Corgis race in Vilnius for international celebration
VILNIUS, Lithuania — A unique international gathering of 150 corgis took place in Vingis park, featuring not just races but also costume parades and contests for the “smartest nose” and the “loudest bark,” reports BritPanorama.
The fifth Corgi Race Vilnius attracted participants from Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Germany, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, the United States, and Britain—the latter being closely associated with the breed, popularized by the late Queen Elizabeth II. This year’s edition was touted as the biggest yet, with remarkable growth since its inception.
Organizer Edvinas Miskas noted, “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.”
Highlighting the significance of the event, Miskas stated, “We call Vilnius the European capital of corgis, and when people from the breed’s homeland start coming to us rather than the other way around, that title begins to sound a little more serious.”
Ninety-four dogs took part in the main running event, which included qualifiers, semifinals, and the final. The competition featured races over 25 meters (82 feet), culminating in a thrilling finale where American competitor GG, or Gustave the Girl Dog, secured the top position, followed closely by another U.S. contestant, Mr. Corgington, with Lithuania’s Moka, a two-time former champion, taking third place.
