WHEN it comes to canine crimpers Ainsworth stylist Karen Ellison is the Vidal Sassoon of the dog world.

Karen is in demand with owners of pampered pooches who want their pets poshed up after winning a top dog groomers' competition.

The 20-year-old animal lover has been a canine beautician at the Scotson Fold Boarding Kennels and Cattery in Radcliffe for two and a half years and has worked at the kennels since leaving school aged 16.

Karen has still to finish her City and Guilds course in dog grooming but she has proved so talented with the clippers and comb that at the weekend she beat 50 other experienced people to win her category in the British Dog Groomers' Association national championships in Kettering.

The competitors were given the challenge of grooming two dogs, with a time limit of two hours on each animal.

Karen, of Edgworth Avenue, Ainsworth, borrowed a cocker spaniel and a toy poodle from regular clients for the competition and they proved to be an excellent help.

"They were even better behaved than in the salon," laughed Karen.

As well as winning the Group Two championship Karen also came second in the clipped gun dog category and third in the toy poodle section.

"I didn't expect to get very far because I've not had much experience," said Karen.

Her success has delighted her boss, Jim Renshaw.

"She has done very, very well and we are very proud and pleased for her," he said.

"The dogs are constantly moving so the skills involved in cutting a dog are greater than for humans."

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