Four Nations Retriever Judges 2026 Announced – Scottish Game Fair Gundog Competition

We are delighted to welcome two highly respected figures in the gundog world as Retriever Judges for this year’s Four Nations at Scone Palace — Donald (Donnie) Leitch of Scotland and Michael Jones of Wales.

Between them, they bring decades of experience in training, trialling, breeding, and judging at the very highest level, both nationally and internationally.

Donald Leitch has spent a lifetime immersed in shooting and gundogs, inspired by his upbringing as the son of a gamekeeper. Over nearly 30 years, he has established himself as a leading figure in retriever work.

As a Panel Retriever Judge, Donald has officiated at major events including the Scone Game Fair. As Scottish Gundog Team Captain, he led his team to victories at the Scone Four Nations and the KC Centenary Internationals, alongside success at the Game Fair in both retriever and spaniel categories.

Representing Scotland for over a decade with four different dogs, Donald has achieved success at the very highest level. His accolades include being named Top Marking Retriever at Blenheim Palace, contributing to wins at the Retriever World Cup and The Game Fair, and qualifying for the IGL Championships, where he earned a Diploma of Merit with his home-bred FTCh Garshake Dunbar. Among his many achievements, qualifying both a mother and son for the IGL Championships in the same year stands out as a rare accomplishment.

As a judge, he values traditional working qualities – drive, natural marking ability, and the partnership between dog and handler – principles that have underpinned his success both in competition and in the field.

Alongside him, Michael Jones has built an outstanding reputation through his work in training and breeding under the Wauniago affix. Having begun his gundog journey at eighteen, he has developed a successful career producing Field Trial Champions and competing at international level.

One of his most notable dogs, FTCh Cynhinfa Jarmen of Wauniago, achieved multiple trial wins, including an Open, and represented Wales internationally. Michael himself first represented Wales in 2014 at the Ireland Internationals, where he played a key role in the team’s success and was awarded Top Dog.

More recently, he celebrated the success of his first champion, FTCh Ffynongain Buzzard of Wauniago, who placed fourth at the 2019 Retriever Championships and has since sired numerous winning dogs both in the UK and abroad. Now training full-time following a career in the NHS, Michael combines practical expertise with a strong ability to develop both dogs and handlers.

An A Panel Judge with over 12 years’ experience, he has officiated extensively across the UK and Europe, including at the Belgian and Italian Championships. Having previously competed at Scone Palace, he brings valuable insight into the ground and the challenges it presents.

With two judges of this calibre, the Four Nations promises to showcase the very best of retriever work. Their combined experience, knowledge, and commitment to the sport ensure that the standard of judging will match the quality of dogs competing on the day.