Congratulations to Eric "The Keg" Beauchesne on an unprecedented fourth consecutive malt and hops title and to Trish Hillery on her initial foray into the foam.

A total of 1,054 signed up for the 3rd Annual Paddy's Pub Shillelagh Shuffle 3M and given the generosity of the hosts it'd be hard for NER not to make this burgeoning classic it's 2005 Grand Finale.

"This is just wonderful," noted a misty-eyed Irish Tom Hurley, fresh from a cruise to Bermuda and a madcap drive from the waterfront to Paddy's.

Andy Keith followed John Mortimer (14:23) across the finish line in 14:54 and was aghast at his time after noticing the Keg had won here in 14:20 the previous year. (That time, however, was run on a course somewhere between 2.88 and 2.89 miles.) This year marks the first for the USATF certified 3M course.

The Purple Heart award goes to all the Hurtin' For Certain Striders who made it back from the Cape after Dave Kelly's bachelor party the previous evening. HFCer Tim "Mad Dog" Gavin even managed to upchuck during his warm-up run. Also to Whirlaway's Paul Hammond and Chris Spinney who'd run the Chicago Marathon the week prior.

On the women's ledger, fresh-faced HFCer Meaghan Shaw pulled in 2nd at 17:51 behind Trish (17:28) and could be a playuh in 2005, while Brian 'Kid' Mahoney pulled within two points of Pub Series leader (until the "Fall" at Finbar's) Chris Teague, while just outpointing Saucony workmate Mike McGrane

N. Dartmouth's Joann Mathews fought the good fight but Trish came within six points of a perfect 300 score. Tough to beat. Pub rookie Michelle Carletti continually improved during the Series and actually ran 1:30 faster (to jump into 6th place) than she did here last year when the course was short.

There's a lot of people we're not mentioning but they all know who they are and we want to post the final standings before the first snowfall. Check the web & mag for year-end party proclamations and 2005 info (starting with March's Irish Rover 4M out of the Brian Boru Pub in Portland, Maine).

Congrats to all!

Women's Standings after the 3rd Annual Paddy's Pub Shillelagh Shuffle 3M, 6th out of 6 Pub Series Races in 2004

Open Women (Top 50 Score, Age-Groupers Included)

1. Trish Hillery - RI------294
2. Joann Mathews--------286
3. Sue Kenney--------247
4. Joan Lally--------202
5. Sue McNatt---------201
6. Michele Carletti---------152
7. Cathy Cagle--------149
7. Jeanne Vieira---------146
9. Maureen Webster--------85
10. Maureen Tumbleton---------37
11. Mary Gavin---------------28

Masters (Top 10 Score)

1. Sue Kenney--------52
2. Joan Lally--------44
3. Cathy Cagle--------30
4. Maureen Webster--------14

Seniors (Top 6 Score)

1. Jeanne Vieira---------25
2. Joann Morris--------13

Veterans (Top 4 Score)

1. Sheila Basque-------18