THE action was not restricted to the racetrack on AAMI Hobart Cup day with almost 100 well-clad entries in the Tasmanian leg of the Myer Fashions on the Field competition.  

The cheering from punters during the closing stages of the Hobart Cup that saw Victorian Hurdy Gurdy Man emerge triumphant was mirrored by a vocal crowd that gathered to watch the fashion event.

As the contestants were cheered on by friends and family members, there was plenty of debate amongst the audience as to who deserved the coveted title of best dressed in both female and male categories.

However it was the official judges, Myer Ambassador Kris Smith, Style Editor from the Hobart Mercury Amanda Ducker and 2011 Myer Fashions on the Field Winner Yasmin Maskiell, who had the final say.

After the field had been narrowed down in a series of heats that boasted a wide range of colour and styles, the winner was revealed and, as with the Hobart Cup, it was an interstate raider who took out the main prize.

Alex Hecker, 21, fromGeelong, was judged the winner.

Her prize included a nine day trip worth more than $10 000 spending money on a Myer shopping spree.

The big lure of the competition was that the winner won the opportunity to represent Tasmania at the Myer Fashions on the Field national final to be held at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup carnival.

Hecker, a university graduate with a passion for history and anthropology, is also an ambassador for Country Racing Victoria.

She was inHobartwith her Mum on a girl’s weekend and said she was particularly interested in exploring Tasmanian history and only entered the FOTF competition as an after thought.

She was especially pleased to win given the calibre of the girls who entered.

“There were 80 girls in there, and they were all amazing,” Hecker said.   

As part of her prize, Hecker can take along one person to watch her in the National Final of Myer Fashions on the Field at Flemington, and she did not hesitate in naming her Mum as the lucky recipient.

“I couldn’t take anyone else,” she said.

Hecker will return to the Hobart Cup in 2014 as a judge of the Myer Fashions on the Field, which is something she eagerly awaits.

“I can’t wait to come back. I genuinely really enjoy coming toTasmania,” Hecker said.

Myer Ambassador Kris Smith, originally from England, made his first appearance at the Hobart Cup as a guest judge.

Smith is a former Rugby League player turned model and television presenter who has co-hosted Foxtel’s ‘Football Superstar’ and appeared on shows such as ‘Celebrity Come Dine With Me’ and ‘Australia’s Next Top Model’, as well as Network Ten’s ‘Can of Worms’ and ‘The Project’.

The multi- talented media heartthrob provided the contestants with some extra motivation as they strived to gain his approval.

Words and Photographs by Shaun McManus.