Showy Schnauzer Takes Westminster Top Prize

It all boiled down to showmanship that defining character that separates champions - in the dog-show ring.

Last night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, a standard schnauzer, Champion Parsifal Di Casa Netzer (his call name is Pa), became the first of its breed to take the coveted Westminster Kennel Club championship.

In sports terminology, Pa, an Italian import, parlayed the win into a double-double with the popular triumph, since it was the 1996 all-breed points champion (51 bests-in-show and 91 group championships), too.

Pa, which came out of the hotly contested working group Monday night, is owned by Rita Holloway of Newark, Del., and Gabrio Del Torre of Italy, and gaited by Rita's husband, Doug Holloway.

The dog was forced to miss last year's show, since Doug's father Roy was judging best-in-show. Pa will be retired after competing in the World Championship in Puerto Rico in June.

He's already sired "many many champions in the U.S. and Europe, too," said Maria Vestuti, an associate of Del Torre's who has bred some of Pa's ancestors.

"It was an excellent lineup," said judge Dorothy N. Collier of Fort Lee, N.J. "I put this dog up in earlier shows. While it was really on tonight, the key was for Doug to maintain control."

"It's a dream come true," beamed Doug Holloway. "Pa is a special dog who really works for his wins. He's not flashy, just consistent.

"He was really on tonight, but in a field like this there is no margin for error. I just kept saying, `let him do his thing,' and he did."

Collier also had eyes for a 4-year-old Gordon setter, Champion Bit O'Gold Titan Treasure, owned by Judy Browne of Milwaukee, Cynthia Pagurski of Chicago and breeder-owner Peggy Nowak of Waukesha, Wis., the sporting-group titlist which piled up 20 bests-in-show and 59 group wins last year en route to becoming America's No. 9 show dog.

In addition to the sporting-group title, two others were decided last night.

The hound group went to Champion Starabarrack Malachite SW, a wirehaired dachshund owned by Mrs. Alan Robson of Glenmoore, Pa., and the herding title was taken by Champion Zion's Man About Town, a Shetland sheepdog, owned by Madeleine Griffin-Cone of Tampa, Fla.

In a rarity, Robson had another Select Seven finalist, Champion Spotlight's Spectacular, a Dalmatian that won the nonsporting title Monday night for the second consecutive year.