Edgar R. Batte
3 September 2007
Kampala — Something special about the goat race was the glamour and fashion display by revellers. Trendy hats, dresses and wacky hairstyles dotted the venue and turned it extremely colourful. The organisers knew better, for after the sixth race, revellers were recognised for their unique looks
It was finally the time of the year when folks get reason to kick off their shoes and say hurray to their favourite goats. Yes goats! We are talking about the Royal Ascot Goat Race.
Like is the tradition, enthusiastic revellers on Saturday thronged Speke Resort Munyonyo for a fun-packed day. There were eight spirited goat races to watch. Fans cheered on as the labelled goats struggled to out-compete one another on the tracks. Some goats with interesting names like One Minute Wonder, Maribu Stork, Kandahar, Flat Tyre, Basmati, Sausage King, Happy Boy, Kiwani Golpper and Jack attracted wild applause from fans during the race.
The event sponsored by The Crane Bank Classic, The Bolton Bolt and The Casino Simba Gold Cup was meant to raise funds for charities and voluntary organisations in Uganda. The winners included Kampala Kids League, Raps, Ernst & Young, Pieces of 8, The Muhindis, Graphics Systems and Dipak Patel. This year, Katalemwa Cheshire Home, will be the beneficiary.
It day was action-packed, what with the blaring music, hospitality tents that treated revellers to free drinks, lunch and a variety of other entertainments. And outside the tents were children engaging in the bouncy castles by camouflaging , clowning, face painting and paintball shooting range.
It was also a great platform to network as the event brings together some of the top names in the corporate world. This is one of the events where you get to rub shoulders with the affluent of the society including property mogul Sudhir Ruparelia, Roofings Uganda Ltd Sikander Lalani and Godfrey Kirumira, among others.
Something special about the Saturday's goat race was the glamour and fashion display by revellers at the venue. Trendy hats, dresses and hairstyles dotted the place and turned it extremely colourful. The event organisers knew better for after the sixth race, a number of revellers where recognised for their unique appearances. For example, Jenny Palmer won a prize of a dinner for two at the Lake Restaurant, Serena Hotel for looking elegant.
Nasser Mukalazi, clad in a red suit, white shirt, shades plus a black matching hat, was chosen as the Best Dressed man, and for this, he will spend two nights at Sesse Island Beach Hotel in company of four people.
Rita Kirabo's creatively designed busuti in the national colour of black yellow an red that matched with her red-rimmed dark shades won her a trip and a night's stay at Bulago Island with two people of her choice. Tom Burley won a prize of Quad Bike Riding for two people, courtesy of All Terrain Adventures.
Mr and Mrs Lamim Kenjar, wearing a kitenge outfit, were selected as the Best Dressed Couple and they won a prize of Two night's away from home at Rain Forest Lodge in Mabira Forest, courtesy of Geo Lodges. But not everyone was keen on winning a fashion prize. Some revellers were comfortable wearing fitting hipster jeans and hats.
There were prizes for Best Dressed Man, Best Dressed Woman, Best Dressed Child and Best Hat. And there were the winning goats. To crown the event, fireworks lit up the skies at 7p.m.
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