General
The contestant can apply for the following categories on Saturday:

• Handstripping
• Spaniels and Setters
• Poodles
• Other pure breeds

On Sunday:

• Mixed breed / miscellaneous*
• Beginners**

*Only 1 class available. These categories are not eligible for Best In Show.
**Only 1 class available.

Per category, the contestant can choose to compete in one of the 2 following classes:
1.Open         – already taken part in competitions
2.Champion     – already won in the same category at a competition: (If you have won in the Open class for example with a poodle you must go to the Champion class.  If you want to retry with another breed or in another category you don’t need to automatically go to the Champion Class, you can participate in the Open Class.)

Useful information
- Contestants must bring their own dogs and own grooming tools.
- The organization will provide the tables.
- The contestants need to be in the ring 30 minutes before the start of the competition for prejudging.

The beginners class, that can also be considered as a workshop, and accordingly the contestants can ask the help and advice of the judges during the competition. The judges are even permitted to groom a small section of the dog, so the contestant has the opportunity to learn different techniques.

- In each category, there will be 3 contestants placed per class.*
- The Best In Show will be chosen from the 8 first placed class winners.

* In the Beginners category there will be chosen 5 winners: Best Poodle, Best Spaniel, Best Handstripped, Best Pure Breed and Best Mixed Breed. Out of these 5 dogs there will be chosen a Best In Show Beginner.

Timing

Handstripping without clipper use

• Small and Medium sizes:    2 :30 hours
• Big sizes:    3 hours

Handstripping with clipper use

• Small:   2 hours
• Medium size:   2 :15  hours
• Big size:    2 :30 hours

Spaniels and Setters

• All Setters, American Cockers, English Cockers, Springers,…:   2 : 30 hours

Poodles

• up to 35 cm:   1:45 hours
• 35 cm  up to 45 cm:   2:00 hours
• Over 45 cm:   2:30 hours

Pure Breeds

• Bichon, Bedlington:   2:00 hours
• Kerry Blue Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Black Russian Terrier, Bouvier:   2:30 hours

Mixed breed / Miscellaneous*

• Small breeds     (like Bichon, Bedlington  ):   2:00  hours
• Big breeds    (like English sheepdog):   2:30  hours

* When feet, muzzle and tail have been groomed before the competition, time can be reduced up to 15 minutes.

Grooming regulations
The dogs needs to be washed (except for the handstrip dogs). The ears and nails need to be groomed and the dog’s underbelly, genitals and hind quarters may be previously groomed for reasons of hygiene, according to the breed standard.
The dog needs to have at least 8weeks coat growth or poodles minimum 5 cm coat length. Any evident line or pattern is not allowed. Dog’s coat must be long enough to allow the groomer to make a difference in it’s appearance. All grooming techniques are allowed, as long as the chosen technique suites the type of the dog’s coat.

Category Handstripping / Spaniels & Setters
Stripping knives are allowed. Dog needs to be groomed according to the breed standard. (Colored )Chalk powder/block/spray and cream is allowed for Terriers.
It is not allowed to use clippers except:
Scottish Terrier – chest, head and ears.
West Highland Terrier – chest and ears.
Cockers and Setters – chest and ears.
Schnauzer – chest, head, inside of back legs and ears

Category Poodles / Pure Breeds
The dog needs to be washed and fluff dried. The muzzle, feet and tail should have at least a 2-week’s hair growth. Poodles must be groomed in a style recognized in the breed standard. Poodles with top knots can have 15 minutes extra time to finish the top knot and may ask for help from an outsider to hold the dog. Coloring is not allowed

Category Mixed breed / Miscellaneous
The Mixed breed / miscellaneous is for all mixed breeds or breeds like poodle that you wish to groom as a Bichon.

Competition End
Contestants should remove all hair, equipment and products from the grooming table. A comb should be placed on the table for the judge to use during judging. Contestants may comb their dogs before and after the judging panel has evaluated their dogs. Contestant should stack his/her dog to present to judge. It will be announced when the judging is finished so contestants can relax their dogs.

Judging
The judges will examine each dog during prejudging and final judging and will take in consideration the following issues:

• Suitability of chosen style to the dog.
• The  difficulty degree of the clip.
• Ability to camouflage defects and enhance beauty.
• Up to date with today’s modern grooming styles.
• Respect for today’s breed standard. *
• The quality of scissoring, shaving and or stripping after passing a comb.
• Balance, symmetry, and smoothness.
• Presentation of the dog to the judge.

