A record 150 corgis, accompanied by their owners, converged on Vingis Park in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Saturday for the fifth annual Corgi Race Vilnius. The event, which celebrated the breed with races and costume contests, drew participants from nine countries, including Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, the United States, and Britain.
This year marked the largest iteration of the event, with organizer Edvinas Miskas noting a significant increase from the 40 corgis present at the inaugural event. "In the first year, we gathered 40 corgis from one city. This year, it’s 150 from nine countries, and for the first time we have a participant from the place where the breed originated," Miskas stated.
Ninety-four dogs competed in the main 50-meter race, which included qualifiers, semifinals, and a final over 25 meters. The ultimate winner was an American competitor named GG, short for Gustave the Girl Dog. Another U.S. entrant, Mr. Corgington, secured second place, followed by Moka from Lithuania, a previous two-time champion, in third.
The event also featured a costume parade with 38 corgis showcasing diverse outfits. Amigo, dressed in a knight-like costume, won both the jury's and the public's vote. The "smartest nose" challenge, where dogs searched for hidden treats, was won by Tora and Rusty from Latvia. In the loudest bark competition, Mr. Corgington emerged as the winner.
Mr. Corgington's participation highlighted the international nature of the event, as he had previously competed against GG at a major race in Auburn, Washington, where GG secured her second consecutive win. Six corgis, including Amigo, Foksas, Foksis, Madeira, Bulka, and Dziugas, have attended every edition of the race since its inception.
The breed, famously a favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has seen its international gathering grow substantially, with Vilnius being dubbed the "European capital of corgis."