Another heroine of Handballfast author’s column is the technical delegate of the HFR, in the recent past one of the best Russian arbitrators Tatyana Berezkina, who worked in tandem with Victoria Alpaidze at the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, at the World Cup-2021 finals, at the European Cup finals in 2016 and 2020 — about the profession of a groomer, how to deal with dogs, the reason for trimming cats, about recolating from Saint-Petersburg to Nizhniy Novgorod and Bulgakov’s Margarita.
1. Tatyana Berezkina is known in handball world as an arbitrator and now as a technical delegate as well. But few people know that you also trim cats and dogs. How did it happen, that you ended up as a groomer?
— Oh, it’s my second passion after handball. I love animals, in the childhood I wanted to become a veterinarian. But when I grew up, I understood, that my heart won’t withstand such a load. Grooming is a different matter. I completed a special course in native Saint-Petersburg, received a certificate — and let’s go! At first, I worked at salon. But at the same time I was practicing refereeing, it was complicated to combine. And I resigned in two years. Since then, I’ve been meeting with my clients at home or I visit them, when my schedule allows it. I don’t have any pets now because of my endless journeys. But I always primp my mother’s cats.
2. I understand when owners shear their dogs. But for what reason do they shear cats?
— Of course, 90 percent of our clients are dog owners. The remaining 10 percent are left for cats, mainly for Angora breed. You can’t imagine, how much wool they have. In addition, it is very capricious, with a high number of tangles. And Angora cats have extremely bad, nasty character, they don’t allow to comb out tangles. It’s more easy to shave it off, as in the case when the owner is allergic to wool.
3. Do groomers have standard prices?
— To start with, the prices in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg are higher than in the provinces. Besides, the size of the animal should be taken into consideration. But on the average, to trim a Yorkshire terrier or a lapdog costs two-three thousand rubles, a royal poodle or a Caucasian Sheperd dog — five-six thousand rubles, a cat — from one and a half to two. Washing, brushing, combing out tangles, processing the claws, ears, eyes is paid separately… There are too many things to list!
4. What are the most exotic wishes did you face?
— When I was working in the salon, our client was a typical business woman. She had an expensive car, a Louis Vuitton bag in one hand and a dog in another hand. And this poor chihuahua at the owner’s request had its claws regularly polished with bright varnish and had temporary tattoos on ears. To say I was shocked would be understatement...
Or consider Pomeranian Spitz. They cannot be shaved. But people still bring them to a salon with the words: «I want a haircut like Boo». That was the name of a spitz somewhere abroad, which had its hair cut too short, almost at zero. A little bit more fur was left on the muzzle. The dog turned into a teddy bear. The adorable photo was posted in social networks, it became popular. And a trend for short-haired spitz occurred. Although, many of them go bald and suffer from terrible skin problems. Please, excuse the pun, but haircut like Boo is a taboo for a groomer!
5 How to keep a dog calm during the haircut? Do you have a secret?
— Believe me, you can always agree with a dog. If it doesn’t work — you have to tie the muzzle up with a bandage or to put on a special collar in order to protect yourself from a bite. But it rarely comes to that, I can’t remember any insane complexities with dogs. But it’s more difficult when it comes to cats. At least two people are required. One person holds a cat, another cuts hair. Persian cats are a pleasant exception. They are gentle, phlegmatic. Like dolls! You can do everything you want with them. While Angora, Siamese cats and Maine Coons are wayward and quarrelsome. And rather exuberant cats come across even among outbred. Sometimes even three of us could hardly cope with it.
6. And how can you negotiate with a dog?
— Firstly, basically they rarely act up in a salon or in someone else’s apartment. It happens at home, where everything is familiar to them. The behaviors changes immediately in unusual surroundings. They behave modestly, get more complaisant. Secondly, you start to learn how to deal with a dog with practice. Each dog has its sensitive spots, that are usually the echoes of old injuries. Someone can’t stand manipulations near paws, someone — around the ears. A groomer should not only be extremely careful, but also attentive, monitor the dog’s reaction. If it suddenly bites, you should change the tactics, act softer or move to another area, leaving the painful one until later. Or you can take a pause, give some rest to the dog, play with it. It also reduces aggression. The bigger dog, the easier to deal with it!
7. Were there any accidents?
— I was hit by dogs five times in total. And they didn’t clung to my hand with teeth, just slightly bit. In other words, they were not aggressive, they just made it clear, that something went wrong.
While trimming cats is always a challenge. They are breaking out, shout, bite, release claws… But I am fine with that. I was always surrounded by cats since my childhood, I am used to their tricks, as well as to scratches from the claws.
8. Let me change the topic. Obviously, handball is sport number one for you. And what sport is number two?
— I like playing sports — football, volleyball, basketball. I tried everything in childhood. I often played ball games with boys in the yard, which I took from my father, God rest his soul. He was a football player, played as a goalkeeper, in the early 80’s he got to Zenit, but he didn’t make his way into the first squad.
