Northern Ireland

Co Armagh student drives away with style award on ladies day at Aintree

Robyn-May Quinn (19) from Co Armagh won the annual Style Contest at Aintree
Robyn-May Quinn (19) from Co Armagh won the annual Style Contest at Aintree Robyn-May Quinn (19) from Co Armagh won the annual Style Contest at Aintree

A student from Co Armagh was celebrating yesterday after winning the annual style contest on ladies day at the Grand National festival at Aintree.

But the 19-year-old said she would have to ask her father's permission before she was allowed to drive the prize - a Range Rover Evoque.

Robyn-May wore a beige dress with a floral design and a beaded headband with a leaf design.

She said: "I picked the dress pretty quickly and I got the hat designed for the dress."

Miss Quinn said she was at the races with her family and friends and they had all entered the style contest together "for the craic".

Hat and headpiece maker Aimee Farrell Designs, from Camlough in Co Armagh, was also celebrating last night, saying: "My amazing client Robyn-May just went & gone and won Aintree Racecourse best dressed lady!!! Chuffed would be an understatement!"

Punters had accessorised with umbrellas and ponchos for a damp second day of the famous race meet in Merseyside.

Among the celebrities out for the occasion, which draws up to 50,000 people, were comedian Jason Manford, former Liverpool FC footballers Jamie Carragher and Kenny Dalglish and reality TV stars from Love Island and the Real Housewives Of Cheshire.

The Grand National race itself takes place at 5.15pm today, with the soft ground having forced the withdrawal of several horses from the handicap chase.