A Stockport mum has been named the winner of Chester Races' best dressed competition, with her daughter also among the finalists. Amanda Turner, 53, from Woodley, beat her daughter Emma Perry, 34, to the top prize at Saturday's Powells Jewellery Ladies Day.
Mother and daughter both shortlisted
Amanda, an NHS administrator, and Emma, who is in the army and based in Chester, were separately shortlisted for the title. Amanda ultimately took the crown, much to her daughter's delight.
Amanda told the MEN she was stunned to win, saying: "It was so surreal, I thought you had to be a bit posh to win Chester Races!" She added: "We only decided the week before to go to the races, so for both of us to be named finalists was pretty amazing."
Winning outfit details
Amanda's winning ensemble was a full length green and white dress from Karen Millen, with a full underskirt added for glamour. She paired it with a large white hat from a boutique in Ireland, green shoes from Zara and lace gloves from Amazon.
She made her daughter Emma's green fascinator to match her outfit the week before the event. Amanda said: "Emma is in the army, based in Chester, and I'm also a nan to her little boy Hudson, aged 3. When we left he said his dinosaur matched my outfit!"
Judges' verdict
The judges included Love Island star Gemma Owen, who said: "We were looking for an outfit that looked purposefully put together, the shoes, the bag, the hat, and our first placed winner just matched perfectly."
Amanda admitted she ended up talking to Gemma about her footballer dad, Michael Owen. She said: "My husband is a big Man United fan so I said how he loved it when her dad scored some goal so she was laughing at me for that!"
Prize and title
Amanda won a Powells Jewellery Two Row Diamond Bracelet set in white gold worth over £6,500, a seven-night stay for two in Daios Cove, Crete, a £500 Cheshire Oaks voucher and a £500 beauty voucher courtesy of Pink Ladies. She has also been crowned the face of Chester Races Ladies Day for the next 12 months.
Over 18,000 people attended the event, where hundreds entered the competition but only eight were shortlisted. Harlea Hamilton came second and Julie Pemberton third. The winner was selected by Carly Powell from Powells Jewellery, Lyndsay Berry from Daios Cove and Gemma Owen. Lyndsay added: "We wanted someone that stood out, and Amanda absolutely fit that brief."
Amanda said: "Thank you so much, I'm so privileged and I can't believe it. I've had the most amazing day, I've met some amazing people. So many beautiful outfits, so I cannot believe it. This is like a dream come true." She added: "I can't believe I'm the face of Chester Races for the next year. I'm menopausal as well so I've not done too bad have I? it's good for ladies our age isn't it?"
There was a special reason behind both mum and daughter wearing green. Amanda said: "My mum is no longer with us, but she would always says green is God's colour because it symbolises growth. So it felt like she was watching over me. I've never won anything in my life before."
The racing season continues at Chester Racecourse in September with tickets still available for the Autumn Festival and Season Finale.
