Highway couple mark 30th Durban July in style
Highway couple Mike and Winnie Wheeler celebrated their 30th Hollywoodbets Durban July appearance, making a fashion statement in this year's theme, Country Allure.
THE Highway’s fashionable couple, Mike and Winnie Wheeler, attended their 30th Durban July on Saturday at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse.
The Wheeler couple again lived up to the occasion, making a stylish appearance that perfectly captured the theme of the day, Country Allure.
The main race was won by three-year-old thoroughbred, Note To Self, who claimed victory at the gallops.
“This is the 130th running of the Hollywoodbets Durban July and I am thrilled that, at the age of 83 years, it will be the 30th year of my association with the Durban July fashion scene,” said an ecstatic Wheeler.
The Assagay resident said he has really enjoyed his hobby of costume design in which he has been supported by his wife and three daughters.
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“They are all make-up artists,” he said proudly.
Over the years, Wheeler has had many wins, mainly in the Avant Garde section.
“My model wife won the Flood Print Award and Mandy Paterson won at the age of 14 years. Lauren Buys won at the age of 15 years. They were both first-time models. Lauren went on to model in Tokyo, Paris and New York,” said Wheeler, beaming with a smile.
He noted that his most memorable win was a trip to Paris and London with model Tabitha Gale.
“The prize was courtesy of Air France. This year’s theme was ‘Country Allure’. The requirements are for sophisticated horse country clothing, but with local flavour. This is right up my street,” added Wheeler.
The theme also brought back childhood memories. Wheeler recalled spending time at Lows Stud in Hidcote, near Mooi River, where his uncle was the manager.
“It brought back memories of home-baked bread, wild raspberry jam, misty mornings and horses,” he said.
He also remembered the stud’s celebrated stallion, Thelows.
“Thelows was the stud stallion and had finished third in the British Derby,” recalled Wheeler.
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