EGA Competition Rules

In case of any ambiguity in the rules, the EGA rules apply.

Official Categories

The contestant can enter in any of the 4 following official categories:

Handstripping
Spaniels and Setters
Poodles A: Toy, Miniature and Medium size, Poodles B: Standard
Pure breeds (Other than above)

In the 4 official categories you can choose to enter in the following classes:

Open
Champion

Extra Categories

Contestants may also enter in the following extra categories:

Beginners
Intermediate
Mixed and Salon
Asian Style

These classes / categories are not eligible for Best in Show. Only 1 general class is available in these categories.

By entering the competition you are, without extra registration, also competing for the extra prizes such as, best groomer, best team, special achievement prizes which can be given at or after the show.

Class definition

Beginners Class

Is for groomers with less than 2 years grooming experience. Dog show also counts as experience.

A contestant is eligible for entry in the beginner’s class when they have less than two year’s experience in the specific breed with which they wish to compete.

The contestant can compete as “Beginner” in several contests for 12 months even if winner. The second year he/she must enter “Intermediate” class or "Open Class" even if not winner.

In this class, all breeds and techniques are confused but Contest Organizers can divide the Beginner class into the four main categories. Only breeds from the 4 main categories are allowed. Moving to Intermediate after winning in one category does not allow the contestant to compete again in Beginner, even not in different categories.

Intermediate Class

Is for groomers with more than 2 years of grooming experience.

The contestant can compete as “Intermediate” in several contests for 12 months even if winner. The second year he/she must enter “Open” class even if not winner. In this class, all breeds and techniques are confused but Contest Organizers can divide the Intermediate class into the four main categories. Only the breeds from the 4 official categories are allowed.

Moving to Open after winning in one category does not allow the contestant to compete again in Intermediate, even not in different categories.

Contestants that already have been competing in Open cannot compete in Intermediate anymore.

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In Competitions where “Open” and “Champion” class are scheduled, contestants will enter the one they belong considering their previous results

Per category, the contestant can compete in one of the two following classes

Open Class

Any groomer moving from Intermediate class or that has not yet competed in Champion class.

Open competitors will need three victories, obtained in a class with no less than five contestants, to move up to “Champion”. Along with their award, winners will receive one certificate. The three certificates must be shown when registering for “Champion”.

Champion Class

“Champion” class is for contestants that already won their category in that class and contestants that won three times Open Class in the same category in a class with no less than five contestants and only if showing the three certificates.

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Timing

Comfort Break

GrooMasters includes a mandatory 10-minute comfort break, 1 hour after the start of each competition. This break not only allows dogs to stretch and hydrate, ensuring their well-being, but also gives the dogs a break from standing on the table. Groomers can use this time for a quick rest as well. This addition underscores our commitment to the health and comfort of all participants

Handstripping without clipper use

Small and Medium sizes 2:30 hours
Big sizes (Airedale Terrier) 3:00 hours

Handstripping with clipper use

Small 2:00 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 45 cm 2:00 hours
Over 45 cm 2:30 hours
15 minutes extra time is allowed to spray up top knot.

Pure Breeds

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

Mixed and Salon and Asian style

Small and medium breeds 1:30 hours
Large breeds 2:00 hours

All Beginners and Intermediate

Small & Big Size 2:30 hours

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Useful information

Contestants must bring their own dogs in natural hair colour 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 the prejudging. During this time the organization will take a before picture of the dog and put it on your table.
The contestants must go to the photo studio right after the competition to have their after-photo taken.
In each class and category, there will be 3 contestants placed per class.
Before each competition, the contestant may ask a judge or all judges if they wish to give commentary after the competition ends. This comment will be given after each class on a dedicated place.

The Best In Show will be chosen from the 10 first placed class winners from the official 4 categories.

The Best All Round Groomer is the individual competitor who by winning in the 4 official categories gains the most points. In the event of a tie: The winner will be the contestant who has the highest placings in the individual official classes. If both contestants are still placed equally then the Organizer will decide the winner.

