What turned into a shopping and fine restaurant affair for many of the distaff members of the Pub Series (and their husbands and boyfriends) turned into a New Wave Handicap race for most hard-core Publicans, based not on time but Aqua Vitae consumption.

In this regard, our very own Jean-Guy Gaetano Barra - who was beaten like a rented mule on Sunday - deserves kudos for his tremendous crash and burn. "I looked back at the turnaround and I couldn't believe it," said fellow Senior Dave Cobb with glee. "I crushed him. I absolutely crushed him. I thought he was injured."

In a way he was, having closed the Holiday Inn lounge with yours truly and Dr. Bob Hillman on race eve. Alas, after taking in Dirty McCurdy playing in the late stages of the Pub soiree, and then spending some quality time at Three Dollar Dewey's, the lounge made perfect sense, especially if you weren't running in the am.

Our cleaner living Maine Brethren (with the exception of T.J. Hesler of Steep Falls, and PR Racing coach Scott Brown - well known on the Lewiston police blotters) still weren't ready for the Pub Surge, as Publicans clinched 4 of the 5 top spots. Men's winner Mike Payson will be in FLA for the 3rd race and quibbled like a true Down Easter when queried on his Pub future, so...move everybody up and HFCer Jason Cakouros, two months removed from his 40th B-Day, wear's the bulls-eye for the moment.

Anyone else get a hoot from the Keg's duckwalk across the finish line right ahead of a wounded Brian Mahoney? The Brian Boru proved a gracious host (you can't beat $2.50 Guinness) and it was a good chance to intermingle with the quality runners (of which there are many) around the Portland area. Dirigo masters ace Pete Bottomley was even buying rounds of liquid for a fully saturated Whirlaway crew.

The Kenney's (Brian and Sue), Dave Pember and Irish Tom Hurley spent an extra night in Portland, a great town where there's no shortage of quality restaurants and pubs.

Caveat: As in 2004, the great unwashed have until the 2nd Pub Series race (Doyles, April 10) to subscribe to NER and thus take part in the Pub Series Scoring, prize purse, merchandise and all else that follows.

2005 NER Pub Series Men's Standings After the Irish Rover 5K, the 1st of 6 Series Races

Open Men (Top 50 Score)

1. MIKE PAYSON - ME-------------------------------------50
2. JASON CAKOUROS - MA-----------------------------49
3. ERIC BEAUCHESNE - MA----------------------------48
4. BRIAN MAHONEY - MA----------------------------------47
5. MICHAEL MCGRANE - MA----------------------------46
6. CHRISTIAN MUENTENER - ME----------------------45
7. JUDSON CAKE - ME-----------------------------------44
8. TOM DOODY - NH----------------------------------------43
9. PAUL JOHNSON JR. - ME-----------------------------42
10. PETE BOTTOMLEY - ME------------------------------41
11. JOSH DYER - ME----------------------------------------40
12. BOBBY BLIGH - RI--------------------------------------39
13. PAUL KELLY MA-----------------------------------------38
14. BRENDAN CASHMAN CT-----------------------------37
15. CHRIS SPINNEY - MA---------------------------------36
16. KENT TAYLOR - MA-------------------------------------35
17. SHAWN WALLACE - MA--------------------------------34
18. SCOTT BROWN - ME-----------------------------------33
19. TOM HATHAWAY - ME----------------------------------32
20. ROB FAST - ME------------------------------------------31
21. DEVIN SHAW - ME---------------------------------------30
22. TONY MYATT - ME---------------------------------------29
23. MICHAEL PAGLIA - MA---------------------------------28
24. PHILIP DIRUSSO - ME---------------------------------27
25. STEVE DESJARDINS - ME----------------------------26
26. ALVIN BUGBEE JR. - ME------------------------------25
27. JAMES DONESKI - NH--------------------------------24
28. JOSHUA MADORE - ME-------------------------------23
29. PAUL CORCORAN - MA-------------------------------22
30. DAVID TREE - CAN-------------------------------------21
31. BRIAN TURNER - ME-----------------------------------20
32. KEN WARREN - MA-------------------------------------19
33. DAVE AUDET - NH--------------------------------------18
34. ANDREW ORUM - CT----------------------------------17
35. MIKE BUTLER - MA-------------------------------------16
36. MICHAEL HARLEY - ME-------------------------------15
37. DAVE WESSMAN - MA----------------------------------14
38. ADAM ZUKOWSKI - ME---------------------------------13
39. DARRYL STEWART - ME------------------------------12
40. THEO KINDERMANS - MA-----------------------------11
41. TIM WALSH - MA-----------------------------------------10
42. MATT MERRIFIELD - ME-------------------------------9
43. DARIN BROWN - NH-----------------------------------8
44. ANDREW SMITH - MA----------------------------------7
45. STEVE HOUDE - MA------------------------------------6
46. RYAN KING - ME-----------------------------------------5
47. DAVID COBB - MA---------------------------------------4
48. JOSH JOHNSON - ME----------------------------------3
49. ERIC MCGINNIS - ME-----------------------------------2
50. ANDERS LARSON - ME---------------------------------1

Masters (Top 10 Score)

1. MICHAEL PAYSON - ME-----------------------------10
2. TOM DOODY - NH--------------------------------------9
3. PETE BOTTOMLEY - ME------------------------------8
4. BOBBY BLIGH - RI-------------------------------------7
5. CHRIS SPINNEY - MA---------------------------------6
6. SCOTT BROWN - ME-----------------------------------5
7. TOM HATHAWAY - ME--------------------------------4
8. ROB FAST - ME------------------------------------------3
9. PAUL CORCORAN - MA--------------------------------2
10. KEN WARREN - MA-------------------------------------1

Seniors (Top 8 Score)

1. DAVID TREE - CAN--------------------------------------8
2. DAVID WESSMAN - MA---------------------------------7
3. DAVID COBB - MA----------------------------------------6
4. DUKE HUTCHINSON - MA-----------------------------5
5. GUY BARRA - MA-----------------------------------------4
6. FRANK KELLEY - MA------------------------------------3
7. DAVID YOUNG - ME--------------------------------------2
8. PETER REARICK - ME------------------------------------1

Veterans (Top 6 Score)

1. DAVID PEMBER - MA------------------------------------6
2. HARRY WHITE - ME--------------------------------------5
3. MICHAEL BEAUDOIN - ME-----------------------------4
4. DON ZILLMAN - ME---------------------------------------3
5. TOM ABBOTT - MA----------------------------------------2
6. MICK MORRIS - MA---------------------------------------1

(70+)

1. JIM MCLAUGHLIN - NH---------------------------------4
2. BOB HILLMAN - MA---------------------------------------3
3. CARLTON MENDELL - ME-----------------------------2