Further plans for the British Dog Grooming Championship 2013 have been announced by the British Dog Groomers’ Association.

Taking place on Sunday 6 October at Bingley Hall, Staffordshire Showground, alongside a new and exciting family dog day, ‘Paws at Bingley’, the Championship is designed to attract groomers of all abilities to test their skills in the UK’s longest running grooming contest.

A number of new and exciting features of the competition are on offer this year, including:

  • Total prize fund of £4000, including £1500 for the Groomer of the Year
  • PIF Accredited Training School Team of the Year
  • Young Groomer of the Year
  • Opportunity to go to Intergroom USA
  • Salon skills class
  • Cordless clipper prizes for student and newcomer competitors (courtesy of Oster)

The British Dog Grooming Association (BDGA) is delighted to announce that this year’s judges will be:

  • Marlene Carter – Poodle classes

Marlene is a top breeder and international championship judge of Standard Poodles. Under the kennel name ‘Somanic’, Marlene is highly regarded for her show poodles both in the UK and overseas; she also holds the City & Guilds 7750 qualification in dog grooming.

  • Alison Rogers LCGI- Mixed and others

Twice Groomer of the Year and a member of the Guild of Master Groomers, Alison is one of the most well-known and respected dog groomers in the UK today. Alison is a previous winner of the Professional Groomers’ Championship and recently won the Liz Paul Achievement Award at Mastergroom. She has received the further accolade of being nominated for USA Cardinal Crystal Award for international groomer of the year. Alison is also one of the founder members of Groomteam England. Her salon, Pretty Paws grooming and training centre in Huddersfield, is a PIF Training School. She also breeds and shows bichons (Alizo) after many years showing other breeds.

  • Magali Delaye – Terrier Classes

Our international judge, Magali Delaye, hails from France and is an international grooming champion and judge, having competed in and won many European grooming tournaments. She also breeds fox terriers, Airedale terriers, West Highland white terriers and Cairn terriers, and runs her own grooming school.

  • Kelly Davies LCGI – Juniors

Kelly began grooming in 2002, having picked up the grooming bug during a work experience placement, and rose through the ranks to gain her Higher Diploma in Dog Grooming, a teaching qualification and her LCGI. She is also a member of the Guild of Master Groomers and has recently gained her Assessors’ Award.  The proud owner of KD Grooming Studio, Kelly is a PIF Premier Training School and is passionate about teaching, committed to constantly improving her own skills and raising standards in the industry.

New Classes

A new feature of this year’s competition is the Pot Pourri Clip & Scissor class, enabling groomers to show off their salon skills on a variety of breeds and cross-breeds using clippers and scissors, and will include fusion grooming. Heidi Anderton, Director of the British Dog Groomers’ Association explained: ‘We believe this new class will be extremely popular, allowing all-round groomers to let their salon work shine. Whilst the class won’t count towards Groomer of the Year, I’d encourage all groomers, especially those who are new to the competition world, to come along and have a go!’

A trip of a lifetime beckons….

To add even more excitement to the competition this year, two PIF members will have the chance to win a trip to the USA.  We’ll send the highest placed member of the BDGA from this year’s competition and an individual from a randomly selected Pet Industry Federation Accredited Training School to compete in the International Groomer of the Year competition at Intergroom 2014 in the United States.

Professional Groomer Entry

If you’re not competing all day, there will be plenty to keep you occupied. Bingley Hall will also play host to a fantastic new family dog day, ‘Paws at Bingley’, sponsored by Company of Animals and PetHead, with dog displays, a trade exhibition and a Companion Dog Show taking place alongside the grooming competition throughout the day. There will also be a range of professional grooming seminars to keep your grooming practice up to date, with morning and afternoon practical sessions on City & Guilds level 3, tips for speeding up salon work, creative grooming and improving hygiene within the salon, all confirmed as topics.

All groomers, whether they are competing or not, have access to an inclusive ticket price which will give them entry to all areas of the show. There are also great discounts for BDGA members. Please visit www.britgroom.co.uk for further details, including a competitor entry form.

British Dog Grooming Championship 2013 rules for competitors

Click here for the entry form to BDGC competitorentryform_2013

We are grateful to the sponsors of the British Dog Grooming Championship:

Total Grooming Magazine – Media Sponsor

Pet Revolution – Advanced Class

Red Cape – Experienced Class

Christies – Student & Newcomer Class

Oster Pro – generously providing cordless clippers for the Student & Newcomer class

Simpsons of Langley – Special Awards

For further information, please contact:

Alexandra Baker, Communications Manager
email: alexandra.baker@petfederation.co.uk; tel: 01234 224507 (direct line)

Rosie Loft, Communications Manager
email: rosie.loft@petfederation.co.uk ; tel: 01234 224509 (direct line)

Main office: 01234 273933.