Ulster hopefuls not among favourites in Irish beauty stakes
Rebecca and Claire rank outsiders as bookies make Miss Ireland a three-horse race
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
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The two Ulster models hoping to scoop the sought-after Miss Ireland crown might as well not turn up for the final, according to the bookies.
Rebecca Hughes (18), who recently scooped the Miss Belfast title, and Miss Antrim beauty Claire Moore (19) are set to battle it out against 23 other finalists in Saturday night's competition.
But, a betting frenzy has effectively made the event a three-horse race - in the bookies' eyes at least.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last night, however, Miss Ireland franchise holder Mags Humphries, at Assets agency, rubbished claims that the outcome is a foregone conclusion.
"The betting infuriates myself and Andrea (Roche), who organises the Miss Ireland competition," she said.
"It doesn't do too much for the confidence of the girls. They are human beings. This is not a singing competition, it's all about how you look.
"It's awful that they're betting, that they're putting this pressure on 18 and 19-year- old girls, but we can't do anything to stop them."
She added: "There will be independent judges judging this competition. They will make their decisions on the night, irrespective of what the bookies say."
Favourites on the Paddy Power website last night were Aishling Cronin (Kearys Miss Cork) at 4-7, Karen Sutton (Miss Heart and Soul) at 3-1 and Julie Devine (Miss Club Velvet) at 5-1.
Jordanstown's Claire, on the other hand, was sitting on odds of 33-1, while Rebecca, from Ballymena, was trailing behind with 66-1 odds.
The contest will take place at the Silversprings Hotel in Cork on Saturday.
The judging will be done by a celebrity panel comprised of Westlife's Kian Egan, Glenda Gilson, Aoife Cogan, rugby star Alan Quinlan and hair- stylist Michael Doyle.
A spokesperson for Paddy Power said it was "a little harsh" to give such long odds on some of the finalists and admitted mistakes had been made in the past.
"Initially, we open a book after seeing all the finalists and what we go on is their looks, height and previous experience as a model," she said.
"But there's no telling how they'll perform on the night."
She added: "It does seem harsh, but the odds reflect that there has been a flutter on certain girls."
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