7th Annual BlackHawk Corgi Races
On Saturday, I popped down to Belmont Domain for one of the most joyful (and chaotic) events on the dog calendar – the 7th annual BlackHawk Corgi Races. Twenty-five corgis lined up to compete this year, and the atmosphere was exactly what you’d expect from a field full of little legs and big, happy personalities.
To add to the fun, the corgis even wore tiny racing jerseys. Seeing them lined up in their miniature sports gear was truly adorable.
The first race of the day was the Over 9s Seniors Race, where the golden oldies showed everyone how it’s done. The winner earned a well-deserved place in the main final, proving age is absolutely just a number when you’ve got short legs and determination.
Next up were the three heats. Every race was as hilarious as you’d imagine – some corgis sprinting straight for their owners, others veering off to greet the crowd, and a few trotting off in creative directions entirely. It was chaos in the best possible way!
A genius move by the organisers was to ask for volunteers to hold the corgis at the start line. Having their person waiting at the other end definitely helped… at least a little. Corgis will always corgi, after all!
And yes, there were familiar faces too. Dash – one of the Paws Project dogs – took part in one of the races, though “race” may be a generous term. He was quickly distracted by the crowd, who were more than happy to offer pats, cuddles, and admiration. Fair enough, really!
Dash, one of the Paws Project dogs, had a dashing time!
The highlight of the afternoon was the main final, where the winners from each heat (plus our speedy senior) came together in one last burst of corgi mayhem. The overall winner was Clem (Clementine) from Goodwood Dog Park. Rob from Goodwood, had generously sponsored a prize for the Paws Project cover winner too. It was great to see them get the win!
Clem also had a bit of extra flair in the final… her racing jersey slid right down her back mid-race, possibly because she was running a little too fast. It only added to the charm – and the laughs.
Clem, the overall winner, doing a lap of honour with her racing jersey falling off!
I wasn’t there in any official capacity, just as a spectator, but the organiser was more than happy for me to take photos too. And honestly? What a treat. There’s nothing quite like capturing the joy of a smiling corgi running at full speed!
You can catch the official coverage of the event, including video, at My Corgi Art.