The Best Team: The best team is the team that gains the most points in the 4 official categories.

PGACR Trophy: The best transformation: The judges will choose the best before/after transformation. In case of a tie the president of PGACR will decide the winner.

Finalist Announcements and Prize Awards Schedule

As each competition segment concludes, we will excitedly announce the finalists. For exact times please check the competition schedule.

Saturday Morning Competition: Finalists will be announced at the lunch break.

Saturday Afternoon Competition: Finalists will be revealed at the close of the competition, followed by the presentations and prize awards for the non-official classes, such as "Beginners Class" the "Intermediate Class” And the "Mixed and Salon and Asian Style Class"

Finalists from the official classes must be available to return on Sunday.

The prestigious prize awards ceremony for these classes will take place on Sunday evening. It's a celebratory occasion to honour the skill and dedication of all participants.

It is imperative for all finalists in the official classes to be present at the Saturday evening ceremony to receive their awards.

We encourage all competitors to give their best performance, and we eagerly anticipate honouring your hard work and accomplishments!

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Grooming rules

All dogs need to be washed before the competition.

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 8 weeks of coat growth and Poodles a minimum 5 cm coat length.

Any evident line or pattern from a previous grooming is not allowed. The dog’s coat must be long enough to allow the groomer to make a distinct difference in its appearance.

Contestants competing with dogs showing evident line or groomed less than two months earlier should be aware that they will not have any chance to compete for victory.

All grooming techniques are allowed, as long as the chosen technique suits the type of the dog’s coat. If there is any problem during the competition, raise your hand and the president of the jury will come and help you.

Category Handstripping / Spaniels & Setters

Stripping knives are allowed for handstripping class.

Dog needs to be groomed according to the breed standard.

(Coloured) Chalk powder/block/spray and cream are allowed for Terriers.

It is not allowed to use clippers except for:

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

Breeds who need to be hand-stripped and of which the coat does not allow this technique can compete in the Mixed and Salon class.

Poodles / Pure Breeds

The dog needs to be washed and fluff dried.

Clipper guide combs are not allowed.

Poodle muzzle and feet should be shaven prior to the start of the competition.

Poodles must be groomed in a style recognized in the breed standard.

Poodles with top knots may ask for help from an outsider to hold the dog.

Coliring is not allowed

Mixed and Salon:

This category is for all mixed breeds or breeds like Poodles that you wish to groom as a Bichon for example. This class is made for commercial work, the dogs we see in the salon on a daily basis.

No pure breed styled in his/her conformation trim is allowed in this class.

Examples of breeds that are typically in the salon class are the Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Lhasa Apso, and Shih Tzu, Cockers Spaniels and many more breeds all styled in a commercial trim.

Team competition

4 groomers from any country, even mixed countries, can form a team. Team points can only be gained in the 4 official classes:

Handstripping
Pure Breeds
Spaniels & Setters
Poodles

To be a team, you need 1 member of the team in each class, no matter if it’s in open class or champion class.

The best team is the team that gains the most points in the 4 official categories. If there’s a tie, the judges will decide who wins.

You can only participate in one team and it’s important to make the registration in the following way:

Each member of the team registers for the competition on the GrooMasters website.
When all the team members are registered, 1 member sends a mail to info@groomasters.cz with the following information:

The names of the team members
Who competes in which class
The team's name, for example the Hairy Groomers.

After you’ve made the right registration, you will receive a mail back with your team number. Only then is the team fully registered.

The Asian Style

During this category at GrooMasters you will be judged on the Asian look and exuberant creativity and of course the grooming and scissoring techniques.

Accessories such as bows, ribbons, decorated collars and clothing are not only allowed but desirable. As long as everything is applied during the competition time and your work is visible at all times.

This class is for all breeds and purebred dogs in all sizes. They should be groomed into a typical Asian expression and have the inspired style of round, short-legged, conically cut legs and round faces.

