A large group were in the carpark and Big Stiffy handed round his Worther’s Originals (a bit fluffy from being in the car boot for some months but still well received).  There were plenty of jokes about Saltana and discussions on the raisons behind current affairs etc etc while we waited for the hare to arrive and tell us the rules by which the trail had been laid.  No sign so we set off and found the flour leading up the hill to the left from the pub.  Some way up the hare passed us on his bike going down!  We made it to the edge of the trees to the first check (we thought) and further on into the woods (again, we thought) but we were called back to a gap in the hedge half way up the hill.  He intended the walkers to cut across from the pub and the runners to go through the hedge but we had missed the markings.  The hare had laid a false in the woods but it had been kicked out.  So we found ourselves rather spread out and Wimpey and Northern Sole were miles back.  But we headed across the field in find form.  There were many cases of déjà vu as the trail mirrored the previous week in many places and we saw Mr Bean’s monstrosity of a house not blending into to the countryside.  When it started to get dark the walkers cut back and the runners carried on round a number of fields, through some woods and back to the top of the hill where most of them had started the evening. 

We passed a donkey somewhere along the trail and he had a long chat with us.  Ringer commented about Call Girl looking like she slept under a hedge – only because she was not there to fight back. No way would he have been that brave if she were present!

Alan travelled all the way back from France in time to miss the hash but join us in the pub.  Oscar had been staying with Noddy for the weekend and obviously been spoilt rotten and was not sure if he wanted to go back with Alan!

The pub was very welcoming and provided large amount of chips.  So many that people were fighting not to eat the last one.

St Bernard passed the Supergirl Pants to Wimpey for living up to his hame and wimping out by taking the short trail back.  I think most of the runners were just jealous that they had not been brave enough to go that way!

Ringer was close to tears because he had two deserving recipients of the Down Down Vests but none to award.  But Noddy still had one in her car from last week because she had not been able to deliver it to Kyron.    It was awarded to Rubber Sole for using walking poles which Jo Brand had refused to use on her long walk because she thought they made her look like a twat! 

On On 

Hare:  CS

Hounds:  RSB, Rear Admiral, Hotlips, Big Stiffy, Lemony Snickett, Wimpey, Pressganger and Qualcast, Zorro, Gnome Alone, Mother Theresa and Bella, Saltana, Professional Peach, Ringer, Dingaling, Rubber Sole, Northern Sole, Pyro and Whisper, Spot, Twitcher, Noddy and Oscar and Alan joined us at the pub

Date:  3 May 2016

Distance: 25 miles (well, that’s what it felt like bu tit measured 6.1 miles)