The attendee count was up 7 percent from 2,898 last year, according to Sally Liddick, president of Barkleigh Productions Inc. (Mechanicsburg, Pa.). The four-day event incorporated the GroomOlympics, the Natural Pet Expo, the Animal Behavior Conference and the Mobile Grooming Vehicle Roundup.

The nation’s best groomers vied for the top positions in competitions sanctioned by the International Judges Association (Lexington, Ky.) and GroomTeam USA (Claremont, Calif.).

For the second year in a row, Julie Wilkins of Best in Show Mobile Dog Grooming (Gloucester, Mass.) was named GroomOlympics World Champion. She received $5,000 from PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix).

Jackie Boulton of Jackie’s Animal Services Ltd. (Calgary, Alberta) placed first in the Nature’s Specialties Winners Circle Tournament. She received $2,500 from Nature’s Specialties Manufacturing (Corona, Calif.).

Amy Beishuizen of The Barker Shop (South Holland, Ill.) won the Barkleigh Creative Styling Contest with an entry titled “Nature Quest.” She received $1,500 from Barkleigh Productions.

Individual classes were sponsored by Andis Co. (Racine, Wis.), Lambert Kay/Church & Dwight Co. Inc. (Princeton, N.J.), Tropiclean Products Co. (Wentzville, Mo.) and Gibson-Governor Insurance (Vienna, Ohio). ConairPro Professional Pet Grooming Products (Stamford, Conn.) sponsored the fully-functioning grooming salon on the trade show floor.

The event featured more than 45 educational programs on grooming, holistic and alternative therapies, boarding, day care, animal behavior, retailing and business.

”Groom Expo continues to expand and educate in all the areas of pet services,” Liddick said. "New ideas, driven by pet owner needs, are ever changing and Groom Expo has become invaluable as a forum to discuss and disseminate these services to pet-care professionals from all over the world."

The trade show featured 143 companies in 169 booths, up from 129 companies in 159 booths last year, Liddick said.

The next Groom Expo will take place Sept. 14-17, 2006, at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pa. For more information, contact Barkleigh Productions at (717) 691-3388, or visit www.barkleigh.com.