Coworth Park to Launch International Royal Ascot Hat Competition

The winner and companion will receive complimentary tickets to attend Royal Ascot on Thursday, June 19, 2014 and a two nights stay in a luxurious suite at Coworth Park. Should the winner and guest live outside England, they will arrive in style with return flights provided by British Airways, one of the world's leading global premium airlines, inviting an international audience to take part in the competition.

Open to all fashion-minded travelers, the competition launches April 1, 2014 and closes on May 10, 2014 and is for ladies hats only. Entries will be judged by Stephen Jones on originality and individuality. The design must be appropriate for Ascot and abide by Royal Enclosure guidelines**, while also reflecting the style and individuality of English luxury country house hotel and spa, Coworth Park.

Commenting on the forthcoming competition at Coworth Park, celebrated milliner Stephen Jones said: "Coworth Park is the perfect fit for this competition as it is on the doorstep of Royal Ascot where hats are the extraordinary fashion focus."

Contestants can enter by submitting an A4 sized sketch or mood board showing front, back and side views, fabric suggestions and a 100 word description of their hat design and inspiration. The winner will be announced at this year's Coworth Park Hat Salon hosted by Stephen Jones on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, and via Twitter @CoworthParkUK. Enter the competition via AscotHatPrize.CPA@dorchestercollection.com, and follow news and updates on social media using #CPAscotHatPrize.

The annual Coworth Park Hat Salon is part of the hotel's popular monthly speaker event program and includes lunch in Restaurant Coworth Park and a talk by Milliner Stephen Jones on the best way to choose and wear a hat, the history of Ascot, and 2014 millinery trends.

Just 15 minutes' drive from Coworth Park, Ascot Racecourse is home of the five day Royal Meeting, which has established itself as a national institution and the focal-point of the British social calendar where fashion shares centre stage with first class racing. Heathrow is just 20 minutes' drive from Coworth Park making the hotel the perfect English countryside destination for travelers flying with British Airways into the award-winning Terminal 5. Coworth Park and Stephen Jones have enjoyed creative collaboration since the hotel opened in 2010 - Stephen Jones designed the Coworth Park Couture Millinery Collection which can be borrowed by hotel guests not wishing to travel with hat boxes. Stephen was also commissioned by British Airways to design the female cabin crew hat and has worked with Royal Ascot and the British Fashion Council for several years to showcase the Headonism initiative for young British milliners.

Competition terms and conditions:

Please visit dorchestercollection.com/ascot-hat-competition from March 1, 2014 for detailed competition terms and conditions, and a downloadable application form.

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