"Disturbing" was how a west Cork farmer friend described the quarter-acre of well-dressed women and the occasional man who graced the Band Lawn of the RDS yesterday for the Ladies Day competition, writes Seán MacConnellat the RDS
The Ladies Day competition attracted more than 400 entrants and scores of their supporters to the elegant grounds where the well-groomed horses were forced to take second stage away from the female finery.
The winner was Dublin-based doctor of psychiatry, Karen O'Connor, from Ardmore, Co Waterford, who told an enthusiastic press pack that she was delighted with her win.
Karen, who wore a navy dress and a matching hat, won a €10,000 prize which will see her travel to the French Alps for two days to be pampered by Evian, the sponsors of the event. She will then be whisked off to Paris with a friend to experience the luxury of the famous Ritz Hotel in the centre of that great city.
The "Best in Pink" award went to a Breton lady, Virginia Mallon, who now lives in Kells, Co Meath. Her pink outfit won her the 1920s style Longines "BelleArti" watch, which according to my west Cork friend, was "worth the price of a good foal".
The men were best represented by Raymond Gill-Bourne from Millstreet, Co Cork. He won a voucher for a Louis Copeland suit.
There was scarcely room for any hats at the show yesterday, but the one that caught the judges' eyes was worn by Lisa Kennedy from Dublin. She walked away with a €150 voucher for the "Most Creative Hat" at the show.
Away from the white heat of the best dressed competition, the jumping and showing continued apace and preparations continued for the big event, the Aga Khan Trophy, which will be held this afternoon.
President Mary McAleese will be at the grounds for the international competition which will see Ireland try to redeem national pride and win the trophy.
There was nothing disturbing about the weather yesterday and the sun, although sometimes sullen, remained out for most of the day.