Truffle dog championship sets new records during Trufforum fair in central Vic

The Catalonia Truffle Dog Championship saw a record-breaking total of 24 teams during Trufforum gastronomic fair, an annual event dedicated to the black truffle held in the central Catalan municipality of Vic over the weekend.

The championship held in the city, considered Catalonia's capital of truffle, sees 24 teams formed by one dog and a handler. This year the format of the championship was changed to a single trial.

The challenge is to find four truffles in the shortest time possible. Each team had a designated plot with four buried truffles. The dog had to indicate their locations, and the handler had to extract them and lift them as quickly as possible.

"The level is getting higher each year," said one of the participants. Enric Carbó from Sant Sadurní d'Anoia was crowned champion for the second consecutive year with his dog, Maika.

Trufforum aims to promote the properties, culture, and consumption of fresh black truffles with several activities for both specialists and families.

Record number of participants

The sixth edition of the Catalonia Truffle Dog Championship continues to gain prestige, to the point where there is now a waiting list to participate. Organizers noted that the competition level rises year after year.

This time, they decided to change the format by reducing the maximum time allowed, from 4 to 3 minutes, and eliminating the semifinals and finals, to focus the championship on a single test.

"I prefer it this way; it's faster," said Enric Carbó to the Catalan News Agency (ACN) after securing his second consecutive victory with Maika, completing the task in just 1 minute and 2 seconds.

"I adopted her when she was a year old," he recalled, adding that searching for wild truffles on weekends is his hobby, though he does not do it professionally.

The runner-up was Raul de la Morena from Santa Coloma de Gramenet with his dog Cave (1 minute and 37 seconds), followed by Manuel Chabrera from Vila-Real with his dog Fletxa (1 minute and 44 seconds).

An unusual setting 

Another regular contestant, Juan Magaña from Alcover, has participated in all six editions, once winning the championship and twice making it to the podium. This year, he competed with Mackenzie, a 1-year-old Border Collie.

"It's our first competition, and we're here to learn. We'll keep going," he explained.

More than 300 people watched the fast-paced contest. The dogs, which consisted of various breeds and from different parts of Catalonia and even beyond, showcased their skills in an unusual setting. Most of these dogs normally work in the fields or forests without the distractions of crowds and noise.