Most of the distaff side on the Pub circuit took the opportunity to shop and experience some of Portland's finer cuisine on race eve, thus saving themselves (and assorted husbands and boyfriends) from the vicious handicapping that transpired on the men's side of the blotter.

There are some fine runners North of the Border, but female Publicans still managed 5 of the top 10 spots and a possible top 3 sweep. "Possible" because while no one knew much about women's runner-up Christin Doneski, 34, of Hopkinton, NH, there are indicators that she and husband, James, may be making the plunge.

The couple are new subscribers to NER and James notched 24 Pub points in the Open division. Christin ran 5:50 pace on Mimi Fallon's heels, just 6 seconds off the winning pace (which Mimi admits she managed on the final 800 meter straightaway).

Caveat:According to no less an authority than Irish Tom Hurley, no woman who has ever won the first race has won the Series in its 7-year history. Last year, Mimi won the first Series race but was absent at Doyles, won by eventual Series winner, Trish Hillery. If the aforementioned frontrunners should bludgeon each other into submission then look out for fresh faced Meaghan Shaw of the Hurtin' For Certain Striders in 3rd. Good to see Shaw's teammate, Eileen Cakorous, back after adding to the family roster. Hubby Jason is currently wearing the bulls-eye among men.

Veteran CSUer Sue McNatt and twenty-something Michelle Carletti also added oomph to the festivities with top 10 finishes. After some down time, Sue "Mas" has also broken back to challenge Jeannie Vieiera for Senior supremacy, placing 14th overall among women.

The Brian Boru proved to be gracious hosts on our 1st venture into Maine, providing the Dirty McCurdy band at the Pub reception and proffering Black Gold (Guinness) for $2.50 post-race. Masters runner-up Sue Kenney, along with husband Brian, Dave Pember and Irish Tom, spent another night perusing the Old Port town with its plentiful dining establishments and Pubs.

2nd 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 Women's Standings after the Irish Rover 5K, the 1st of 6 Series Races

Open Women (Top 50 Score)

1. MIMI FALLON - MA-------------------------50
2. CHRISTIN DONESKI - NH-----------------49
3. MEAGHAN SHAW - MA---------------------48
4. AMANDA LABELLE - ME--------------------47
5. ALLYSON KOENIG - ME---------------------46
6. TIKI HUMPHRIES - ME-----------------------45
7. EILEEN CAKOUROS - MA--------------------44
8. ROBIN CARLSON - ME------------------------43
9. SUE MCNATT - MA-----------------------------42
10. MICHELE CARLETTI - MA--------------------41
11. KATHY HEPNER - ME--------------------------40
12. JESSIE MULLEN - ME---------------------------39
13. KATHY PAGANO - ME---------------------------38
14. SUE MASLOWSKI - MA--------------------------37
15. ANA HUBERT - MA-------------------------------36
16. EMILY HICKEY - ME------------------------------35
17. SUSAN KENNEY - MA----------------------------34
18. MALLORY VACCARO - ME----------------------33
19. CAROLINE KURINUS - ME----------------------32
20. JEANNE VIEIRE - MA------------------------------31
21. SANDRA SINCERO - ME--------------------------30
22. PAULA MCKINNEY - ME-------------------------29
23. EMILY BUGBEE - ME-------------------------------28
24. SARAH STEWART - ME----------------------------27
25. EMILY HOWES - ME--------------------------------26
26. PATTY KENNEY - ME------------------------------25
27. MAURA MCDONALD - ME------------------------24
28. TERESA MCCLELLAND - ME---------------------23
29. JUDITH SMITH - ME--------------------------------22
30. CHRISTINE HOLLANDER - MA------------------21
31. VALARIE ABRADI - ME----------------------------20
32. MARIANNE WITHINGTON - MA----------------19
33. JEN MCCAUSLAND - ME-------------------------18
34. HELEN CORRIVEAU - ME------------------------17
35. MARY GAVIN - MA---------------------------------16
36. SANDRINE MICOLEAU - ME---------------------15
37. CATHERINE COREY - ME-------------------------14
38. JULIE STULTZ - ME--------------------------------13
39. SHANNA BAXTER - ME---------------------------12
40. KARIN FELMLY - ME------------------------------11
41. ROBIN SCHULTE - ME----------------------------10
42. BETH HACKETT - MA------------------------------9
43. AMY KUHN - ME------------------------------------8
44. SARA ZUBA - ME------------------------------------7
45. KRISTINA TURNER - ME--------------------------6
46. LEIGHMAI SMALL - ME----------------------------5
47. RAE CHALMERS - ME------------------------------4
48. MARY RIAL - ME-------------------------------------3
49. KAREN MASON - ME--------------------------------2
50. HEATHER KAROLI - ME----------------------------1

Masters (Top 10 Score)

1. KATHY HEPNER - ME-----------------------------10
2. SUSAN KENNEY - MA----------------------------9
3. EMILY BUGBEE - ME------------------------------8
4. PATTY KENNEY - ME------------------------------7
5. MAURA MCDONALD - ME-------------------------6
6. JUDITH SMITH - ME---------------------------------5
7. CHRISTINE HOLLANDER - MA-------------------4
8. VALARIE ABRADI - ME------------------------------3
9. MARIANNE WITHINGTON - MA------------------2
10. HELEN CORRIVEAU - ME--------------------------1

Seniors (Top 6 Score)

1. SUE MASLOWSKI - MA-----------------------------6
2. JEANNE VIEIRE - MA--------------------------------5
3. MARY RIAL - ME--------------------------------------4
4. NANCY MILLS - ME----------------------------------3
5. JOANNE MORRIS - MA-------------------------------2
6. BRENDA TREE - CAN.................................1

Veterans (Top 4 Score)

1. PATRICIA LEONARD - MA----------------------------4
2. BETH BRANSON - ME-------------------------------3
3. ANNE MARIE MCDONALD - MA------------------2
4. PAT BUCKLEY - ME----------------------------------1