EGA Competition Rules / Pravidla soutěže EGA

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

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 and Team competition. 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

Beginners Class is for groomers with less than 1 year grooming experience.

A contestant is eligible for entry in the beginner’s class when they have less than one year’s experience in the specific breed with which they wish to compete. After one year has elapsed from the first competition as beginner, the contestant must move up to the intermediate class or open class.

Dog show experience counts towards the initial period of one year for the beginner’s class. 

Intermediate Class 

is for groomers with more than 1 year of grooming experience or groomers who have

already won 1st place in the beginner’s Class with a maximum 2-year experience. The winner won’t be allowed to compete in “Intermediate Class” anymore.

Open Class

is for experienced groomers who have not yet won 1st place in open class within the same category.

Champion Class

is for groomers who have already won 1st place in open class within the same category. After winning 1st place in beginners, intermediate class or open classes contestants may move up to the next level immediately but must move up to the next level no later than the 1st of January of the following year.

 Useful information

• Contestants must bring their own dogs in natural hair colour and own grooming tools.
• The organization will provide the tables.
• Before entering the ring, all contestants must go the photo studio with the competition dog to have their before-photo taken.
• The contestants need to be in the ring 30 minutes before the start of the competition for the prejudging.
• The contestants must go to the photo studio 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.

 

Finalist Announcements and Prize Awards Schedule

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.

As each competition segment concludes, we will excitedly announce the finalists. Here is the schedule for these announcements:

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 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!

Timing

Comfort Break

GrooMasters now includes a mandatory 10-minute comfort break, 1 hour into 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 35 cm 1:45 hours

35 cm up to 40 cm 2:00 hours

40 cm up to 45 cm 2:15 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 and Salon and Asian style

Small breeds up to 40 cm 2:00 hours

Medium breeds between 40 and 50 cm 2:30 hours

Extra big breeds over 50 cm 3:00 hours

 

All Beginners and Intermediate

(Small & Big Size) 2:30 hours

 

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.

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 &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 commercial class.

 

Poodles / Pure Breeds

The dog needs to be washed and fluff dried.

The muzzle, feet, stomach and tail can be clipped before the competition.

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

Poodles with topknots can have 15 minutes extra time to finish and may ask for help from an outsider to hold the dog while doing the topknot (in these 15 minutes they can continue using the scissors).

Colouring 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 at GrooMasters

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@pgacr.cz with the following info:

o The names of the team members

o Who competes in which class

o 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!

 

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.

• 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. (In case of cancellation, refund or no-shows a processing fee of 1000 Kč will be charged).