Corgis may not exactly be renowned for their racing ability but what they lack in speed they more than make up for with cuteness  – and there was plenty on display at this year’s corgi race in Lithuania.

The annual event in Vilnius – which is both the capital of the Baltic nation and the self-dubbed “corgi capital of Europe” (at least for a day) – attracted more than 130 corgis from nine countries.

Several thousand spectators also turned out on the weekend to watch the short-legged pooches, who sported bibs with the words “Catch me if you can” as they took part in a series of sprints while their owners shouted encouragement and waved squeaky toys and treats at the end line.

Organiser Edvinas Miskas Grinius, who started the races during the Covid pandemic, reckons the fact that corgis are “one of the slowest dogs in the world” has probably helped fuel the popularity of the event, which millions of people also follow online.

“A corgi race is an oxymoron in itself,” Grinius said.

“It’s just great fun. It’s all laughs… we just want them to have fun. But, you know, if we can have also a story behind it, then why not?”

Some competitors preferred to stay in the shades. Photo: YouTube

The most famous corgi owner in the world was, of course, Queen Elizabeth II, and Lithuania’s annual corgi races are not the only such event in the world.

Scotland also hosts the annual Musselburgh Racecourse Corgi Derby, which was introduced in 2022 to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne and is now held every Easter.

The Vilnius races drew competitors from Lithuania, Britain, the United States, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine and the Czech Republic.

American corgi GG (Gustave the Girl Dog) won the 25-metre final, ahead of Mr Corgington (also from the US) and former champion Moka (Lithuania).

But it wasn’t all about the need for speed.

The corgis also took part in a “smartest nose” contest that involved sniffing for treats, a barking competition – won by ‌Mr Corgington from California, who registered 111 decibels – and a costume parade in which their owners also dressed up.

 

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There was some stiff costume competition, with dogs dressed as everything from dinosaurs and clowns to superheroes, athletes, sweetcorn and a showgirl.

The winning corgi, Amigo, sported a medieval knight-themed costume based on the mythical character Iron Wolf who is said to have inspired the founding of Vilnius.

“I’ve never dressed another breed so I don’t know, but he is quite patient,” Amigo’s owner said, when asked how the corgi was coping with his outfit.

“The proportions are not very good – I mean, the short legs, the wide torso… he’s not very happy about it; he’s waiting for it to end.”

–with Reuters