| Date | Hare | Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug 2024 | Kevin & Julie | Keith |
I remember well the Easter Sunday hash earlier this year. One grey day. Trudging around Broad Town through fields long-waterlogged, mud up to the ankles.
Not many of us there either. But the après was good as we sat in the little chapel drinking the fine ale and waiting, waiting, ever waiting for our pies to emerge after a 30 minute cook time in a tiny oven capable of doing only two small pies at a time. A long wait therefore! Annie wrote the mag for that hash and invited entries to her competition with a first prize of “two weeks in the enema suite at Hartlepool General Hospital”. No entries to that competition I gather, when I asked her today, so no entries then of the other (enematic) variety either.
Scroll forward to today. Same place, many of the same hashers too, but more of us, and what a difference.
Dry warm weather, sun shining invitingly on the al fresco covered seating area we would make use of after the trail. Even a small catering van dispensing enticing hot snacks and drinks at our elbows.
First though, our raison d’être. We were briefed by Kevin, who had laid the trail with Julie. About 5.5 miles for the long trail, and 3 for the short. Predominantly flat terrain, badly rutted in parts, and overgrown, though our hares had trimmed back in some places. A greatful response from the throng for that. Mention of cows too, though we hardly saw any.
Soon we headed on on. Only three runners; John, Viv and I. We headed up the road on the gentle incline for nearly 10 minutes before going right into fields and heading towards Clyffe Pypard. Pleasant here, with views back towards the white horse. John had left us behind so I jogged with Viv, discussing all manner of things and all seemed pretty straightforward.
From Clyffe Pypard suddenly everything became more tricky. We made it to Bushton and were surprised the time was 13.15. Time seemed to have sped by. We assumed it would be an easy return to the pub across fields but alas we were very wrong.
Our hares took us into a series of large fields and although there was an arrow at the start of each, we struggled to find our way through them. We couldn’t find the way out several times and needed to backtrack more than once. This added time of course and in the summer warmth weariness set in and I looked forward to getting back , if we ever would. John rang Viv twice enquiring where she was and of course we didn’t really know, though Viv had a map on her phone that she used to effect at times. John was already back at the pub of course, as was everyone else by this time.
We jogged on and eventually, having climbed fences into a lane, picked up the flour trail that took us into the field behind the pub, where the hashers were sat enjoying the ambience of the place, in the shade, with their drinks. A welcome sight for us two. We were applauded in. (It’s the taking part that counts.) I think we had been out over 2 hours by this point.
Mike stood to thank the hares and made probably the shortest Thank You speech lasting all of ten seconds before abruptly sitting back down. But it was sincere and brought laughter which not everyone can do, so well done there Mike.
There were one or two wasps intent on sharing our beer and who can blame them when the beer is this good?
Kevin made the usual announcements but I think the shorts did not get passed on for some reason.
All in all, it was a really enjoyable hash in fine weather, a great place, super beer and atmosphere and we should come here again, but just not when it’s muddy.