Super model for Melbourne Cup day 

Source: Racing

International model Elizabeth Charleston is well known in New Zealand for her passion for fashion, horses and charity work - and as the Race Day Ambassador for the 2009 Cambridge Melbourne Cup Day she will be able to combine all three.

Charleston represented New Zealand in the global search for the 'Supermodel of the World' in 1992.

Elizabeth went on to work for the world's top fashion magazines, appearing as the face of Revlon and was voted into FHM's 50 Hottest Dates overseas.

Now residing in the Waikato, New Zealand's top 'plus size model' Elizabeth is represented by celebrity agent Sara Tetro and 62 Models & Talent in Auckland

A passionate horse rider, Elizabeth has competed from a very young age. Winning state and national titles with her horses overseas, Elizabeth has recently concentrated more on the administration side of horse riding after a riding accident.

Charleston is well known in New Zealand for her commitment to various charity causes. The CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust has been a charity that Elizabeth has devoted a lot of her time to, raising funds and awareness for the trust through various events - most recently the Waikato Showing Championships.

Cambridge Melbourne Cup Day is very pleased to have had Elizabeth accept the role of Race Day Ambassador as this is a very busy time of year for her.

Elizabeth is currently involved with assisting her parents with the running of Waikato's World (formerly the Waikato A&P Show) that is to be held 30th, 31st October & 1st November in Hamilton, various roles within the NZ Royal Agriculture Society and is preparing to travel with the New Zealand Showing Team to Australia in December for which she is the Team Manager.

"I'm very pleased to be asked to be the Cambridge Melbourne Cup Day Racing Ambassador.

The event will be making a donation to Cambridge Life Skills Institute and the CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust which are wonderful causes.

I hope we have great weather and that people join us at the Cambridge Raceway with their picnic baskets or upstairs in the hospitality VIP Lounge." Said Miss Charleston.

First Tuesday NZ Trust chairman Noel Power said it is a coup for the inaugural Cambridge Melbourne Cup Day event to have engaged Elizabeth Charleston as its first-ever ambassador.

"Elizabeth is a perfect choice as ambassador for our event in its first year," Power said "And we are delighted she has accepted our invitation to come aboard in this capacity. She will be a huge asset, a role model and will ensure the promotion of this community event is taken to even greater heights."

Race Day Ambassador Charleston has managed to convince Owen Glenn and Blandford Lodge to auction off a wonderful prize - a ticket for two to attend Ellerslie Races 1/1/2010 in the Blandford Lodge marquee to the luncheon with Owen and international supermodel Kylie Bax to watch the running of the Blandford Lodge Railway Stakes.

Another item up for auction is a share in a race horse and service fee to top stallion 'Keeper' that has been kindly donated by Sir Patrick Hogan and Cambridge Stud. The auction will take place at 3pm in the VIP Lounge at the Cambridge Melbourne Cup Day

Racing personality Bridgette O'Sullivan will be the Race Day compere and will commence with the official CMCD welcome at 12.00pm.

The Fashion in the Field competition will start at 12.00pm with judges circulating the race course on the lookout for people attending CMCD that are dressed to impress. Finalists will be selected before the Supreme Winner is announced later on in the afternoon.

The winner of the Fashion in the Field will win a return trip for two to the 2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup, VIP tickets to Flemington racecourse and will be a finalist in the VRC Fashion in the Field.

There will be a host of events to keep the community entertained throughout the day including a wedding hosted by Auckland's Classic Hits 97.4FM. The party will move from the Cambridge Raceway at 7pm and head into the town of Cambridge at the Onyx Restaurant for the Cambridge Melbourne Cup Day 'After Party'.

Charleston will be wearing hats in CMCD promotional photographs and on race day made by Waikato designer Monika Neuhauser.