Judges
Mathew Spry
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Meet Mathew Spry, an award-winning International groomer from Wales, UK, who is deeply passionate about dogs and sharing his knowledge and expertise with others.
With his exceptional skills and talents, Mathew has competed in numerous grooming competitions around the world, earning multiple first-place victories, including the prestigious 1st Place Asian Fusion and Poodle Classes at the renowned Groomania Show. He has also won Best in Show awards with both poodles and fox terriers through hand stripping techniques.
Not only has Mathew achieved success in the competition ring, but he has also judged and given seminars at many grooming competitions in the UK and internationally, including the British Dog Grooming Championships and Groomania 2022. As a previous Chairman for the British Dog Groomers Association and current Groom Team Wales Member for Poodles, Mathew's knowledge and experience are highly respected in the industry.
Mathew is also a proud ambassador for Transgroom and The Sentinel, two highly reputable grooming companies. He was nominated for Grand Champion Groomer of the Year 2022, and won the Golden Groomer Best in Show 2022, Rising Star Award, and Best UK Pet Spa 2019. Additionally, Mathew was nominated for Up & Coming Groomer of the Year 2019, and won UK Grooming Business of the Year 2020.
With his incredible passion for grooming and his impressive list of accomplishments, Mathew Spry is a force to be reckoned with in the grooming world.
Colin Taylor
London-born Colin Taylor has a long history of being an international super star in the world of professional pet grooming. Colin is certified by the United Kingdom City and Guild plus a Certified Master Groomer in the Untied States. He is a multiple GroomTeam USA team member. In 2007, Colin was a member of GroomTeam Scotland. In the Untied States, he has won Best Groomed Dog in Show at every major grooming show plus Best All Around Groomer. He’s been awarded Best Scissored Dog in Show award countless times, including one of which was giving by the famed poodle handler KAZ HOSAKA which Colin holds close to his heart. When he was an active competitor, his breed specialties were, Bedlington Terriers, Poodles and Mixed Breed styling. He is honored by the fact he has made the front cover of GROOMER TO GROOMER magazine 5 times.
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At the age of 16, he began his grooming career in 1985 at the London Academy of Grooming. Just three months into the course, his instructor, Jill East, entered him in his first grooming contest with a hand stripped Cairn Terrier. To their amazement – Colin won the class! Thus began his long string of successful contest wins and placements over the next 25 years around the globe.
Upon graduation from the London Academy, Colin was offered a two year contract to work at the Hong Kong Doggie House for Mary Ng . He could not turn down this unique opportunity. At the age of 17, he left the UK. In Hong Kong he would learn much about life and even more about the grooming world, including how to scissor - and scissor fast. The two years flew by.
At 19, Mr. Taylor returned back to the UK. He taught at the grooming school where he originally trained. In 1989 the World Grooming Championship contest was held in Windsor UK. He entered the contest. After dazzling the crowd with his grooming talent, Colin went on to meet some of the United States finest groomers – and his next international opportunity unfolded.
At the 1989 World Championship, Colin met well respected business woman, Dina Perry. At the time, she owned Wag n Tails Mobile Grooming and The Michigan School of Canine Cosmetology, located in Lansing, Michigan. Dina put Colin under her wing. The next thing Colin knew, he was on a plane bound for Detroit. With only his scissors and a few Madonna posters packed, Colin did not know quite what to expect. What he did know, he was on his way to another country with his ever present desire to learn.
Colin spent the next eighteen years in the United States. He worked in some of the most prestigious grooming schools and salons across the country. Colin has been featured on TV shows such as The Kelly & Company Show in Detroit and the Paul Mitchell Dog Shampoo program which was filmed in Pittsburgh.
In 2007 Colin returned to the UK to be closer to his family. His focus is assisting and inspiring education in the pet grooming industry. His goal it to be an inspiration to other pet professionals so they can reach goals like he has.
Currently, Colin travels throughout the UK and Europe giving seminars and private clinics. He even has even traveled to India, China and Australia on his speaking schedule. Colin’s personal speaking style is like an open book. He loves to share his knowledge and experience. He holds nothing back. Colin never believes in keeping secrets. His professional advice always puts the dog first. He constantly states, “Never put a dog through pain or suffering just because you think it has to be perfect. The dog’s well-being is more important.” Also, “Practice makes perfect - practicing perfect makes perfect.”
Recently Colin became an author. He just published his first book, “What Would Colin Do?” In the book, Colin doles out his personal advice on 101 different pet grooming topics in a light and entertaining way.
Colin Taylor is a well known all breed industry judge and speaker for grooming contests all over the world. His specialties are breed profile trimming, handling, hand scissoring, professional proficiency, and personal motivation. He loves to see people progress forward no matter what their chosen path is in life.