The Yarrawonga Lions Club inaugural Dachshund Cup was held at the Yarrawonga Showgrounds on the ‘long weekend’ and what a fantastic result with people travelling from near and far to participate or just to spectate.
Despite the inclement weather that started the day, and a few light showers, the crowds and the dogs still came.
In all, over 80 dogs raced and about 2,000 people came through the gates.
Yarrawonga Lions Club spokesperson Joan Tufvesson said the Dachshund races was an entertaining event with few dogs knowing what to do with most of them either stopping, turning around or just not running.
“They were supposed to be released by their owner and run 35 meters to their other catcher at the end of the track. Seemed like a simple process but maybe not to a dachshund with too many low-lying obstacles on their way to the finishing post,” Joan said.
“The winners of the cup were 1st – ‘Don’ owned by David Keogh, 2nd – ‘Elkie’ owned by Jenna Swasbrick and 3rd – ‘Snickers’ owned by Georgia Chandler. A massive congratulations to everyone and a thank you to all participants.
“There were also other novelty events that could be entered into by the non-racing breed, such as biggest/smallest dog, longest/shortest dog and of course the fancy dress for dogs and handlers.
“The major prize winner of the raffle was Amelia and Brendon Mulkeains from Holbrook with all proceeds from the event to be donated to Australian Lions Hearing Dogs and a big thanks to Lions representatives Robin and Les Harrison for setting up a stall.
“These events are only possible with the assistance of local sponsors, and the Yarrawonga Lions Club would like to acknowledge Petstock, Cobram Veterinary Clinic and Yarrawonga Vet Clinic.
“Lastly a big thank you to Margie Wickham for bringing this idea to our club.
“All in all a lot of fun was enjoyed by everyone who attended.”
One person who had an enjoyable day at the races was Shepparton News Senior Journalist Bree Harding who made her way over to Yarrawonga to check out the different event and was pleasantly surprised with the turnout and the event in itself.
“I thought it was a novel and cute idea that would probably be popular with Yarrawonga’s nearby dachshund-owner community, so probably a fairly intimate affair,” Bree said.
“When we rolled up to the Yarrawonga Showgrounds and couldn’t find a park within cooee of the entry gates, however, I had to double check I had the right location because I couldn’t quite believe there would be that many people at a sprint race for the short-legged, long-bodied breed.
“I was both surprised and impressed.
“The crowd was so big, there was not a gap along the temporary fences surrounding the race-track and it was five or six humans deep at some points.
“I love that people get out of their homes on a Sunday and go and support all the ‘crazy’ ideas that people have purely in the name of fun and fundraising.
“And at a gold-coin/head entry fee, a Lions Christmas cake stall and a six-prize raffle, I’d imagine the local Lions Club was pretty happy with the patronage.
“In fact, the gatekeepers told me personally they’d welcomed an unprecedented number of spectators into the grounds.
“For something I thought was going to be a pretty low-key occasion, I was thrilled my prediction was so far off for everyone involved: the entrants, the stallholders, the organisers and ourselves, who got one heck of a doggo fix that could turn the grumpiest of moods all the way around.”