Judges 2026
Romana kania
🏅 Judges:
Stripping Open/Champions
Scissor Open/Champions
Spaniel Open/Champions
Poodles Champions
Poodles under/over 45 Open
Model Dog
She is owner of a very successful grooming salon in Prague, Czech Republice. She has won multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze medals, Best in Show and Best All-round Groomer awards, in both Europe and America. Romana is a winner of the Oster Invitational Tournament of Champions in Germany 2005, with a Bichon Frise. For two times, as the only groomer in the history, she become European Champion in 2004 and 2006 with a Poodle, a Bichon Frise, a Schnauzer and an American Cocker. Becoming a Best Czech Groomer of the Year champion was repeated every time she was able to compete for this title. Romana is one of the founders of the Czech Dog Grooming Association. Member and all-round Judge of E.G.A. ( European Grooming Association). Romana gives dog grooming seminars and demonstrations in the Czech Republic and abroad. She also published many articles about fog grooming in Czech Doggies magazines. A Poodle lover, enjoying Agility and show handling - her own medium size Poodle become Best of Breed, World Winner and short listed in the group IX. at the World Dog Show Helsinki, Finland 2014
Umberto Lehmann
🏅 Judges:
Beginners Standard Cuts
Intermediate
Beginners Commercial Cuts
El Corte Italiano in Cartagena has been his home since 2007. Opened his grooming salon in Milano in 1985 after having been in breeding, showing and training. In 1985 he started giving formation and specialization courses in his Grooming School getting more than 500 students. From 1985 to 2001, he won several gold and silver medals in USA, Europe and Canada in Poodle, Stripping, Purebreds Scissoring and Spaniels. He was member of the Italian Team that got the third place in the World Team Championship in Intergroom U.S.A.1996 He was member of the European Team that got the second place in the 2001 World Team Championship in Canada. From 1989 to 2018 Umberto judged in more than 300 International Grooming Competitions, grooming demonstrations in more than 350 seminars in USA, all over Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Taiwan, India, Brazil, Japan , China ,Korea, He has received the Cardinal Crystal Grooming Achievement Award in 1987 as "International Groomer of the year". Umberto has been judging in the World Team Grooming Championship in England in 1999 as well as in Spain in 2003 as well in Belgium 2011. In France 2005 in Germany 2009 in Spain 2013, in Italy 2015, 2107 he has been President of the Jury. He is Oster Ambassador for Europe. President of the European Grooming Association (E.G.A.), President of the Italian Grooming Association (A.T.I.), and Organizer of "MilanGroom Grooming Competition", and Organizer of The Oster European Tournament of Champion from the 2004 European Grooming Association: Judge All round Showmanagers Alliance: Judge - All round
Alessandro Pascoli
🏅 Judges:
Stripping Open/Champions
Commercial Cuts
Scissor Open/Champions
Asian Style
Beginners Commercial Cuts
Born in 1985, proudly from Puglia, she discovered the world of pet grooming in 2010, enrolling in her first course. She immediately knew she had found her calling: scissors became her tool of expression, and her passion quickly transformed into talent.
In 2012, at her first competition, she won her first Best in Show: it was just the beginning of a brilliant career, studded with successes. Over the years, she has collected numerous national and international titles, including:
• Individual World Champion
• Two-time World Team Vice Champion
• Three-time Tournament of Champions finalist
• Multiple Italian and International Champion in her respective categories
• Winner of the prestigious 2020 International Pet Styling Award
Alongside her competitive activity, she is enthusiastically dedicated to training, participating as a teacher in numerous international seminars. Her mission is to convey technique, method, and passion to groomers around the world.
After years of fieldwork, he took a decisive step in his career: he served as director of a renowned international academy for several years. Here, he puts all his experience, infectious energy, and a genuine desire to nurture future talents at the service of his students, guiding them in their professional growth with dedication and expertise.
In 2012, at her first competition, she won her first Best in Show: it was just the beginning of a brilliant career, studded with successes. Over the years, she has collected numerous national and international titles, including:
• Individual World Champion
• Two-time World Team Vice Champion
• Three-time Tournament of Champions finalist
• Multiple Italian and International Champion in her respective categories
• Winner of the prestigious 2020 International Pet Styling Award
Alongside her competitive activity, she is enthusiastically dedicated to training, participating as a teacher in numerous international seminars. Her mission is to convey technique, method, and passion to groomers around the world.
After years of fieldwork, he took a decisive step in his career: he served as director of a renowned international academy for several years. Here, he puts all his experience, infectious energy, and a genuine desire to nurture future talents at the service of his students, guiding them in their professional growth with dedication and expertise.
Kitty Ponnet
🏅 Judges:
Stripping Open/Champions
Beginners Standard Cuts
Pair Grooming
Spaniel Open/Champions
Intermediate
Poodles Champions
Poodles under/over 45 Open
Model Dog
Kitty Ponnet is an internationally recognised grooming professional from Belgium and co-founder of Groomania. With extensive experience in grooming compétitions with multiples Best in Show titles and as International judge, she is known for her sharp eye for detail, fairness, and strong technical knowledge. As grooming consultant Kitty plays an active role in shaping high-level éducation and seminars around the world. Her passion for education and industry development makes her a respected figure within the global grooming community.
Valerie Sole
🏅 Judges:
Commercial Cuts
Scissor Open/Champions
Spaniel Open/Champions
Asian Style
Poodles Champions
Poodles under/over 45 Open
Model Dog
Valérie Sole began grooming in 1994 and opened her salon in Nogent-sur-Marne, near Paris, in 1998. Quickly noticed for the precision of her work, she won her first medals in competition from 2000, especially in Poodle, as well as in Bichon Frisé and English Cocker Spaniel.
Selected in 2005 as part of the French Grooming Team, she participated for a decade in the team world championships and became three times world champion (2005, 2007, 2011) and twice vice-champion of the world (2009, 2012).
Today, international judge and technical coach of the Groom Team France, Valérie Sole puts her experience and requirement at the service of grooming excellence, by transmitting a know-how recognised on the international scene.
Selected in 2005 as part of the French Grooming Team, she participated for a decade in the team world championships and became three times world champion (2005, 2007, 2011) and twice vice-champion of the world (2009, 2012).
Today, international judge and technical coach of the Groom Team France, Valérie Sole puts her experience and requirement at the service of grooming excellence, by transmitting a know-how recognised on the international scene.
Simona Chelli
👑 Jury President
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