2006 Contest Winners (photos below)

We had 25 contestants in the Groomer of the Year competition competing with
a total of 45 dogs. This year we were fortunate to have contestants from
Ireland, Canada, Brazil and the USA.

Our Rising Star Competition enjoyed entries by 40 contestants! Sixty-two
dogs were entered in the six classes.

This year, our winning placements received Intergroom Rising Star
Competition Medallions for the first time. We had waited several years
since the creation of the competition for the Intergroom 2000 Show.
Finally, it was more than time to create a special Medallion, somewhat
similar to the International Groomer of the Year Medallions.

Our Rising Star of the Year, Komako Tanaka was born in Tokyo, Japan. She
studied Ballet in Japan and came to the USA as a Professional Dancer at
Epcot Center for Disney World. In 1993, her dancing career ended due to an
injury and she needed to find another career. Researching several choices,
Koko discovered one called "Dog Grooming"!

"I love dogs and thought this would be interesting to pursue. I Studied at
Fifi's Pet Grooming School in Winter Park, FL. I first began as a groomer
in Orlando, FL and then was offered a chance to expand my career so I moved
to Nashville. After a couple of years, I noticed an opportunity to begin my
own Mobile pet grooming business which I began. It is called "Koko's Paws".

This year, the exhibit floor was filled with 82 exhibiting companies filling
147 exhibit spaces.

We called this year's event "Puttin' on the Ritz" based on the red carpet
treatment of the show and the "red carpet" treatment in our Grande Finale!
Six handsome men in Tuxedo attire, plus two beautiful young women in
formal-wear It is befitting our Banquet, as well, with the annual
announcement of the Cardinal Labs Crystal Achievement Awards - certainly the
"Oscars" of the grooming world!

Christine DeFilippo

1st - Sarah Hawks, Dog Works, Newark, DE
2nd - Cheryl Purcell - Pooch Paws, Hanover, MA
3rd - Karen Tucker, Wag'n Splash, Apopka, FL
4th - Marnie Mathison, Pets Beautiful, London, Ontario, Canada

1st - Steve Madonna, Dog Works, Newark, DE

1st - Julie Ostosky, Pampered Paws, Satelite Beach, FL
2nd - Barbara Prueckel, Dogie Style Inc., Calgary, Alberta, Canada
3rd Clayton Silva, Brazil
4th - Jackie Boulton, Mucky Pups, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

1st - Julie Wilkins, Best in Show, Gloucester, MA
2nd - Barbara Prueckel, Dogie Style Inc. Calgary, Alberta, Canada
3rd - Jodi Murphy, The Puppy Spa, Great Meadows, NJ
4th - Lisa Leady - Windy City School of Pet Grooming, Elk Grove, IL

1st - Jodi Murphy, The Puppy Spa, Great Meadows, NJ
2nd - Lisa Leady, Windy City School fo Pet Grooming, Elk Grove, IL
3rd - Susan Tapp, Canine Castle, Dumont, NJ
4th - Misty Fowler, Paragon School, Wyoming MN

1st - Jackie Boulton, Mucky Pups, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
2nd - Cheryl Purcell, Pooch Paws, Hanover, MA
3rd - Colin Taylor, California
4th - Anne Francis, The Village Groomer, Walpole, MA

Julie Wilkins, Best in Show, Gloucester, MA

Best American Groomer - Jodi Murphy
Best International Groomer - Jackie Boulton

1st - Jonathan Dalzell, NY Canine, Astoria, NY
2nd - Angela Boeske, Curly Kennels, Allegan, MI
3rd - Carol Basta, All Parts Vet Hospital, Manville, NJ

1st - Komako Tanaka, Kokos Paws, Nashville, TN
2nd - Rob Brightly, E. Greenbush Animal Hospital, Cohoes, NY
3rd - Alyysa Janelle, The Mut Hut, Henniker, NH

1st - Linsdey Berry, Wag'n Splash, Longwood, FL
2nd - Lisa Correia, Bark 'n Purr Mobile Salon, Toms River, NJ
3rd - Becky Paul, Shear Canine, Cocoa Beach, FL

1st - Komako Tanaka, Kokos Paws, Nashville, TN
2nd - Lindsey Berry, Wag'n Splash, Longwood, FL
3rd - Jonathan Dalzell, NY Canine, Astoria, NY

1st - Komako Tanaka, Kokos Paws, Nashville, TN
2nd - Jaimie Ludwig, Philadelphia, PA
3rd - Jenny Lynn Wall

1st - Angela Boeske, Curly Kennels, Allegan, NJ
2nd - Eve Hazy, Paws-n-Claws Pet Salon, Waynesboro, NC
3rd - Carol Basta, All Pets Vet Hospital, Manville, NJ