Hats have their day at Devon Horse Show

With a glint of pomp and style, the grounds at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair were filled with women donning elaborate hats amid Wednesday's heat as part of the show's women's day.

Susan Randels' small, black pillbox hat that leaned on the left side of her head was one of many to be judged and photographed as part of the afternoon's hat contest.

In its 115th year, the show celebrates the traditions and lifestyles of the Main Line. It will run until Sunday, and proceeds benefit Bryn Mawr Hospital.

"I love it," Randels said of the show. "I've been sweating for six days, and it's worth every bead."

Randels compared the hats, called "fascinators" by their wearers, to those seen recently at the royal wedding and the Kentucky Derby.

Wayne's Jenn McGowan, the coordinator of the hat contest, wore an array of butterflies that were attached to her head by wires. She said this year's contestants were colorful and creative, and most of the women wore dresses that matched the style of their hat.

Amy Holzapfel of Devon wore the winning hat.

Randels said the hats are fun to wear, and she prefers stylish hats as opposed to big ones, as they doesn't get in her way or mess up her hair. Her boutique in Paoli, Polka Dots, sells the hats, and Randels said she has seen a rise in sales leading up the show.

Wearing a large, black floppy hat that almost covered her dark sunglasses, Jillian Titus said women's day was a chance to have fun and be creative. Attending her first day at Devon, Titus was accompanied by her friend Sara Moore, also of West Chester. They designed their own hats, and Moore's included buttons passed down from her grandmother, Isabel Moore, whose name is marked as a sponsor on one of the boxes in the grandstand.

Moore's mother, Suzanne, said her husband's family has been a part of the Devon Horse Show since the beginning, and it was her 20th year attending but her first participating in the hat contest.

"It's a great atmosphere. We have a lot of fun being a part of it," said Suzanne Moore, who along with her friend Michelle Wood wore a more modest-styled hat compared to her daughter.

Chapot wins. Laura Chapot of Neshanic Station, N.J., rode Bradberry to victory in the $10,000 Open Jumper, Hit & Hurry class.

With her win, Chapot got a leg up on McLain Ward in the contest for the Leading Jumper Rider title.

Ward has an entry in Thursday night's $100,000 Wells Fargo Grand Prix, which count bonus points. Chapot does not have a horse in the Grand Prix.

"Devon is the highlight of our spring," said Chapot. "Every win here is meaningful. The crowd really gets into it."

Scott Stewart of Flemington, N.J., rode Touchdown to the championship in Regular Conformation Hunters.

Jennifer Alfano of Buffalo rode SBS Farm's Jersey Boy to the High Performance Working Hunter title.

When:Through Sunday

Where: Lancaster Pike and Dorset Road, Devon.

Scheduled exhibitions:

Thursday: carriage racing, singles and pairs racing through hazards and cones. 6 p.m.

Wells Fargo stagecoach appearing during afternoon and evening performances.

Tickets: advance sales, 610-688-2554; country fair office: 610-525-2533. General admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and seniors 65 and over. Reserved grandstand tickets are available ranging from $12 to $50, depending on the performance.

Web site: www.thedevonhorse

show.net.

Thursday's schedule:

Dixon Oval

Starting at 8 a.m.

PA Bred Yearling, Colt

PA Bred Yearling, Filly

PA Bred 2 Year Old, Colt

PA Bred 2 Year Old, Filly

PA Bred 3 Year Old

Best PA Bred Horse

Leading PA Handler

Thoroughbred Yearling, Colt

Thoroughbred Yearling, Filly

Non-Thoroughbred Yearling, Colt

Non-Thoroughbred Yearling, Filly

Thoroughbred 2 Year Old, Colt

Thoroughbred 2 Year Old, Filly

Non-Thoroughbred 2 Year Old, Colt

Non-Thoroughbred 2 Year Old, Filly

Thoroughbred 3 Year Old

Non-Thoroughbred 3 Year Old, Stallions & Geldings

Non-Thoroughbred 3 Year Old, Mares

Mare Suitable to Produce

Best Yearling

Best Young Horse

Leading Handler

Amateur Handler

Gold Ring

Young Hunter Under Saddle

Dixon Oval

Starting at 4:30 p.m.

"Devon at Sunset"

Hackney/Harness Pony - Amateur

Country Pleasure Driving

Hackney Horse - Open

Roadster Pony - Amateur

Three Gaited Show Pleasure - Adult

Coaching-Time Competition

Three Gaited - Amateur

Hackney Pony - Amateur

Park Horse - Open

Country Pleasure - Adult

Fine Harness - Amateur

Roadster Horse - Open

Friesian Pleasure - Amateur

Five Gaited - Amateur

Dixon Oval

8 p.m.

$100,000 Grand Prix of Devon

McDevitt Style Award

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