| Date | Hare | Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 2023 | Viv & Jon | Jeremy |
This being our second visit to Ashdown House – both courtesy of Viv & John as hares – I knew exactly where to go, so had largely ignored Kevin’s earlier email providing details for the hash.
Arriving 15 mins early, I saw no sign of hares, nor of other hashers, so was relieved when Maurice rolled up with just a few minutes to go. Clearly though something was wrong and a phone call quickly elicited clarification – and a telling off for not reading emails.
Arriving late at Ashdown Farm, the correct venue, I was immediately able to take some limited control as stand-in GOM, blame Maurice for us being late and learn more about the trails.
There were to be three – S, M and L – of increasing length and ascent, with myself doing the long, Keith the medium accompanied by Viv, and the majority walking the short. Viv was seemingly reluctant to set us off on our ways, wishing instead to tell us ALL about Ashdown Farm and Russley Park, but we were having none of that, so were able to get away, only some 10 minutes behind schedule.
The S divide occurred very soon, and after that Noodle and I were on our own and saw no other hashers until the end. But the hash was delightful, up and over rolling downs. I never found the L/M divide – apparently because it didn’t exist until later – and just over an hour later I arrived at the finish at exactly the same moment as Keith. Perfect! The walkers all turned up soon after. Some of us had met Des out with a group on mountain bikes.
Although our hares had obtained permission from the Ranger to park at the farm, one of the residents there took offence at our presence. Maurice and Julie tried mollifying her but they seem to have been largely unsuccessful as she then started taking photographs of us from behind a hedge. C’est la vie!
The aprés was elsewhere – at the pub in Ashbury – so some decided to go straight home. However, a dozen of us did make it there and we had a pleasant room to ourselves, a few beers and the usual chips courtesy of David.
For the speech I thanked Kathy for her write up of the previous 25th Anniversary Hash and tried the thank the hares for the current one. Clearly everyone was enjoying themselves, as at this point chaos ensued with accusations of poor flour markings, ….
But we did all enjoy it and Viv & John’s efforts were greatly appreciated.
Viv, given a captive audience, was then finally able to tell us a bit about Ashdown Farm and Russley Park.