Not a huge gathering at the pub but Billy Whizz had warned at least one other hasher to stay away because the run was “long and boring”.  So long and boring, in fact, that Billy had not bothered to turn up either!  I can hear Pressganger defending him now – “He had to work”.  Not the best excuse we have heard recently.

I think the description was very unfair.  The run wasn’t boring.  It was VERY long and rather dark, but not boring.  In fact Big Stiffy was heard to say that he was loving running the dark - after the first hour.

I am afraid I didn’t get a copy of the route from the hare, but that wouldn’t have helped a lot, because we seemed to finish from 3 different directions.

We set off towards south. There was a lot of running across muddy fields and guesswork as to where the footpaths ran because the farmer had ploughed them up.  But we made it to Chippinghurst Manor. 

It was somewhere round here that Northern Soul got a text from Rubber Sole’s Buddy saying that she would be in Oxford in c30 minutes.  “She might, but I won’t!” was his reply as we set off again into the gathering gloom.  Here we turned West to the main road then North for a short distance before turning West again towards Southend (not the one in Essex, it just felt like it).  This is where things went wrong (with no fault laid at the feet of the hare).  Gnome Alone set off checking up the hill, Dancing Queen, Big Stiffy, Hotlips, Lemony and Zorro followed.  They completely missed the check at the would meet the other footpath by the church.  Gatecrasher kept calling On Back but Zorro was so convincing they continued.  Of course, the trail went East to the main road just South of Denton, not North as predicted. 

Zorro and the others ran on, reaching Garsington before turning back and approaching Denton from the North.  This is where everyone met up, well, nearly everyone, and decided to continue along the road.  Northern Soul had broken off to go and collect his missus and Hutch had gone missing.  The group turned towards Cuddesdon before they realised they had one unaccounted for.  The possibility of ringing him was raised but Rubber Sole said he wouldn’t have his phone.  So Lemony took the flour and ran back to the junction to make sure it was clearly marked – calling out into the darkness as she went.  She caught up with the group again on the edge of the village where Gnome Alone leapt into his car and set off in search of the missing Hutch.  The others checked in the pub.  No sign of him.  But wait, who was that lurking at the bar?  Yes, Hutch was the only one who had followed the correct trail and he was already half way through his first pint!

Seriously, it was a great trail.  Hash words ensued.

There was a naming.  Ringer had discovered that Nicky was borrowing Big Stiffy’s sports bra. No, sorry, it belonged to Hotlips.  As bras are often called Over Shoulder Boulder Holders she became Noddy – do you get it?

Down Down shirt.  Lots of choices again.  The Hare for losing people on the trail, Big Stiffy for being mambi pambi, but it had to go to Stiffy who, during the Bank Holiday away weekend, made Mismatch stay on the ground after falling off her bike until he had taken a photo!

On On

Hares:  Pressganger and Billy Whizz

Hounds:  Lemony Snickett, Big Stiffy, Hotlips, Rubber Sole, Hutch, Northern Soul, Gnome Alone, Dancing Queen, Zorro, Dingaling, Ringer, Nicky, Cathy, Gatecrasher and Eric

Date:  27 August 2014

Distance: 5 or 6 miles depending on which route was taken!