FUN-LOVING Denis Ford was the toast of Redcar Races today after he won the fancy dress contest at the seaside track’s first Oktoberfest Beer Festival Day.

Denis, 50, of Hartburn, near Stockton, pipped a strong field thanks to his twirly moustache which complemented his Alpine hat and traditional Bavarian outfit.

Denis, who works for Cummins Engines, said: “I think it was the moustache that made the difference. My partner, Sam, persuaded me to wear it and it proved all-important.”

His daughter, Danielle, arranged the rest of his outfit and Denis was “thrilled” to be voted the winner, adding: “I won by a hair’s breadth.”

Other highlights of a fun-packed day included Daniel Han, 26, an electrical engineer from Redcar, winning a bet with his mates that he wouldn’t dare dress as a pig-tailed fraulein.

“They said I wouldn’t do it so I thought I’d show them. It’s a bit of fun, isn’t it,” he said.

Diane Metcalf and Tracey Cardiss, from Leeds, lodged a stewards’ inquiry after missing the fancy dress competition. Diane said: “We’d have won it but we missed out because we needed a wee.” It was a clear case of “Wee woz robbed.”

The day featured a bier keller, a Der Wurst Grill, and the Yorkshire Oompah Band providing musical entertainment.

Redcar’s general manager Amy Fair: “It’s been a really fun day with a great atmosphere and those who joined in the spirit were wunderbar.”