Pub Series Thursday Eve Throwdown at Napper Tandy’s

Norwood’s Napper Tandy’s Flyer 4M, while a challenging
course and certainly run in humid conditions, was far easier on Publicans than
the Common Fence Point 5M or Falmouth Road Race that many partook in just 4
days earlier. Plus, Larry “Mr.
Inspiration” Cole, 81, had a good race at Falmouth and Napper’s so, just sayin’.

The ‘old school’ rose to the fore with the absence of young Dave Wilson, who had won at An Ra’s
Mo’r, Doyle’s and the Almost 5-Miler but was AWOL for stop No. 4. It was
defending champ TJ Unger’s evening
as he won by 10 seconds in 21:11 over HFC teammate Kenny Raynor with SRR’s Greg
Picklesimer 3rd in 21:46.

This is significant in that ‘Pickle’ led TJ by one point
entering the fray and is now one point behind. HFC’s Lee Danforth (6th) holds onto 3rd while CSU’s Patrick Bugbee vaults into 4th courtesy of his 4th place 22:53
showing, one slot ahead of newly minted Senior Jason Cakouros of HFC (22:54).

There was cash for the top 3 and for the top men and women’s team and HFC swept
the team podium with copious rounds bought at Lewis’s post-race (across the parking
lot from Napper’s).

Just 1-point short of perfect in the Pub Series, Ginger Reiner placed 14th overall among
the 350 finishers (393 entrants) in 24:17 in a replica of the Almost 5-Miler as
50 year-old past Pub Queen Mimi Fallon
again challenged and again arrived 2nd in 24:32. Masters maven Holly Madden clinched 3rd in 25:38. Candice Gagnon of Team Fabulous was a
bit off her game (8th) but holds onto 2nd in the Series, 4 pts. ahead of Holly.

Falmouth First Responder Amanda Watters had a good run to place 5th in 26:27, one spot ahead
of Whirlaway upstart Katrina Martyn,
23 (Doug’s daughter) who outkicked HFC’s Eileen
Cakouros, 47, by one tick in 26:58.

 (Holly Madden)

Whirlaway’s Jan
Holmquist, 71, ran 29:45 and would have another US W70 record if the course
was certified, but she knew it wasn’t and has already lost count of how many
national records she’s set this year.

Congrats to NH’s Denny
LeBlanc on topping the men’s 70+ division. He deserved it after it took him
2 hours 10 minutes to drive from Nashua to Norwood. Saddled by a heel spur,
septuagenarian leader Dave Pember placed
5th and this creates the most competitive division heading into Bernie’s on
Oct. 4.

To wit: Rick Stetson
is in 4th place in the 70-79 division with 21 points‰ÛÓone point out of 1st as Pember, LeBlanc and Joe Noonan
are all tied at 20 points.

Great to catch up with folks when Napper’s became somewhat
manageable. It would have been nice to be outside but we’re talking tony Norwood
here. Next stop is less tony Dedham and Bernie’s Run where activity takes plus
both inside and outside of the Village Manor. See you there!