Community
22 November, 2025
Visitors show the locals how to dress on race day
Visitors have taken out the top prizes in this year’s Fashions on the Field at the Bong Picnic Races.
Visitors have taken out the top prizes in this year’s Fashions on the Field at the Bong Picnic Races.
Sharon Martin from Canberra took out top prize in the women’s category with a dress that only arrived in the post late last week while Sam McGlone from Braidwood took out first in the men’s category with a western-inspired outfit.
Sharon told The Southern Wire that she had “perfectly planned” her race day outfit a month ago before checking the weather forecast and deciding it would be unsuitable.
She said she had looked at photos from previous Bong events to “get a vibe” before ordering two dresses – one size 10 and one size 12 – over the Internet.
She said the size 12 dress arrived first but was “way too big” while the size 10 dress arrived “at the last minute”.
Sharon said her win had come as a “big surprise” given the number of “beautiful people” at Friday’s race meeting.
“It’s never a given,” she said.
Sam McGlone, a cattle farmer from Braidwood, said he loved anything western.
He said he had always heard good things about the Bong Picnic Races but this was his first time at the race.
He told The Southern Wire that he would definitely be back.
Second place in the women’s category went to Elizabeth Kostecka.
She was also attending Bong Picnic Races for the first time and thought tartan would be appropriate for a race meeting in the Southern Highlands.
Jasper Murphy from Periboloi took out second prize in the men’s category with an outfit inspired by his none (grandmother).
He described it as ‘English country or Italian mafia’.
The winners in this year’s Fashions on the Field walked award with prizes thanks to the generosity of local sponsors.
· Keep reading The Southern Wire for more photos from Friday’s Bong Picnic Races.
Read More: Bowral, Southern Highlands