EGG Challenge is Tops

Louisa Tandy, secretary of EGG gives an overview of the highlights of the two day challenge

With over 100 dogs competing over the two days, it is safe to say that the English Groomers Challenge is as popular as ever.  The White Oak Leisure centre in Swanley , Kent is the home of the Challenge and Saturday saw the Champions Class, the Juniors class and the introduction of  three Creative classes take place. 

The Champions Class was won by Denise Westbrook who was awarded with a total of £1000 generously donated by Simpsons, this class allows previous Challenge winners as well as other groomers who are normally excluded from entering the Challenge to compete. We were very grateful to Peter Ensell and Colin Taylor for judging this class along with the Juniors.

Sian Beddoe from Aspera won the Juniors section, sponsored by Dee4Dogs and the Creative stylist of the Year was awarded to Tanya Stevens for her wonderful flowerbox design which was expertly judged by Su Eld Weaver. The Creative Class was split into two levels, Novice and Open this allowed competitors who had not been previously placed in a creative class to compete against others of the same level.

We also introduced the Abstract Runway Class where the style is more patterns with little or no colour. The dogs are groomed prior to the day and the finished dog is judged on the day. This is ideal for those who like to groom creatively without the extreme colour that is normally seen in the creative classes.

We also introduced a series of micro seminars, these lasted about 20-30 minutes long and concentrated on specific areas of grooming including the Westie head, how to trim the perfect cocker foot, how to bandage a paw, angulation, Schnauzer head as well as the QA standards amongst many others.

Sunday saw the Challenge take place, sponsored by Groomers, Redcape and The Pet Spa Training Academy.  Our judges, Peter Ensell, Eve Somers, Sara Hussein and Dione Spice had the difficult task of choosing a winner.  The standard was exceptionally high this year across all three levels.  However our judges awarded the English Groomers Challenge to Amanda Marshall with her Handstrip Fox Terrier. Congratulations Amanda!

We would like to thank all our sponsors for their generosity.  The Challenge could not take place without these companies

Next year will be the 10^th anniversary of The English Groomers Challenge.  Plans are already well under way to make this our best yet so keep the 14^th June 2015 free in your diary

Saturday

Champions Class 2014 Sponsored by Simpsons of Langley

Judges Colin Taylor and Peter Ensell

Juniors class      Judges Colin Taylor and Peter Ensell sponsored by Dee 4 Dogs

Sian Beddoe Min schnauzer

Creative Stylist of the year:  Novice sponsored by The Brighton Pet Spa & Louisa’s Grooming Salon

Judge Su Eld-Weaver

Creative Stylist of the year:  Experienced sponsored by The Brighton Pet Spa & Louisa’s Grooming Salon

Judge Su Eld-Weaver

Abstract Runway sponsored by The Brighton Pet Spa & Louisa’s Grooming Salon

Judge Su Eld-Weaver

 Challenge

Judge : Dione Spice