Beautifully written piece
from one of our Association members
So yesterday saw me hand back my trophy from last years grooming championship 2017 . To be honest I felt emotional removing it from the dresser in my kitchen where it has proudly sat for the last 12 months . For me the competition last year was not just a class entered , it was me In competition with myself . I had entered that same class two years previously and felt really disappointed to not have placed , but you go home and you think about it .You either give up or you get up and decide what’s next . So I decided after 14 years of grooming to start my city and guilds level 3 . I jumped right in and decided I wanted to try and complete the whole process in a year . Which by some grace of god I managed to pull off ! Having received good feed back from the examiner on my cocker exam I decided it was now or never for the championships in October 2017 . I had the feed back in the back of my mind but I had no idea if I could pull of the same groom again for the competition. Maybe I just got lucky that day in June I wondered ?!
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So off I went , to the competition. I remember feeling very calm . Probably as I groomed him at least 5 times in my head all night in bed the night before ! You set up your table , get everything you need and the time starts . I don’t really remember anything else until time was up , going back over lines , combing up legs for straggly bits you might of missed ... then it was announced there were 6 places for the open clipped class winners . I remember listening to a mic in the distance and heard my name called . To be honest I was thrilled . I said to my dog on the table , not so bad “Chico “ we will get 6 th place anyways !! And I was happy with that .
As the day wore on and the lack of sleep kicked in I was tired and eager to hear the final results. When the announcement came for class winners of my class I remember picking up the lead ready to go collect my Rosette for 6 th place . They didn’t call me . As the names rolled out one after the other up until 2 nd place I began to think maybe this wasn’t the result for my class as they hadn’t called me yet , I voiced this out loud to the amusement of a few groomers sat near by who were now laughing at my shocked face as my name was called ! I would be lying if I said I wasn’t in total disbelief. I think I was still mumbling “ I can’t believe it” going home in the car . |
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For me this was the highlight of my career . I was grooming 14 years , went back to complete my city and guilds and then won the competition all in the one year .
When I was been given the trophy I was informed it was Mary Tolands first ever clippers which was set in bronze and for me that made it even more special. I won’t lie I didnt really know Mary that well . What I did know of her was her big happy smiling face always greeted me when I passed her in a hallway or on entering the main hall . Since her passing Iv heard so many great stories of kind nature and caring personality that I feel it’s my loss that I didn’t know her better . So when informed this trophy had extra added personal value to all her friends and committee it took a place proudly in the centre of my dresser in the kitchen . Everyone that visited saw the trophy , well if any of you have seen it you will know why ! It’s bloody huge !!!
There was one funny innocence where an unplanned house party took place in my house . That wouldn’t be anything out of the usual here but my main concern for the whole party was that nobody go near or would steal the trophy ! I would have been happier they stole the tv of the Wall than Mary’s Trophy!!! So to finish off , I’m not competing or attending the championships this October. I’d decided to take some much needed time out this month and to be honest nothing will top last years highlight for me . It was a day I will always remember. For anyone who knows me they knew what it meant to me . For anybody reading this who has never competed, I will say the longer you leave it the harder it seems . But go for it , you are not competing against other groomers you are competing against yourself .. we all want to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be ! Good luck to all at the championships 2018 and to the hard working committee. I know you will all have a ball , and to the winner of the open clipped class I hope you have a very large self ready for Mary’s Trophy !
Angela
When I was been given the trophy I was informed it was Mary Tolands first ever clippers which was set in bronze and for me that made it even more special. I won’t lie I didnt really know Mary that well . What I did know of her was her big happy smiling face always greeted me when I passed her in a hallway or on entering the main hall . Since her passing Iv heard so many great stories of kind nature and caring personality that I feel it’s my loss that I didn’t know her better . So when informed this trophy had extra added personal value to all her friends and committee it took a place proudly in the centre of my dresser in the kitchen . Everyone that visited saw the trophy , well if any of you have seen it you will know why ! It’s bloody huge !!!
There was one funny innocence where an unplanned house party took place in my house . That wouldn’t be anything out of the usual here but my main concern for the whole party was that nobody go near or would steal the trophy ! I would have been happier they stole the tv of the Wall than Mary’s Trophy!!! So to finish off , I’m not competing or attending the championships this October. I’d decided to take some much needed time out this month and to be honest nothing will top last years highlight for me . It was a day I will always remember. For anyone who knows me they knew what it meant to me . For anybody reading this who has never competed, I will say the longer you leave it the harder it seems . But go for it , you are not competing against other groomers you are competing against yourself .. we all want to be the best versions of ourselves that we can be ! Good luck to all at the championships 2018 and to the hard working committee. I know you will all have a ball , and to the winner of the open clipped class I hope you have a very large self ready for Mary’s Trophy !
Angela
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