THE Crown of Thorns atop Liverpool's Metropolitan Cathedral was a modern architectural reworking of the holiest of relics.
Now it is a crowning glory of this year's Grand National meeting.
Liverpool fashion student Rachael Calder has won a competition to design and create the newly-famed Liverpool Day hat for the John Smith's meeting in April.
The competition, which was judged by milliner Gina Foster, was thrown open to fashion and textiles students at Liverpool John Moores University.
The brief was to design something that embodied the spirit, culture and creativity of Liverpool.
Ms Calder, 21, will receive two VIP tickets to Liverpool Day to see her creation unveiled and possibly worn by TV personalities working at the race meeting.
Hats offShe said: “I was delighted to find out that my design had been selected as the winning entry and to receive Gina’s valuable feedback. I’m now looking forward to the challenge of creating it!”
Aintree Racecourse spokesman Emma Owen, said the design reflected the passion and culture of the city “by taking inspiration from one of Liverpool’s key architectural sites”.
Two previous Liverpool Day hats have been inspired by city landmarks: A waterfront inspired hat in 2010, designed by local Milliner Jean Ellis and a 2011 Liverbird creation by Hayley Marsden.
So far nobody has thought to design an Aintree ladies hat based on the Mann Island black triangles.
Perhaps that's because it would destroy the view of the world famous racecourse.
