The Young and The Restless | Tens of dachies dashing and a family in a state of glee

By Bree Harding

Nov 4, 2024

The dachshunds were released by their handlers at one end of the race track so that they could run to the handler calling their name at the other end. Not all of them understood the brief. Photo by Bree Harding

As a dog lover, when I stumbled across a notice for the Yarrawonga Lions Club’s inaugural Dachie Cup event, I popped it straight on the calendar.

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.

When we rolled up to the Yarrawonga Showgrounds on Sunday 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 accuracy of my head-counting abilities is probably not to be trusted after a couple of hundred, but there had to have been at least 1000 people at the event and probably at least 200 dogs — all far better behaved than my own, whose heart would not have taken the excitement of being in the presence of so many different scents.

With their short legs, long bodies and oversized ears flopping about, the racing dachshunds were a sight to behold. Photo by Bree Harding

Soon after we arrived (late, because we had to stop by Shepparton Airport for the Roads and Runways event to cater to my car- and plane-loving sons’ interests before heading north), they were off and racing.

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.

The inaugural Dachie Cup in Yarrawonga garnered a huge turnout of spectators. Photo by Bree Harding

It was possibly an overwhelming sea of people for the more timid of the wiener-dogs, but they all seemed to cope okay, even if some just circled in confusion after the ready-set-go call, rather than running towards the human calling their name at the other end of their imagined lanes.

It’s more like an accelerated waddle than a run with legs that short holding up a body that long. Photo by Bree Harding

I know some who don’t understand the fascination with human’s best friend, or an obsession with a particular breed, might consider such an event ridiculous, but how can a thousand smiling faces be wrong?

I overheard a conversation between a couple of middle-aged men behind me in the crowd.

Dachshunds of all shapes, sizes, hair-lengths, colours and patterns were at the event. Photo by Bree Harding

One asked the other if he’d brought his dog to race.

He responded, “Nah, just thought I’d come for a bit of a laugh, what about you?”

The first man said: “Same, just here for a laugh.”

I love that.

Little Lotti the dachshund didn’t come to race, instead to watch and support her breedmates vying for glory. Photo by Bree Harding

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.

Fancily-dressed dachshunds also had the chance to win prizes, not just the racers. Photo by Bree Harding

A Facebook update post-event surmised there were around 80 entries, with dogs named Don, Elkie and Snickers taking out podium positions.

The funds raised will be donated to Lions organisation The Australian Lions Hearing Dogs, who had representatives in attendance.

I applaud this dachshund for its Sunsmart message on a warm day in Yarrawonga. Photo by Bree Harding

Aside from the racing action, there was also a fancy dress competition for the snags on the field, dogs and handlers for all breeds and an open race for small breeds.

That side-eye shows this girl knows she’s looking fire. Photo by Bree Harding

Off the field, there were food trucks and market stalls, mainly selling pet or dachshund-themed wares.

The market stalls were doing a roaring trade at the Dachie Cup. Photo by Bree Harding

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.

Just like those confused little wieners doing circle-work on the field.