Hayley Stephenson (left) was disqualified, awarding the title to Aleisha Williams. Photos / Dean Purcell
The supreme winner of the Fashion in the Field contest at the Ellerslie Boxing Day races was stripped of her title yesterday minutes after being selected.
The judges of the colourful sideshow to the races - which is in its 20th year - had declared Newmarket teenager Hayley
Stephenson the overall winner, but as quickly as the trends in fashion turn, they disqualified her minutes before she was to enter the winner's circle to claim her prize.
The top prize pack, which included a year's lease of a Mercedes-Benz and a year's supply of Deutz, went instead to Aleisha Williams.
Competition organisers ruled that at 17, Hayley was not eligible to take part, as participants needed to be at least 18 on Boxing Day.
But Hayley had won a category prize last year - when she was 16. Organisers spoke to her about her ineligibility then - but she still managed to enter this year.
After her victory was announced, Hayley told the Herald of her delight at winning with the gold-and-black ensemble she designed herself.
The winners were then ushered to a waiting room before the ceremony at the winner's circle, but emerged without her.
Hayley, who finished Diocesan School for Girls this year, told the Herald on the phone later that she didn't know she had to be 18.
She said one of the organisers started questioning her as she made her way to the winner's circle.
"One of the ladies said to me, 'So you're 19 now'. I said, 'No, I'm 17', and then she said, 'Oh no, we've got a serious problem here'.
"I cried a lot. Fair enough there was alcohol in the prize but they could have given that away to someone else or held it till February when I turn 18."
Auckland Racing Club marketing director Rachel Holland said Hayley had not complied with the rules.
"The rules clearly state that entrants have to be 18 years or over on Boxing Day."
Eventual winner Ms Williams expressed her condolences to Hayley. "I know that she'll be back next year to compete when she's 18."
