It was so cold even the brass monkeys were wearing hats and scarves.  There was a lot of jumping up and down on the spot in the car park to keep the blood flowing as we waited to circle up.  The trail was laid in sawdust.

Run number 1234.  Easy to remember this week.  The briefing was short and we set off over the lock and left to the road.  Scrumptious was keen and checked into the field some distance before being called back.  We went along the raised causeway to the railway bridge.  Then it was along the footpath at the edge of the field to the right.  Here we stopped and checked in a number of directions before setting off towards the river and starting to clog up the shoes with mud.  Left along the river to the bridge.  Somewhere along here Hotlips persuaded Uranus to go towards a stream and venture onto the stepping stones.  Lemony checked further along and found a better crossing.  She wasn’t going back whatever, but it turned out that she was going the right way.  Back at the main path who should come along but Worsel Gimmidge – no, sorry, CS with an orange plastic bag inside each shoe to keep his feet dry and another in his hand for the dog poo!  The trail turned right.  At the edge of the field the group tried a variety of ways to get through the gate and there are photos to prove it.

We came to the bridge over the railway.  A few ran straight on along the path and then wondered why the hare wasn’t with them.  Then they found a J drawn on the ground.  It must be a fish hook but it was pointing the wrong way!  The group turned round and ran back, trying to star jump in unison for a photo for Zorro.  We went over the bridge to the running commentary from CS extolling the virtues of the older railway crossings like this one which had a solid bike track unlike the more modern ones which ……  I know, but you have to let him have is say.

The cruel hares made us run past The Tandem pub.  We passed through Kennington and into the mud again before finding a very slippery wooden bridge over yet another stream.  Zorro went for a paddle but couldn’t persuade anyone to join him.  We ended up at the edge of the golf course and turned left along the road until we turned off right again down the path to the bridge under the railway and the raised causeway back to the lock.

The pub was very busy but we managed to find a table just inside the door.  Lemony handed round cake for her birthday and was even seen bribing a policeman!  Anyone’s for a chocolate obviously.  But no, not a strippergram for her special day but Epic Fail checking the pub for raucous football fans ahead of the Oxford United vs Bristol Rovers match at the Kassam.  We moved outside for Hash Words and Noddy took the opportunity to smack a policeman with the Paddle of Rebuke.  Zorro had been using it to pat everyone who had beaten him at a Parkrun so it was quite apt.

It was getting chilly so we started Hash Words.  Lemony was awarded the Yellow Down Down Shirt and the Paddle because it was her birthday.  Next year she’ll forget the cake and avoid all the punishments!

Hares:  Big Stiffy and Hotlips

Hounds:  Lemony Snicket, Wimpey, Buzz, Noddy, Scrumptious, Scribbler, Northern Sole, Rubber Sole, Rubber Sole’s Buddy, Hutch, B’Cider, Eric, Piscine, Zorro, Gnome Alone, Cheap Date, Comet, Uranus, Gatecrasher CS Gas and Poppy, Professional Peach, Alex, his Girlfriend and dog, and Epic Fail at the pub

Distance: c4.5 miles

Date: 17 January 2016