| Date | Hare | Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2024 | Margaret & John | Maurice |
Sad day really. Today, Margaret and John set their last hash as hares. Mind you, they said that six months ago as well. They are starting to sound like Pavarotti who had three “last” tours over several years. But John is adamant that it takes too much out of them at their advanced age and they are calling it a day. John told me they’ll continue to come as walkers, so we haven’t totally lost them.
Margaret was the second GOM of the KVH3, after Mike. There’s a special significance in that both have been walkers for some time, running days now well past. The baton was passed to Jeremy and me as the Elder GOMs some time back. We’re in good nick, thank you very much, as are those younger GOMs who followed us: Brian, Keith and Kevin.
We had nine runners and walkers in total, a small number probably because the hash was so far from Swindon. The statistics show there were five runners and four walkers. Runners have not exceeded walkers in many years. Seven took the long route and two, Nicki and Kay, dawdled on the short route. We missed the larger group of walkers who usually stand to the side when the elite runners are coming through their ranks towards the end of a hash, clapping and cheering, waving flags and saying nice things and wishing they were as fit as the runners.
Brian did well, even though he has a wobbly knee. Keith was in fine fettle even though he has two dodgy knees, John was away so fast I doubt he had any problems. Viv, ever the spendthrift, used plastic poo bags over her socks so she wouldn’t get wet. Old twinkly-toes has never heard of waterproof socks.
John’s briefing was to the point and well delivered. When I congratulated him, ever the stoic, he said it was short because Kathy wasn’t there to ask questions. I missed Kathy. She would’ve kept John on the straight and narrow. For example, he said there were no animals, yet we had to get through a sounder of ugly pigs.
He also said there was no standing water, yet Viv’s plastic bags were sopping and not reuseable. He said there was a wide stream and smirked when in fact there were two. Yes, Kathy was sorely missed. But we did start early.
Margaret had set the short trail with Jan and Malc and obviously she had been in charge. Over the years the refrain has always been that Margaret could bake a cake with the flour she saved when setting a hash and today was no different. The flour was measured with an egg spoon, very tidy, very Margaret, very far apart.
I ran with Brian to begin, and we had a good old chinwag, and then with Keith. We were very engrossed in the politics of the moment which was all dark and miserable and I’m going no further with that as this magazine is for family viewing. We had fun though jumping the streams and enjoying the countryside, which was sunny and uplifting at times, and running through woods with Chariots of Fire setting the pace in our heads.
It was a wonderful hash and even though we didn’t get clapped through by Nicki and Kay, we did get a hug from them which slowed our pace a bit, but lovely for all that.
Kevin and Julie walked the long as usual and in a good time. Kevin in his thanks to the hares reflected that the last time we were in Shipton Moyne it was the penultimate hash before Covid. It seems so long ago. We had no idea what was in front of us. Keith was GOM through Covid and we never missed a hash, skirting the rules with runners and walkers heading out every ten minutes so the group would not exceed six.
I hope we return to Shipton Moyne. It was a really enjoyable hash and a tribute to Margaret and John. Well done, you two!
