There was a last minute change of pub and a command issued to be on time.  The rain was pouring down and Hutch was a picture of sartorial elegance in the Yellow Shirt with his umbrella.  FBJ and La Crease were at the pub for a drink to say hello.  They were not joining the run as their baby is due next Sunday.  The rain stopped and we set off up to the corner of Bridge Street looking out for either flour, sawdust, green or pink chalk (was our hare having an identity crisis?).  We ran over the bridge and down the steps into Rye Farm Meadow where we found the first of the High Wycombe markings and the first 6 runners had to run round the back of the pack.

There was a delay at the lock because no-one saw the flour in the corner of the weir (probably for the best as someone might have tried to follow it literally and jumped into the water).  But we were soon on our way again, turning right along the edge of the water again at the first opportunity.  We cut across to the Barton Lane estate and round to the front of the Leisure Centre before crossing the road and heading into the housing estate.  At Radley Road we headed towards Waitrose and everyone thought they were on the way home only to find the trail leading away again up The Motte and over the stream into the Fitzharries estate then across Bath Street and down the lane at the back of Abingdon School before crossing into Albert Park.  There was a group photo with Albert and St Bernard had to bend down to avoid being higher than the man himself!

Onwards along Victoria Street, left into Ock Street and then right into the park.  It was getting quite dark and at the next junction we thought we had lost Cabouse.  No amount of shouting brought him back.  We ran two different ways through the wood until Noddy shouted “It always goes this way” and we appeared near the “dead centre of the village”, otherwise known as St Helen’s Churchyard.  At this point, those that knew where they were set off directly to the back entrance of the carpark where they all managed to squeeze round the barrier and get to their cars.  The others went back via the pub.

The queue for a drink was immense as Abingdon Athletic were holding their Tuesday Chip run and the cycling club were also in.  But we eventually got a drink and took over a large part of the garden.

Ringer just started Hash Words when Hash Cash realised that Gatecrasher hadn’t paid his dues.  Obviously all his money is in his Panama account!

The Yellow Shirt went to Northern Sole for taking his wife half way round the world and making her ride a push bike!  Zorro was lucky to avoid it after nearly breaking Call Girl’s back by pinning her to a wall!

There had been a number of comments made about Gnome Alone not filling the Supergirl pants.  So he decided that he had to pass them to someone who would do them justice and fill them.  There was a slight pause and then he passed them to Hutch.  Was this a tactful move as he didn’t want to offend any of the ladies in the group.  Or could he feel the many pairs of ladies’ eyes drilling into him?

Then there was the naming!  Ringer had seen for himself that Stacey swings both ways (with that table tennis bat) so he called her Bat Girl.

On On 

Hare:  Gnome Alone

Hounds:  Call Girl and Stacey, Ringer, Lemony Snicket, Gatecrasher, Twitcher,  Comet, Uranus, Epic Fail and Charlie, Zorro, Professional Peach and her dogs, Cabouse, Piscine Down, RSB, Northern Sole, Nora Batty, Rear Admiral, St Bernard, Noddy, Hutch, Rubber Sole, Mick, Sarah and Bella, Rachel and Carlos

Date: 5 April 2016

Distance: 4.2 miles