Balkan Groom

RULES FOR CONDUCTING THE “BALKAN GROOM” 2024 INTERNATIONAL GROOMING CONTEST

The contest will be held in two categories, in two days:

October 18 “Pet Grooming”

October 19- “Show Grooming”

Judges of the competition: Ilana Simkina – Ukraine, Corinna Verschuren – Belgium, Maria Zakharchenko – Spain

PROGRAM: 
Location: Art Hotel Simona

18.10.2024 – Pet Groomning
10:00 AM – Registration
10:30 AM  – Preliminary judging
11:00 AM – START
2:15 PM – END
Judging of the groomed dogs
3 PM – Rewarding
4PM – BEST IN SHOW

Each category with its own BISS – 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd place and BEST IN SHOW

The Beginners Class will have its own champion for each category, which will be determined by the winners of each subcategory.

The “SHOW GROOMING” category – PURE BREED GROOMING (scissoring breeds / handstripping breeds according to the breed standard) includes the following subcategories:

SCISSORING – (BICHON FRIESE, LAGOTTO ROMAGNOLO, KERRY BLUE TERRIER, BEDLINGTON TERRIER, SOFT COATED WHEATEN TERRIER, BLACK RUSSIAN TERRIER, POMERANIAN – BREED GROOMING)

HIDDEN GROOMING – BOBTAIL, NEWFOUNDLAND, AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD, GOLDEN RETRIEVER

(THE WINNER IN THIS CATEGORY DOES NOT COMPETE IN THE BIS)

POODLE (PUPPY CLIP, SCANDINAVIAN LION, MODERN, CONTINENTAL, T-clip),

HANDSTRIPPING: SCHNAUZER, WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER, SCOTTISH TERRIER, JACK RUSSELL TERRIER, CAIRN TERRIER, WELSH TERRIER, AIRDALE TERRIER) – the use of a machine is allowed where permitted by standard)

SPANIELS AND SETTERS (COCKER SPANIEL, SPRINGER SPANIEL, SETTER, AFGHAN HOUND)

CLASSES OF PARTICIPANTS:

BEGINNERS – groomers with up to one year of experience.

OPEN CLASS – groomers with experience of more than one year, appearing for the first time – it is not necessary to have previously participated in beginners. At their discretion, a beginner groomer may enter in open class.

CHAMPION CLASS – participants who have won first places in open class and BEST IN SHOW in previous contests.

The classes are valid for both categories – show and pet grooming. Participants compete simultaneously, but are judged according to their class. In each class there is a first, second and third place, while with beginners there will be a BIS with first, second and third place for participants from all subcategories.

Each participant has the right to appear with the same dog in the same category every year, but once they have won first place in the open class of that category, they must appear in the championship class.

 “PET GROOMING” Category

The choice of hairstyle is at participant’s choice, different from the standard show hairstyle – all techniques NOT HARMFUL TO THE DOG are allowed.

NO EXHIBITION HAIRSTYLES ALLOWED ON THE MODELS.

Subcategories:

VOLUME COATS – all show grooming breeds, plus poodle, without respecting the lengths and shapes of show grooming, all techniques are allowed: (machine, scissors, trimmer). All poodle mixes can take part in this subcategory: maltipoo, cavapoo, labradoodle, etc.

NATURAL LONG COATS – Yorkshire Terrier Maltese, Shih Tzu, all Yorkshire Terrier derivatives: Wavy Yorkie, Beaver, Goldust, Chocolate, Merle, Ocean pearl.

Depending on the complexity of the hairstyle, bonus points may be awarded.

In this category, the participant can choose / come up with the hairstyle himself. The appearance before the haircut is evaluated – coat condition, length, lesions, etc. The choice of performance technique is up to the participant: scissors, machine.

ASIAN STYLE and CREATIVE – all breeds of natural long, volume and stripping coats are allowed.

Creative techniques are allowed: colouring, extensions, accessories.

MODEL DOG – mannequin hairstyle – whole dog

The participant himself determines the hairstyle he will choose. They shall not participate in Best in Show.

The winner of a subcategory is selected from the first place winners in the various classes and he competes in the BEST IN SHOW.

For example, in the natural long sub-category, the first-place winner in the Novice class, the first-place winner in the Open class, and the first-place winner in the Champion class compete and one of the three is selected (regardless of which class they have participated in) and he continues the competition for BEST IN SHOW.

DURATION FOR ALL CATEGORIES by classes

Small breeds up to 35 cm – beginners – 2.15 hours, open – 2 hours, championship – 1.45 hours

Medium breeds up to 45 cm – beginners – 2.30 hours, open – 2.15 hours, championship – 2 hours

Breeds over 45 cm – beginners – 2.45 hours, open – 2.30 hours, championship – 2.15 hours.

Large breeds – 3 hours for all classes.

The time may be increased at the judge’s discretion, but may not be decreased.

Additional 15 minutes for the topknot

Bulgarian Grooming Association grooming contest participation regulations

General:

This regulation explains the rights and obligations of both parties (organizer – participant) for events organized by BGA and is considered binding for both parties.