WARNING: Please keep in mind that coloring and painting are not permitted!

Contestants

On the entry form contestants must add the breed of the dog to be groomed and, for Poodle class, also what cut will be done. Signature in acceptance of all rules is required.

Contestants must be in the ring 30 minutes prior the start of the competition with their own dog and tools.

Contestants are not allowed to talk to other contestants and/or the audience during the contest.

Contestants are not allowed to use mobile phone and/or any electronic device during the competition.

If contestants are sponsored or work for a brand, will not be judged by a judge working for the same one. Only two other judges composing the Jury Panel will.

Chalk use is allowed, however Judges must be able to comb the entire dog's body during prejudging as well as at the end of the competition and no trace of it should appear on judges' hands after the judgment, as a disqualification can occur.

On Poodle hair spray can be used only on topknot, as the comb must slide smoothly during the judgment .

Too much hair spray and the use of texturing shampoo / conditioners can penalize Purebred Scissoring that cannot be smoothly combed.

Coat thinning comb should be used on Spaniel & Setter without exaggerating.

On Handstrip dogs, legs, underbelly and hears should not be done previous the competition.

Any indecorous or aggressive language used towards the judges as well as a dog handled in rough or unsafe manner may lead to disqualification.

Possible disqualification will be executed by the President of the Jury.

When competition ends, Contestants should remove all hair, equipment and products from the grooming table as well as moving all stuffs on the floor under the table, to allow the judges an easy approach to the tables for the judgment

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. Dogs not in judgment must not be kept stucked.

Any possible complaint must be in written, presented before the end of the event and will cost 25€.

“Open Class”” competitors will need three victories, obtained in a class with no less than five contestants, to move up to “Champion”. Along with their award, winners will receive one certificate. The three certificates must be shown when registering for “Champion”.

“Champion Class” winners will receive, along with their awards, one certificate to keep and attach to any application to become EGA judge.

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.

Judges

Three judges will judge each category

Judges cannot judge their own relatives and /or employees.

Judges working for a brand cannot judge contestants sponsored or working for the same one. When happening, the judge will not judge the contestant in question, only the 2 other members of the Jury Panel will.

Judges are not allowed to leave the ring during the competition without the permission of the President of the Jury.

“Champion” class must be strictly judged.

Persons not included in the EGA judges list cannot be appointed to judge any main competing class.

Judging

Pictures of the dogs will be taken before and after the competition.

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.
The ability to camouflage defects and enhance beauty.
Up to date knowledge of today’s modern grooming styles.
Respect for today’s breed standard*
The quality of scissoring, clipping and or stripping after passing a comb.
Balance, symmetry, and smoothness.
Presentation of the dog to the judge.
* Taking into account the 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 and the pads of the feet.

Handstripping

There should be no visible pink or 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 handstripping 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. We kindly ask all participants to be sportive and to respect the final decision of the jury.

Points

In all categories the judging system is based on points. Each judge awards the competitors 10 points for the first place, 8 points for the second, 6 points for the third and 4 points for the fourth in each class

Judging Communications

Judges are permitted to discuss and exchange opinions concerning competitors' performances during the competition.

Each judge will have his/her own place list. Adding up the points of all judges, the assigned President of the Jury will obtain the final place list. In the event of a tie, the President of the Jury will discuss with the judges to establish the place winner. All Judges will judge the BIS on a voting-based system.

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.

Declaration

As a competitor, I hereby certify that I have read and understood the competition rules and regulations and agree to abide by them. Contestants entering the competition with a dog showing less than 8 weeks of coat growth or visible lines from a previous grooming should be aware that they will be penalized and have little chance of being selected.

I hereby acknowledge that the organizer of the competition has the sole right of use of any images, (photo or video) data, and names of the competitors for the purposes of promoting future events.

Registering Fee

Any registrations not paid for by the due date will be cancelled. After this date, prices will increase by 20%, which is the “on the door” price. Cancellation of your registration is not possible.