheraces.com judges baffled as to who exactly was leading as the competition closed at mid day sharp!

However, it should also be clarified, these votes were far from the only votes cast for Debbie's outfit- her sensational attire earned her many admiring votes from lovetheraces.com fans well before her planned swoop took place.

Sally Harper-Kenn of Sharper Millinery, who was responsible for the quite magnificent headpiece worn by Debbie, christened "Pink and Blue Feather Fireworks", explains "We really thought we had won after we both launched a campaign with all of our friends, my students, on my blog, twitter and facebook".

Stewards are thought to have dismissed claims of 'over-use of the whip' from some of Sally's students.

"Debbie had selected her dress from Karen Millen and it was my challenge to match everything perfectly and to create the ‘wow’ factor for her" explains Sally. 

"Using a combination of specially selected coq feathers in magenta pink and cobalt blue we had the starting point for the headpiece. Debbie wanted her headpiece to be worn to the side of her head which was the biggest challenge, so I developed a system of weighting the headpiece so it became more balanced but still comfortable to wear.

Debbie wearing the Pink and Blue feather fireworks hat

"To the plumes of feathers, I added loops and bursts of distressed crin in pink and blue, sprinkles of Swarovski crystals, small flowers and an elegant birdcage veil giving the headpiece an impact from a distance but on closer inspection small details to be admired.

"The back is not to be forgotten either with attention to smaller details with crin and flowers to give viewers something to interest them all the way round!"

The controversy may well rage on, but in truth it would be harsh to choose an outright winner from the two magnificent fillies.

As such we have chosen to call the result of the Best of the Best Dressed Stakes 2010 a dead heat between Ascot and Pontefract....and next year lovetheraces.com promises to be better prepared for all eventualities!!!! (It was only meant as a bit of fun anyway)

Competition winner
Meanwhile, Cecelia Allen from the Isle of Wight was chosen as the random winner of the £200 prize for all users who voted in the competition. 

We "made her weekend" apparently. Always glad to be of service Cecilia! Enjoy.

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