*Allowance to be made for International differences in styling for example USA or Scandinavian styles.

Poodles
The quality of the clipper work whether the feet, face and tail are clipped with the appropriate blade. All clipper work should be smooth with no tufts of hair around the lips , eyes, pads of the feet.

Hand Stripping
There should be no visible pink of bald patches. The hair must be removed with the lay of the coat and without causing pain. Removing the undercoat by a carding tool is allowed only after the hand stripping has taken place. Rolling  coats are acceptable; however the work done in the ring must be sufficient to allow the groomer to make a distinct change in the dog’s appearance.
If clippers are used to trim the soft coat on the head or ears, the front of the neck, or on the insides of the back legs, these areas must be trimmed neatly and smoothly with the appropriate blade. The clipper work should blend smoothly with the furnishing or feathering rather than stick out.

Pure Breeds and Spaniels & Setters

If thinning shears are used: the areas that are thinned should blend smoothly and create a natural appearance.

The judges’ decision will be final and binding.

POINTS
In  the four main categories (Handstripping, Spaniels and Setters, Poodles and Other pure breeds) the judging system is based on points.

Each judge awards 10 points for the first place, 7 points for the second, 5 points for the third and 3 points for the fourth in each class

Judges are not allowed to exchange any opinion concerning the judgment during the competition.

Each judge will have his/her own place list. Adding up the points of all judges, the President of the Jury will obtain the final place list. Just in case of tie the President of the Jury will discuss with the judges to establish the place list.

Handling
Judges may give a warning to any competitor who is seen handling a dog in a rough or unsafe manner. A second warning will constitute disqualification.
If the competitor makes clipper burns, nicks or cuts he can’t be placed as a winner.
Any indecorous or aggressive language used towards the judges may lead to disqualification.

Please note that we are unable to confirm registrations until payment has been received. Any registrations not paid by the due date will be cancelled. Closing date for entries is 10th September. After this date, prices will increase by 25%, which is the “on the door” price. (In case of cancellation, refund or no-shows a processing fee of €30,00 will be charged). Registration is binding.

Please only make the payment after having received the order form by mail.  After receipt of your inscription and payment, we will send you an official invoice which is also valid as entry ticket. Please bring this invoice to the event.

Declaration
As a competitor, I hereby certify that I have read and understood the competition rules and regulations and agree to abide them. I hereby acknowledge that the organizer of the competition has the sole right of use of any images, (photos or videos) data (names of the competitors) for the purposes of promoting future events.

1.  Four competing classes: Purebred Scissoring – Spaniel & Setter – Handstripping – Poodle
2.  Four groomers will compose a team: 1 groomer per competing class
3.  Only one  team per Country will be accepted
4.  Dogs must have a minimum of 8 weeks’ hair growth. Any evident line should not appear.
5.  Poodles must have a minimum of 5 centimeters hair growth. Any evident line should not appear.  The hair on the muzzle and feet can be shorter. Any shaving  must be done during the competition
6.  Dog’s hair must be long enough to allow the groomer to make changes to its physical appearance
7.  Dogs must be freshly washed and dried, have no tangles in their hair. Ears must be cleaned, nails clipped, before the competition
8.  Dog’s underbelly. Genitals and hind quarters may be previously   cleaned for reasons of hygiene, according to breed standard
9.  All grooming techniques (Scissoring, Clipping, Handstripping) are allowed
10.  For Poodles, all commercial and exhibition cuts + modern puppy are allowed.
The Judge must be notified of the type of cut to be performed before the competition starts.
11.  All competitors must be in the ring 30 minutes before the start of the competition.
12.  Allowed  Breeds:
PUREBRED SCISSORING -  Bichon, Kerry Blue Terrier, Wheaten Soft Coated  Terrier,
Black Russian Terrier, Bedlington Terrier, Bouvier.
SPANIEL & SETTER – All Setters, American Cocker, English Cocker, Springer, etc.
HANDSTRIPPING – Fox Terrier, Lakeland Terrier, Scottish Terrier, West highland Terrier, Sealyham Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Schnauzer. Etc.
POODLE – Standard, miniature and toy.

13.TIMING
Purebred Scissoring:  Bichon and Bedlington 2 hours
Other breeds 2 hours and 30 minutes

Spaniel & Setter:  Spaniels 2 hours and 30 minutes

Handstripping:  Breeds needing clipper use 2 hours
Others breeds 2 hours and 30 minutes
Poodle:   Miniatures and toys 2 hours minutes
Standards 2 hours and 30 minutes

Practical info:
Participants bring their own dog and grooming material. The organization looks after grooming tables. Participants need to be present in the ring 10 minutes before the start of the competition to have their dog inspected. In each category there are placed 3 participants.

