Approximately 150 corgis recently took part in a global event honoring the small herding dogs that originated in Wales. The fifth Corgi Race Vilnius attracted participants from various countries, making it the largest edition to date. The event featured a costume parade, a competition to find the “smartest nose,” and a contest to determine the loudest bark.
Organizer Edvinas Miskas highlighted the event’s growth, noting that from its inception with 40 corgis from one city, it had expanded to include 150 dogs from nine countries. The race saw entries from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, Czech Republic, the United States, and Britain, the breed’s most renowned country, famously favored by the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The main racing event comprised 94 dogs competing in qualifiers, semifinals, and the final race over a 25-meter distance. The American corgi named GG emerged victorious in the final, with Mr. Corgington from the U.S. finishing a close second and Lithuania’s Moka, a former two-time champion, securing third place.
Beyond the speed-focused races, the event showcased the dogs’ diverse skills and talents, including a costume parade where corgis flaunted creative outfits and a “smartest nose” challenge where Latvian corgis Tora and Rusty shared the top spot for finding hidden treats.
The competition also featured a loudest bark contest, won by Mr. Corgington. Notably, 12-year-old Duke, a Pembroke Welsh corgi from England, didn’t race due to age but participated in the barking contest, having reportedly trained for it his whole life.
The event saw half of the corgis participating for the first time this year, with six veteran corgis attending every edition. The diverse array of costumes and competitions made the event a vibrant celebration of these beloved herding dogs.