Carnival Spirit At Addington Raceway

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30287, 13 November 1963, Page 2

Carnival Spirit At Addington Raceway

Colourful fashions, warm sunshine, roses in bloom, masses of people, a view of the racing for all of them and an exciting finish to the New Zealand Trotting Cup contributed to the festive spirit at the Addington raceway yesterday. It was as if summer and Carnival Week had got away in step from an imaginary starting barrier.

The new public grandstand, which accommodates up to 6000, two capacious members’ stands, and many banked-up terraces, has eliminated the old scramble for a vantage point after making a bet. Even in a crowd as big as yesterday’s, it would be sheer bad luck if a latecomer’s vision had been blocked by a wide hat or a broad man.

Because it was a week day, hundred* of housewives had sent their children off to school with a packed lunch before setting out themselves to enjoy a relaxed day with their friends, to have a few bets, and to see and to be seen in summer fashions. It seemed the majority had chosen navy, junior navy, royal blue or sapphire, teamed with a touch of white. These were the colours which stood out on the green lawns and on the packed stands. Mingled with the blues were black ensemble* worn with big hats, outfits in all the beige tones, willow-tip green and tropical reds. Fabric Hats Some of the smartest hats in the latest styles at the raceway were made of the same fabric as a silk frock, a linen suit or nylon coat. Cartwheel and sombrero hats came out with confidence. Noticeable were the white cartwheel of stiffened lace, teamed with a slim-line Tahitian red linen suit, and

a deep sombrero of black shantung, worn at the “gaucho" angle with a sleek white shantung shift dress and black accessories. The happiest woman on the course would be Mrs A. D. Dean, of Auckland, owner of the cup winner. Cardigan Bay. But few women would have envied her the task of speaking through the microphone in the birdcage to acknowledge the trophy. Mrs Dean, however, rose to the occasion with dignity and graciousness in a speech that won the hearts of the huge crowd. Mrs Dean wore a black nylon sheath dress appliqued at the low neckline in black lace, a full-length coat and bubble-crowned hat of the same filmy material. Mrs J. K. Davidson, wife of the club president, presented the cup to Mrs Dean wearing a junior navy linen suit edged round the collar, sleeves and pockets with white finely spotted in blue. Her felt slouch hat had a junior navy crown and white

brim, boldly spotted in the same shade of blue. Mrs R. W. Saunders, wife of the vice-president, wore a trim navy silk suit and large cartwheel hat of matching silk. Officials’ wives and guests invited to the women’s box on the stewards' stand included the following:—Mesdames C. S. Thomas, W. M. Ollivier, C. E. Hoy, G. W. Blaxall, R. E. Booker, C. E. Evans, D. McCormick, E. T. McDermott, H. D. Matson, G. W. A. Green, L. A. Bennett, L. S. Smart, W. F. Stark. G. H. Grigg, S. D. Shubart. A. Vine, R. A. Whyte, H. E. Nicholls, A. H. Finnie and J. Reeves.