MICHAEL LEONARD

I am 66 years of age and have been involved in show dogs for the
past 42 years. Although I grew up with Dogs as my father had
Gundog’s on the family farm.
The breeds that I have been involved in and made up champions are:
Old English Sheepdogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Bernese
Mountain Dogs, Japanese Spitz and Tibetan Spaniels.
Under Irish Kennel Club rules and FCI, I am now qualified as An All
Breeds Judge. My Licence Number is EI00085. American Kennel
Club 97927
I am also a Best in Show Judge and have had this honour in Ireland,
Denmark, Italy, France, Norway, Japan, Columbia, Malaysia,
Sweden, South Africa, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Canada,
Mexico, Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Peru. China and USA. Beverly
Hills 2020.
I have judged Pup of the Year Competition in Ireland in 1997 and
2007, Dog of the Year in Denmark in 1998 and Show Dog of the Year
in Sweden in 2001. Champion of Champions in Prague. In December
2016 I judged Champion of Champions in Estonia. I will judge Ch of
Champions in Latvia in December 2019 and Again in Prague in
January 2020.
I have judged in most European countries and further afield in
Argentina, America, Brazil, Canada, Australia, Japan, Columbia, New
Zealand, Malaysia, South Africa, Hong Kong, China, Philipines,
Mexico, Indonesia, Peru. Uruguay, Thailand and USA.
In 2008 I had the great honour of Judging Tibetan Spaniels at the
World Dog Show in Sweden.
In 2018 at The World Dog Show in Amsterdam I judged Cavalier
King Charles Spaniels, Miniature Bull Terriers and English Toy
Terriers.
In 2008 I also had the honour of judging Shetland Sheepdog.
Chinese Crested and Dogs Argentino at The European Dog Show in
Poland.
In 2019 I judged Males and Females at The Cavalier King Charles
Spaniel National in America.
In 2019 I was one of the 2 judges at the Adelaide Royal in Australia
and judged Best in Show.
In 2023 I will judge at the European Dog Show in Denmark and the World Dog Show in Geneva.
With regards to Old English Sheepdogs I have judged the Breed
Speciality Shows in Ireland, Finland, Germany and Denmark. I have
also judged the Breed in many countries.
In respect of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels I first judged the Breed
in Ireland in 1983 and also over the years in Norway, Sweden,
Denmark, Finland, Germany, and Holland. Argentina, Japan,
Australia, Columbia, France, Estonia, Lithuania, Canada, Italy and
Spain.
One of my most exciting appointment was in France in 2012 when I
was one of of six judges for the Cavalier Speciality with an entry of
over 600 Cavaliers. But my most exciting had to be the American
National.
I have also judged Breeds Specialities in Sweden and in
June of 2015 I judged the Speciality in Los Angeles. Excited to return
again in 2020.
In September 2015 I judged CC’s under English Kennel club rules at
Belfast Championship Show.
in June 2017 I judged the Cavalier of the Northeast of America
Speciality. In 2018 I judged the Breed at the World Show in
Amsterdam.
In respect of Japanese Spitz I judged the Breed Speciality in May
2012 in Sweden, in 2013 The Breed Speciality in Finland and The
Norwegian Japanese Spitz Speciality in 2014. In August of this year I
judged the Speciality in Sydney Australia.
In respect of Bernese Mountain Dogs I have judged Breeds
Specialities in Ireland, Argentina, New Zealand and Canada.
In 2018 I was one of the 3 judges who judged The Bernese National
in America. This was a very big honour for a European judge as was
voted by the members and I will be the First Irish Judge to have this
honour.
I have been involved in Show Dogs since 1977 when MICHAEL FORTE
and I bought an Old English Sheepdog from Stella Harte. We quickly
caught the show bug and within 2 years we were showing the Old
English sheepdog and Cavaliers. We set up the Kennel Prefix
Leonfort and we quickly became known in Cavaliers as we won Best
of Breed under Pamela Cross Stern with a ten month old puppy Ch
Ronnoc Vicenzo at his first St Patricks Day Show (The Irish Crufts) in
1980. He won again the following year under Russell Roberts. Ch
Ronnoc Vicenzo was the top stud dog in the breed for 6 years in a
row.
We quickly caught the show bug and within 2 years we were
showing the Old English sheepdog and Cavaliers. We set up the
Kennel Prefix Leonfort and we quickly became known in Cavaliers as
we won Best of Breed under Pamela Cross Stern with a ten month
old puppy Ch Ronnoc Vicenzo at his first St Patricks Day Show (The
Irish Crufts) in 1980. He won again the following year under Russell
Roberts. Ch Ronnoc Vicenzo was the top stud dog in the breed for 6
years in a row.
We made up 2 other Champions Ch Leonfort Vicenzo and Ch
Vandyck Jester of Leonfort who both had wonderful show careers.
I was a committee member of The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Club of Ireland for approx. 10 years from 1980.
In Old English Sheepdogs we made up one champion and bred 2
litters. I was secretary of the club for 4 years and the IKC
Representative.
In Bernese Mountain Dogs we made up champions and bred litters.
We had the breed recognized with the IKC in 1979 and set up the
Bernese Mountain Dog Club of Ireland. I served as Secretary/
Treasurer and in 2007 had the honour of been the Judge for their
25th Anniversary show and also in 2022 the 40th anniversary show.
 have judged Breeds Specialities in Ireland, Argentina,Norway, New Zealand and Canada.
 In 2018, I was one of the 3 judges who  judged The Bernese National in America. This is a very big honour for a European judge as was voted by the members and I was  the First Irish Judge to have this honour.
at the World Dog show in 2023 in Geneva I will judge females.
In Japanese Spitz I had the Breed recognized in the IKC with Stella
Harte and MICHAEL FORTE in 1983 and owned the first champion to be
made up which was bred by Stella Harte. We set up the Japanese
Spitz Club of Ireland and I served as Secretary, Treasurer and IKC
Representative.
In Tibetan Spaniels I made up champions and bred litters and served
as Chairman for over 10 years. I had the honour of judging the breed
at the World Show in Sweden in 2008. One of the only 2 Irish Judges
at this show and have awarded CC on 2 occasions at Scottish Club
shows.