A good crowd were gathering despite half of the Berkshire Hash being on their ski trip and the promise of lots of mud.  Miss Whiplash told us it was up to her knees and she and Penny P had walked it twice! Spot was the hare for the runners – guided only by his map.

The runners set off to the left from the pub and went round in a circle before meeting up with the walkers near the church after passing straw models of characters from Frozen.  It wasn’t that cold!  In fact it was sunny and rather warm. 

The trail went south from the village and then took a very muddy route round 3 sides of a square!  We then turned right and headed past Tadley, then north and west towards Cherry Tree Farm.  Then on to the edge of Didcot.  Definitely a Berkshire length trail.  Westward towards the railway line which we followed almost to the edge of the village.  At this point it was continue on the road to the pub or turn off west and look for the really thick mud.  The group divided!  The brave, or mad, ones continued west and crossed the next road before turning right along the edge of the stream.  The hares had advised that we should run over the mud to avoid sinking in.  It was a bit too gloopy for that. People sank in at every step and shoes were lost by many.  Some cheated (?) by climbing over or through the fence and running down the field that ran alongside the mud bath.  Others ploughed on through.  At the end the mud got even softer and Hotlips lost her shoe for the third time.  A friend held her while she put it back on and Lemming offered a hand to help her out of the mire!

We turned left after crossing the farmyard then across the staggered junction to another muddy path.  Finally we turned north along the edge of the disused railway line and then off along the footpaths that led to the edge of the village and the pub.  The runners had got very warm fighting through the swamps that various layers of clothing had been discarded and Penny Pitstop had a second hand clothe shop in her boot.

We sat outside for a chat, cake for Miss Whiplash’s birthday, and the down downs.  Berkshire picked on Lonely (and old friend of Didcot) for being sexist and ageist, having been heard describing the hares as old ladies.  Who would have ever believed that?  Didcot’s own Hotlips was rewarded for being the best dressed hound as she sported the Berkshire Prague t-shirt.  Serves her right for sucking up.

Ringer had lots of options for the Yellow Down Down shirt:

Big Stiffy for stiching up Hotlips (his wife! But what’s new?) by telling everyone about her losing her shoe

Hotlips for wearing the Berkshire shirt or for choosing a glass of wine over interval training on Thursday

Epic Fail for turning up last week in Fancy Dress but forgetting his truncheon!

But it went to Hutch for whingeing all the way round on his last trail that the hounds weren’t following his flour

On On 

Hares:  Penny Pitstop and Miss Whiplash

Hounds:  Lemony Snicket, Wimpey, Buzz, Hutch, B’Cider, Piscine, Zorro, Epic Fail, Big Stiffy, Hotlips, Pyro and Whisper, Dingaling, Ringer and Call Girl turning up at the pub

Date: 24 January 2016

Distance: 6.5 miles (and I felt every inch of it)