All groomers from the country and abroad are invited to participate in the competition, while the association members shall use all discounts as such.

Each participant has the right to participate in one or both categories: show and pet grooming.

Participants may enter any category at their discretion.

The contest organizer provides each participant with: a grooming table, a chair, an electrical socket or a power coupling, a waste bag.

The organizer undertakes to provide a bathing area, and every participant who will use it must request this in advance.

The organizer announces a break for the model (dog) every hour for all participants.

REGISTRATION

To participate in the contest, you must read the contest rules carefully!

PARTICIPATION APPLICATION:

Through an online form or request by phone with a consultation from the organizer: leave a message on Viber and the organizer will contact the participant at the agreed time.

Payment only by bank transfer to the association’s account, with the fees announced in advance:

ALL MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION BENEFIT FROM A SPECIAL PRICE-discount.

For example: Price for one category BGN 300; for members BGN 150

Price for two categories BGN 500; for members BGN 250

For foreigners, the prices are in euros.

The participant works with his own tools and provides and prepares their own model before participating in the contest. Each participant provides their own aids, such as a coloured table mat for contrast, a hand-held hair dryer, additional lighting, a tablecloth for model presentation.

Each participant is given a number to participate in the contest. In case the participant appears in both categories, they competes with the same number.

After registration, before competition start announcement, the participants take their places at the tables in the competition area with the number with which they are registered and prepare the dog for a preliminary inspection by the judges.

The competition START is announced after reviewing the preliminary preparation of all participants – the time is approximate.

To participate in the competition, the groomer must choose a dog for himself in accordance with the following requirements:

The dog must not be aggressive, be vaccinated against rabies, without signs of ill health.

The dog must stand well on the table, if necessary, the groomer must be able to handle the dog, otherwise the expert may remove the dog and the groomer from the competition.

If the dog has any injuries, defects in the fur, the participant must inform the expert about it during the preliminary inspection.

For participants in the “stripping” category, the dog must not be subjected to such within a minimum of 6 weeks, and for all other categories – for a minimum of 8 weeks before the competition start. The coat length should be sufficient to show changes in the dog’s appearance.

For participants in the stripping category, dogs must be clean within the stripping tolerance.

Dogs must be hygienically prepared in advance – nails trimmed, ears cleaned, paws shaved, muzzles, intima. Performing this procedure in the ring may take points.

For poodles competing clip requiring a topknot – TOPKNOT SUPPORTS SHALL BE TIED.

After a preliminary inspection, all dogs participating in the competition are given the command “START”. Only after the “START” command the groomers may start their work. If this requirement is not met, the expert may decide to reduce the working time or disqualify the participant.

The participant may stop work and take a break at their discretion without leaving the competition area until the time allotted for work has expired. In case of urgent need, the participant is obliged to contact the organizer in order to be provided with an assistant for the dog in the ring. It is forbidden for the participant to leave the ring with the dog without an assistant.

Participants in petgrooming have the right to use their own techniques in the work and build their work at their discretion, with their own taste and style.

The participant must stop working at the end of the allotted time. After the command “STOP”, the participant must remove fur, tools, cosmetics from the table. Only a comb should be on the table so that the judges can evaluate the competitor’s work. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in penalty points.

Hair dryers, cosmetics, accessories and other aids are allowed to be used at the workplace. In addition to the result of the work, the judge may evaluate the correctness of the tool choice and the technique of their application. Using a poor quality or dull tool is no excuse for poor work.

At the end of the work, the participants may change their clothes and cover the table with a tablecloth for a more beautiful demonstration of the dog.

Each competitor must await the judging of all competitors in their category at the grooming table and remain in the competition area until the results are announced.

After the competition completion and the competition results announcement, the winners will be invited to the awarding area.

IT IS NOT ALLOWED:

• To leave the dog at the table unattended.To take the dog without a lead on the competition grounds – dogs must be on leashes or in cages.
• Cruelty to animals.
• Help with another groomer ‘s work (only help with fixing the top knot for the last 15 minutes is allowed by a ring assistant, but not by a colleague)
• Unethical behaviour towards experts, organizers and participants of the competition.
• Telephone calls during the race.
• Listening to music with headphones.
• To place personal belongings on the aisle between the tables.
• To leave the competition area during the preliminary and final inspection, as well as during work without the permission of the expert or the organizers of the competition. In case of urgent need, the competitor shall inform the organizer that they need an assistant in the ring. The competitor shall not leave the competition area alone with their dog.
• Drinks, food, chewing gum, treats, electronic cigarettes are not allowed on the grooming table.
• Only a bottle of water is allowed – labelled.

The participant in the competition may be disqualified in the following cases:

• In case of delay for the start of the competition;
• Injuries, cuts caused by the participant during work;
• Misbehaviour;
• Starting work before the “START” and continuing work after the “STOP” command;
• Leaving the competition area during the contest part;
• Inappropriate clothingSh