Sporting stars to speak at Tauranga Melbourne Cup

Julia Edward (left) and Sophie MacKenzie with coach Gary Hay. Photo/file

Gold medal winning New Zealand rowers Sophie MacKenzie from Marlborough and Julia Edward from Rotorua will be guest speakers at a new Bay charity event for the Melbourne Cup, taking place at Tauranga Racecourse on November 3.

Edward and MacKenzie recently returned home after winning gold at the World Rowing Championships in France in September. It was their second world title in two years in the women's lightweight double scull event.

The Cambridge based rowers are off to the Rio Olympics next year.

As the event, as well as the traditional Melbourne Cup sweepstakes, punters can take part in Fashion in the Field, the Best Fascinator competition, bid in the live auction, listen to live entertainment from Kokomo and eat some of the delicious food on offer.

The event will be MCed by The Hits Bay of Plenty radio host Will Johnston.

Fashion in the Field will be judged by Bernadette Rowlands, owner of High Street Boutique, and Natalie Bridges, director of Blink PR and former editor of Simply You and Simply Living magazines and NZME magazines editor Annemarie Quill.

Proceeds will support Tauranga St John Ambulance, Tauranga SPCA and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Tickets are available by emailing jockmcintyre@vodafone.co.nz