Barcelona
hosts 4th World Team Grooming Championships
The
beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain was the setting for the
2003 World Grooming Championships on Sunday 26th October 2003.
This biannual competition attracted seven teams from around
the World. Top Groomers from Italy, France, Germany, USA,
UK, Canada and of course Spain showed off their artistic talents
to an intrigued audience. The event was run in conjunction
with "Festival de la Mascota", a two day pet show
open to the public. As well as the World Groomteam Championships
there was also the Spanish National Grooming competition which
was held on the first day of the show. Spectators could also
visit the special events ring where demonstrations of obedience,
agility, police dog handling and dogs for the disabled were
being held. There was also a breed show, a cat show and evenpony
rides for children. There was even a small "Discover
Dogs" area, where members of the public could find out
more about and come face to face with their favourite breeds
of dog. And as if that were not enough there were also many
stalls selling a variety of toys and treats for both pets
and humans.
Members of the Pet Trade were also invited to attend Sizoo,
a Spanish Pet Trade Show. This was held in a separate hall
which was filled with stalls from all sectors of the pet trade.
A great chance for visitors to view new and existing products.
There were also various grooming demonstrations held throughout
the day.
The members of this year’s UK Groomteam which was sponsored
by Wahl UK Ltd were made up of previous years winners of the
British Grooming Championships. They were Richard Barker (1998),
Paula Hull (1999 & 1992), Melanie Winters-Holmes (2000)
and Joanne Angus (2001 & 1991). The first two classes
of the day were the Handstrip class, judged by Mijo Klein
(France), Umberto Lehmann (Italy) and Jean-Francois Anaken
(Belgium) and the Scissored Purebreed Clas, judged by Natalia
Volkova (Russia), Helen Christiansen (USA) and Emilia Diaz
(Spain). Joanne Angus handstripped a Scottish Terrier and
Richard Barker scissored a Kerry Blue Terrier. Their original
plan had been for Melanie to trim a Bedlington in the scissored
class but unfortunately they were let down at the last minute
and were unable to bring the chosen dog. There were no prizes
for the UK team in the morning but the afternoon classes would
hopefully bring them more luck.
Melanie Winters-Holmes trimmed a Miniature Poodle which was
given to her that morning for the Poodle Class, judged by
Umberto Lehmann, Angel Marques (Spain) and Jean-Francois Anaken.
Paula Hull handstripped an English Cocker Spaniel in the Spaniel
Class, judged by Helen Christiansen, Mijo Klein and Natalia
Volkova. Success finally came to the UK Team with Paula winning
Gold in the Spaniel Class.
