Oh, it's a hard, it's a hard, it's a hard wind gonna blow - Bobby Dylan

Looking like Dr. Evil and with just as nefarious a game plan in mind, the Hurtin 'For Certain's Jason Cakouros took advantage of pseudo tropical storm winds and Boston Marathon tweaked quads to heighten the suspense in Pub Series VIII.

A wind blown 5:03 first mile put the Hurtin' For Certain point man back on top of the leaderboard, overtaking The Keg and taking a 4 point lead into the Napper Tandy Mustang Flyer 4M on July 30. Quick pop quiz: Is the Keg more comfortable spotting mercurial Limey Teague 10 points going into race Numero IIII or Mr. Steady 4 points?

All right, enough of this idle speculation, 'The Man' is the champ and we all know his recuperative powers, but here are two other Forces of Nature: Nutmeg Stater Brendan Cashman is currently tied for 5th with Tom Doody after placing 14th at the Irish Rover in Portland, 7th at Doyle's and 2nd at Irish Village.
Despite missing the first race, 3x champ Paul Hammond is back big time.

After losing the 40+ crown by a lean to new Whirlaway whippet Norm Bouthillier at Doyle's (Norm talked the talk after Doyle's but couldn't walk the walk at the Cape), Hammond put Saucony's Mike McGrane into therapy by winning a wind tunnel finish line sprint against his younger rival. "I figured at 45 years old and after running a 2:33 at Boston I should be able to outsprint him. It was psychologicaly debilitating," allowed McGrane before his body convulsed in uncontrollable sobbing.

This may be where Hammond's brother-in-law Ken O'Regan is headed. After Paul bit though the engine block of Ken's K-Car at Doyle's, he then put his mandibles to Ken's chair leg in the post-race celebration at the Irish Village bar and restaurant. Seated up front, Ken pitched backward onto the dance floor with a loud crash that sent waves of panic through the blue hair regulars in attendance.

On the 40+ scene, Chris Spinney was the trash talk champion after Doyle's but mild mannered Mr. Doody turned the screw on the Cape and the pair are now locked into a tie with Hammond 3 points back. After hearing of Ocean Stater Bouthillier's change of heart, the HFC's Bobby Bligh has left RI for the Bay State and is 2 points back of Hammond.

Thirsty Irish Runner Dave Wessman maintained his point lead over Framingham RCer Dave Cobb with CSU's Duke Hutchinson just 5 points back and looking good as Cobb turns 60 before the Pub Series Finale.

Vets champ Dave Pember took it on the chin from former Hawaii Iron Man age-group record holder Iron Bill Riley, but has plenty of comfort zone in his drive to defend. The 70+ tie between NE 65+ Prez Jim McLaughlin and Dr. Bob Hillman remains exactly that. Jim chose not to white knuckle it from NH and Dr. Bob is in the chorus of Sleeping Beauty which played Saturday at the Wang Theater on Tremont St. in Boston. (Final matinee May 15 at 2:00 with a celebration at Jacob Wirth's to follow).

Kudos to Thirsty Irish Runner Jim McLaughlin for recommending this race and to RD Kevin Enright and all his pals from the Yarmouth Fire Dept. for putting on a great show despite the considerable weather duress. Also to Irish Village proprietor Jack Hynes for putting together a great package, including a special rate of $47 for anyone who drove down day of and didn't want to repeat the process.

A lot of new names made the leaderboard (including Ken O'Regan!) as 214 runners crossed the finish line. (The race had 121 finishers in 2004). With 103 Publicans that had done the first two races, the fierce weather on the Cape only dropped the number to 85 for those having done all three.

2005 NER Pub Series Men's Standings After Irish Village 5M, the 3rd of 6 Series Races

Open Men (Top 50 Score)

1. JASON CAKOUROS - MA-------------------------146
2. ERIC BEAUCHESNE - MA------------------------142
3. MICHAEL MCGRANE - MA-----------------------141
4. BRIAN MAHONEY - MA----------------------------129
5. TOM DOODY - NH-----------------------------------125
5. BRENDAN CASHMAN - CT-----------------------125
7. CHRIS SPINNEY - MA------------------------------123
8. BOBBY BLIGH - RI----------------------------------116
9. PAUL KELLY - MA-----------------------------------104
10. PAUL HAMMOND - MA-----------------------------92
11. PAUL CORCORAN - MA----------------------------90
12. MICHAEL PAGLIA - MA----------------------------83
13. KEN WARREN - MA---------------------------------65
14. DAVE AUDET - NH-----------------------------------62
15. DAVE WESSMAN - MA------------------------------46
16. TIM WALSH - MA------------------------------------38
17. DAN CONNOLLY - MA------------------------------37
18. THEO KINDERMANS - MA-------------------------36
19. STEVE HOUDE - MA----------------------------------33
19. MIKE BUTLER - MA----------------------------------33
21. DAVID COBB - MA------------------------------------32
22. STEVE GAEBEL - MA--------------------------------18
23. DUKE HUTCHINSON - MA------------------------15
24. FRANK KELLEY - MA-------------------------------14
25. ART FREITAS - MA-----------------------------------13
26. DAVE AHOUSE - MA---------------------------------11
27. DAVE PEMBER - MA----------------------------------8
28. ANDY BRENNAN - MA-------------------------------3
29. KEN O'REGAN - MA----------------------------------2
30. JACK O'CONNOR - MA-------------------------------1

Masters (Top 10 Score)

1. CHRIS SPINNEY - MA------------------------------22
2. TOM DOODY - NH------------------------------------22
3. PAUL HAMMOND - MA-----------------------------19
4. BOBBY BLIGH - RI----------------------------------17
5. PAUL CORCORAN - MA-----------------------------9
6. KEN WARREN - MA-----------------------------------5
7. DAVE AUDET - MA-------------------------------------2
8. THEO KINDERMANS - MA---------------------------1

Seniors (Top 8 Score)

1. DAVID WESSMAN - MA--------------------------------21
2. DAVID COBB - MA---------------------------------------20
3. DUKE HUTCHINSON - MA---------------------------15
4. FRANK KELLEY - MA------------------------------------5
5. GUY BARRA - MA----------------------------------------4
6. ANDY BRENNAN - MA----------------------------------3
7. CLAYTON GARDNER - MA-----------------------------2

Veterans (Top 6 Score)

1. DAVID PEMBER - MA----------------------------------14
2. TOM ABBOTT - MA----------------------------------------2
3. MICK MORRIS - MA---------------------------------------1

(70+)

1. JIM MCLAUGHLIN - NH---------------------------------7
2. BOB HILLMAN - MA---------------------------------------7