Leonard, Michael
Michael is 66 years of age and has been involved in show dogs for the
past 42 years.
Although he grew up with Dogs as his father had Gundog’s on the family farm.
The breeds that he ha 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, Michael is now
qualified as An All Breeds Judge. My Licence Number is EI00085. American Kennel
Club 97927.
He is also a Best in Show Judge and has 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.
He has 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 he judged Champion of Champions in
Estonia.
He will judge Ch of Champions in Latvia in December 2019 and Again in Prague in
January 2020. He has 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, he had the great honour of Judging Tibetan Spaniels at the World Dog Show
in Sweden. In 2018 at The World Dog Show in Amsterdam he judged Cavalier
King Charles Spaniels, Miniature Bull Terriers and English Toy Terriers.
The same year he also had the honour of judging Shetland Sheepdog, Chinese
Crested and Dogs Argentino at The European Dog Show in Poland.
In 2019, he judged Males and Females at The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel National
in America. In 2019, he was one of the 2 judges at the Adelaide Royal in Australia
and judged Best in Show.
With regards to Old English Sheepdogs he has judged the Breed Speciality Shows in
Ireland, Finland, Germany and Denmark. I has also judged the Breed in many
countries. In respect of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels he 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 his most exciting appointment was in France in 2012 when he was one of of
six judges for the Cavalier Speciality with an entry of over 600 Cavaliers. But his
most exciting had to be the American National.
Michael also judged Breeds Specialities in Sweden and in June of 2015 he judged
the Speciality in Los Angeles. Excited to return again in 2020.
In September 2015 he judged CC’s under English Kennel club rules at Belfast
Championship Show. In June 2017 he judged the Cavalier of the Northeast of
America Speciality. In 2018 he judged the Breed at the World Show in
Amsterdam.
In respect of Japanese Spitz he 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 he judged the Speciality in Sydney Australia.
In respect of Bernese Mountain Dogs he has judged Breeds Specialities in Ireland,
Argentina, New Zealand and Canada. In 2018 he 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 e will be the First Irish Judge to have this
honour.
Michael has been involved in Show Dogs since 1977 when with Michael Forte
they bought an Old English Sheepdog from Stella Harte. They quickly caught the
show bug and within 2 years they were showing the Old English sheepdog and
Cavaliers. They set up the Kennel Prefix Leonfort and quickly became known in
Cavaliers as they 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. They made up 2 other
Champions Ch Leonfort Vicenzo and Ch Vandyck Jester of Leonfort who both had
wonderful show careers.
Michael was a committee member of The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of
Ireland for approx. 10 years from 1980. He was also secretary of the club for 4 years
and the IKC Representative.
In Bernese Mountain Dogs they made up champions and bred litters. They had the
breed recognized with the IKC in 1979 and set up the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of
Ireland. He served as Secretary/ Treasurer and in 2007 had the honour of been the
Judge for their25th Anniversary show and also in 2022 the 40th anniversary show.
In Japanese Spitz Michael 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. They set up the Japanese Spitz Club of Ireland and Michael served
as Secretary, Treasurer and IKC Representative.
BREED
Bernese Mountain Dog, Dutch Smoushond, Newfoundland
FCI Number
308, 45, 50
FCI Group
2
Date(s)
2023.08.23, 2023.08.26
Ring
2, 73