9. What was the fate of your father?
— He retired early. He didn’t want to work as a coach and settled down as a security guard on one of the sports facilities. He died at the age of 61 from the effects of COVID.
10. All Petersburg supports football club Zenit. You aren’t an exception, are you?
— Ha-ha, you are mistaken. I monitor football only at the level of national teams and Champions League. Russian Premier League doesn’t arouse such interest, unlike indoor football.
11. Indoor football? Why?
— I moved to Nizhny Novgorod three years ago, and there is a cool futsal team Torpedo. Once I was invited to a match and I found great pleasure. The game is very dynamic with plenty of scoring chances and scored goals. So, I support Torpedo now.
12. Why did you move to Nizhny Novgorod?
— My boyfriend is from this city. He is a military, his name is Dmitry. I will refrain from other details.
13. Do you feel comfortable in this region?
— Quite well. Nizhny Novgorod is an incredibly beautiful city. One of the major sights is the confluence of two rivers — Volga and Oka. There is Alexander Nevsky cathedral next to this place. The historic centre, including the Kremlin and Bolshaya Pokrovskaya street, is within walking distance from there. Rozhdestvenskaya street with plenty of old houses is just below. They were restored and look great. When I make photos there and send to my acquaintances from Saint-Petersburg, all have the same reaction: "Oh, Tanya, did you come back?" I reply that I’m in Nizhny Novgorod. But this corner looks very similar to Petersburg indeed. As if someone took a piece and moved it to Volga. I try to come here more often.
I also enjoy walking in the park "Switzerland", situated on the bank of Oka. It is quiet and peaceful there. A fabulous location with great air!
14. Do you like theatre?
— Yes, I do. In this regard there is a wide choice in Saint-Petersburg, there are many good performances. I particularly remember "Master and Margarita" in the House of Culture Lensoviet. This novel by Bulgakov is one of my favorite, I wanted to see, how it would be implemented on the stage. It’s easier to do it in cinematography due to special effects, in particular.
In general, I liked the performance, though it can’t be compared to the book. It feels differently. I avidly read the novel, I couldn’t tear myself away. My imagination painted Margarita, Master, Woland, cat the Behemoth… I suppose, everyone has their own.
15. Well, and what is your Margarita like?
— She is tall, slender, but not slim. On the contrary, she is the one, as they say —blood with milk. With curly red hair, with large facial features, red lips and green eyes. I suppose, a real witch looks like this. And Behemoth is very big, black like pitch, fat and thick-cheeked. He reminds me of Basilio...
16. And now we reached traditional for this column questions. What is your favorite series?
— "Liquidation". It was released many years ago, but it still fascinates me. If I change the channels and bump into "Liquidation", I get stuck to the screen, no matter what episode is on. I'm ready to watch this film from anywhere. Probably, it may also be due to the fact that my favorite actor Vladimir Mashkov is acting in it. He is 60 this year, but he is still in great shape. He is courageous, charismatic, with a low timber. Mashkov is gorgeous in other films as well — "Pirahna Hunting", "The Thief", "The Oligarch", "The State Counselor", "The Crew"…
By the way, I'm not a fan of the series. I prefer full-length films on the big screen. Among our films "Legend No 17" and "Going Vertical" sunk into the soul, among foreign — "Gran Torino" with Clint Eastwood and "The World’s Fastest Indian" with Anthony Hopkins. These are my favorites, I’ve already seen them several times.
17. And what film from recently viewed you won’t watch again?
— "The Gentlemen". Generally, I like films directed by Guy Ritchie: "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels", "Snatch", "RocknRolla"… And I went to see "The Gentlemen" with anticipation — positive reviews, great director. I also invited my friend. But about forty minutes later we looked at each other, got up and left the cinema. The film didn’t touch us.
18. What is the last book you read?
— "A Hero of Our Time". At school the novel by Lermontov made no impression on me. I decided to return to it 5 years later and I treated it completely differently. Recently I reread it for the third time and, in short, I was delighted! I discovered so many new aspects!
19. A famous tennis player Yevgeny Kafelnikov once told me: "I can’t stand blondies and cognac". What do you dislike?
— Hypocrisy and weak-willed people.
Regarding food I don’t like pastries with apples and raisins. Though I won’t refuse from an apple pie and strudel, I will just pick the apples out. The same happens to curd casserole and Easter cake, which contain raisins.
20. The six-time world champion in swimming Yuliya Efimova once said: "I’m mean, hot-tempered, stubborn". What three words are enough for you?
— Determined. Faithful. Patient. The last quality is especially important both for a groomer and an arbitrator.
Author — Sport-Express columnist, specially for Handballfast
Photo: personal archive of Tatyana Berezkina
