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Dog groomer Kelly closer to glory

blackmorevaleFebruary 25, 20210 Comment0

Wincanton’s winning dog groomer Kelly Davis has taken another step towards being recognised as the best clipper in the country. 

Kelly won through to the last four of the BBC1 challenge Pooch Perfect, a show which pits groomers against each other in a battle of canine beauty therapists. And, as in her first outing, she was named Best in Show ahead of her fellow contestants, the judges praising her versatility.

An emotional Kelly said through the tears: “I was just so shocked. But so happy. To win Best in Show feels amazing.”

She told the NBV: “This round was tough as Asian Freestyle is something that I have never done before but thoroughly enjoyed the challenge on little Pixie the Maltese to showcase my skill set. The Welsh terrier Ferry had a hard coat to strip but equally I enjoyed the pressure of getting it all done within the time. I feel thrilled to get Best In Show again and be put through to the semi-finals.”

Kelly, who lives in Bruton, has been a groomer for 18 years, the last eight of which has been running her studio and training centre in Wincanton, KD Grooming.

In the quarter final, Kelly was given more than three hours to wash and clip a Welsh terrier called Ferry. Judge Verity Hardcastle said: “Beautiful head shape, lovely triangular eyebrows… There isn’t one stray hair.” Kelly won the first round. “You gave Ferry that beautiful Welsh Terrier expression,” said co- judge Colin Taylor.

Her second dog to be groomed was a Maltese called Pixie – which she gave plaits. “It was totally not my thing – but I tried my hardest,” she said. And it worked. Said Verity: “We really liked her design on this little Maltese. She really gave that dog a little smile.”

Kelly was also the only one of the four to correctly name the breeds in a cross. Her win took Kelly into the semi-final, which was shown on BBC1 last Thursday. The top two from the show go forward to a head-to-head battle in the final next Thursday.