Out of the 3 first places the Best In Show will be chosen.

All categories have just one class. (No beginners, open and champion class). Each participant starts with the same model dog and they are allowed to choose the breed they want to model.
For those who want to be creative there is a special trophy for best creation (mention when inscribing).
Competition preparation
Participants need to be present in the ring 10 minutes before the start of the competition.
Before the competition the dog needs to be fully brushed out.
To brush a modeldog fully out can take up to 2 hours. It is important to brush the dog with a soft pinbrush and not to panic when a lot of the hair is coming loose, this is completely normal. When preparing a long haired breed such as the American Cocker Spaniel, you need to pay attention that you are not brushing too many hairs out of the belly! (Do not forget that the jury is not allowed to touch)
No any other preparation than brushing is allowed. All modeldogs are inspected by the organization when entering the ring.
For more information about the modeldog check general info modeldog

Competition time schedule

Each participant has 2h30.*
When ready or when the time has passed, the participant leaves the ring with all his material.
The jury is not allowed to know who has cut which dog.

Modeldog

In this class the participant needs to have the intention to use his artistic availabilities as good as possible to create the most accurate and exact profile according to the breeds’ standard.
Coloring of the fur is allowed, but only according to the breeds’ standard and within the time period of the competition. Sprays are allowed during the competition.
Hair extensions are not allowed*.

* except in creative styling

Modeldog creative: there will be handed out a special prize for best creation

To create a modeldog not according to a certain breed or the breeds standard by coloring or own creation. Everything is allowed: it is necessary to protect the table (with plastic or paper) when using colors and to leave the table in a clean way.

Judging procedures:

The judges are expected in the ring when all of the participants have left the competition ring* with all their material. The judge members are not allowed to touch the dogs.
* Except in creative styling

The judge panel criticizes the following:
Level of difficulty in the cut. Accuracy of the profile according to the breeds’ standard.*
Respect for the present standard breeds.*Balance, symmetry and style. Quality of the finish.
*Not with creative styling

Do your children also already want to help out in the grooming salon? They are pretending to play mammy and daddy with their stuffed animals? Are they already enthusiastic for grooming a dog?

Well, we are offering them the chance to do it completely real! For the first 15 registrations there are free modeldogs at their disposal and they can also enjoy professional guidance.
Brushing out, combing and cutting with, yes indeed, a real scissor! (Pay attention to the smallest ones because they need help from a parent!)
The children can use all their fantasy on the modeldogs! Or they can create their own favorite dog on the modeldog.

Are you also curious how our young talent will show their creation? Do not hesitate and register them immediately: All children are welcome from 6 until 12 year.

Each young participant receives a beautiful souvenir and their own modeldog. (We’re still looking for volunteers who want to help the kids in this fun competition).
The kids have time to do their modeldog from 9 AM until 11.30 AM on Sunday.

This competition can be fully accompanied by parents. We are not responsible for accidents.

Richard Barker was universally admired and loved by all who knew him and regarded him as a friend. He was a multiple grooming contest winner. His many wins included best in shows and  the International Groomer of the year title.

Richard was a kind, thoughtful and extremely intelligent man with a wonderful sense of humor and great enthusiasm for everything he did.
Many turned to him for help and advice and he was always generous with his time, being much more than just a listener and always able to make thoughtful and considered suggestions which were helpful, positive and to the point.

Richard was a devoted husband and father and will always be remembered as a man who attained considerable personal distinction and achieved much in his regrettably much too short life.
It was a privilege to have known Richard Barker, his infectious humor will be long remembered and he is sadly missed by all his friends around the world.

The special Richard Barker commemorative trophy will be awarded to the best groomer, chosen by Mrs. Linda Barker or by a friend chosen by Linda.

Since the trophy is being given to, according to Linda Barker, the best groomer of the event, there will be chosen a winner on Saturday and on Sunday. Saturday’s winner will be asked to come back on Sunday. Between these 2 winners, Linda will chose the winner of the Richard Barker trophy 2011.

The cup itself must be engraved and returned before Groomania 2012.

After all competitions are finished the public can vote for their most beautiful dog ( or modeldog) Everybody gets one voting sheet at the entrance (one per person)
It is forbidden for the public to enter the competition ring. The dog with the most votes wins the public prize

WHEN: EACH DAY AT 4.30PM FINAL VOTE