Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is delighted to announce the inaugural Longines Irish Champions Weekend Young Designer Award. Longines Irish Champions Weekend is synonymous with style, and this year to celebrate Irish fashion and to shine a light on aspiring young designers across the country, the event is hosting a competition for young designers where finalists will showcase their design as part of the weekend. The winner will receive a prize to the value of €10,000 which includes a Longines timepiece, a profiling piece with our media partner as well as a €1,000 cash prize fund. 

Budding designers are asked to submit a sketch design that portrays ‘Contemporary Race Day Elegance’ and entries will be shortlisted by a panel of expert judges, headed up by stylist Courtney Smith. The judges will select three finalists and these designers will be asked to create a sample of their design and showcase it at Longines Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh on 12^th September 2021. 

Longines Irish Champions Weekend is one of the leading international Flat racing festivals with the best horses, jockeys and trainers coming together every year. Returning for its eighth year, Longines Irish Champions Weekend will be held across two days at two of Ireland’s leading racecourses – Leopardstown on Saturday 11^th September and The Curragh on Sunday 12^th September.

Aileen Goatley, Marketing Manager of Horse Racing Ireland commented: “Sport, fashion and entertainment are at the heart of Longines Irish Champions Weekend and we are thrilled to support Irish designers and offer them a chance to showcase their work on the world stage. We know there is so much talent in Ireland and are really looking forward to seeing the design submissions come to life and announcing the first winner of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend Young Designer Award”

Courtney Smith commented: As a former fashion student, I am honoured to be involved with the Longines Irish Champions Weekend Young Designer Award. I understand first-hand how important awards like this can be in a young designer’s career and I am so excited to see what our young designers submit. It’s been a while since I have had the opportunity to dress up so I’m also really looking forward to attending Longines Irish Champions Weekend. This year’s two-day event promises to be a fantastic weekend of prestigious racing and great style!”

To enter Longines Irish Champions Weekend Young Designer Award please submit your sketches to [email protected] by 12pm on 12^th August.

 For full competition criteria, more information please visit: https://www.irishchampionsweekend.ie/plan-your-weekend/young-designer-award(1)/

 Terms and Conditions apply.

For more information please contact:

Maeve O’Brien – [email protected] / 087 984 5598

Greta Murphy – [email protected] /   086 168 9482                   

Budding designers are asked to submit a sketch design that portrays ‘Contemporary Race Day Elegance’ and entries will be shortlisted by a panel of expert judges, headed up by stylist Courtney Smith. The judges will select three finalists and these designers will be asked to create a sample of their design and showcase it at Longines Irish Champions Weekend at the Curragh on 12^th September 2021.