Punchestown Festival off to a glorious start as Roscommon lady wins best dressed on opening day
Genevieve Ryan from Roscommon was chosen as the daily winner of the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition
Almost 18,000 attendees enjoyed a glorious start to the opening leg of the five-day festival at Punchestown Racecourse. The great and the good of National Hunt Racing from both sides of the Irish sea went head-to-head on the track, while social racegoers basked in the glorious sunshine and soaked up the electric atmosphere.
An exciting seven race card featuring no less than 3 grade ones, the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition and a whole new festival layout, ensured the opening day gave punters a great taste of what’s in store for the rest of the week at the County Kildare Venue.
Caption: The Bollinger Best Dressed winner Genevieve Ryan from Roscommon on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival Picture: Michael Chester
Genevieve Ryan from Roscommon enjoyed a superb first visit to the Punchestown Festival when she was chosen as the daily winner of the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition. Having really embraced the theme of the competition and shopped her own wardrobe first, Genevieve wowed the judges and attendees with her impeccable style and the story of how she curated her unique twist on the classic monochrome look.
Head judge Jess Colivet commented “Within 10 mins of arriving in the gate, she was clearly the one to beat! A perfect blend of sophistication and elegance, showcasing how a keen sense of fashion and attention to detail teamed with a sustainable ethos will always be a winner in the Bollinger style stakes at Punchestown!”
The shirt, a versatile piece purchased three years ago from MacBees in Killarney, recently underwent a facelift when Genevieve cleverly swapped the old buttons for new ones to refresh her look. Her polka dot skirt was a recent purchase from Coosy worked so well with her Jimmy Choo shoes, a Depop bargain she nabbed online for €180. The real wow factor was her hat, a handmade with love at home piece finished with her 3 year old daughter’s favourite teddy’s bow. She accessorised perfectly with rings from Chupi, earrings from Faizie Maizie and her cloud bag by Aoife Mullane was another Depop purchase.
The first race tomorrow (Wednesday) goes to post at 2.30pm the feature being the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup at 5.30pm.