THE “THE RING CYCLE (in length terms at least)” HASH
Run Number: 373
Date: Mon 11 Sep 06
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes!!
Distance: About 7 miles
Run Location: RV at the 'T' Junction/Car Park SE of Bradbury Rings
RV: Map OS Explorer 118 GR 996023
The Pub: The AnchorThe maritime name of the pub at Shapwick – the Anchor – is ironic because the best-known story concerning the village is of the fishmonger who accidentally dropped a crab there. The villagers were convinced that it was a monster, a view confirmed by the oldest inhabitant when he was brought out in a wheelbarrow to view the crustacean. Dorset Life Magazine Pub Links: Weather: Warm and drizzly
HARE(S):- Ed (Birdseye) Sadd
- Emma Sadd
HOUNDS (In Photograph)- Ed (Birdseye) Sadd (Hare)
- Bronwen (Ronlet) Jones
- Andy (Warthog) Goodman
- Mark (Jibber) Humphries and Benjy
- Martin (Madness) Lawson
- Terry (Walt) Disney
Not In Photograph:- Brian (BrEW) Errington-Weddle
Social Hounds/Hash Puppies:Real Hounds:
THE WORDS
The thunder of the afternoon had declined into a gentle rain by the time the pack assembled a little way south of Badbury Rings. After Warthog and Benjy had tested the waters by running through some big puddles in the car park, and BrEW had finally managed to take a group photo using his number two camera, we listened to Birdseye’s briefing with damp attention. There would be some smileys and whip-ins, of course. Dust had been laid to the left, with assistance from the leveret Emma, and if it should appear to be otherwise, that would indicate we were going the wrong way. This sounded a bit tricky, but we understood it might be connected with some of the shortcuts on offer. Shortcuts that might be needed, given the darkening sky and the promise of seven miles of running.
Our journey began with a longish slog up a gravel track towards the Rings, ending at a check at a junction by a stile that was to become increasingly familiar. Hopes of an early visit to the Rings were foiled by no fewer than three false trails, so we trotted off in the opposite direction into High Wood instead, only to emerge back where we had begun about ten minutes later. This explained why the hare kept vanishing – he had to rearrange the dust. Still no access to the Rings though; this time we headed north to a signposted junction, where we were offered a large shortcut. Walt was tempted, but bravely declined. So began a long run eastward up King Down Drove, with occasional forays to left and right to check out false trails. At another junction we again aimed north and Walt took the next shortcut (only a small one) towards a prominent mound, quickly followed by BrEW, who had pulled a calf muscle, and Ronlet, who felt sorry for him. The remaining pack went the long way, through some serious manure (and Benjy certainly went through it thoroughly), to join the stragglers at a whip-in. BrEW was given a map to help him back, and the rest of us carried on, via a smiley or two, and a few twists and turns, towards the Rings.
At some point Walt must have taken another shortcut, because he was there with BrEW to meet us at the finish, but before that we enjoyed about half an hour of ring running. First we went anti-clockwise on one of the outer rings. Later we went clockwise on another outer ring. In between we ran down and up between rings, searching ever more anxiously for dust in the gloom. Surreptitiously following Birdseye turned out to be a good strategy, and eventually we reached our final whip-in at the centre of the woods inside the innermost ring, where the hare kindly pointed us through the darkness in the right direction. I recalled the end of that poem by Robert Frost:The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep. Fortunately there weren’t many more miles left to go, as our path led us, more or less invisibly by now, to a certain junction with stile (for the third and final time). We had no need of a BH3 sign to guide us, and charged down the track in the dark to the cars. A great run, well in line with what we have learned to expect from Birdseye.
P.S. The food and drink at the Anchor were pretty good too, and the landlord was pleasant and helpful, contrary to stories in the media (see Pub Links above). I had the gammon steak and a few pints of Hidden Potential, both of which I would happily consume again.
Footnote from On Words:
Any thoughts on a Hash Handle for Benjy? ‘Bad Dog’ was disallowed, even though he has a damn fine knack of trying to trip people (ie Ronlet) up. ‘Tripper’ might be more appropriate then, so have your thoughts for next week. On On
MUG & T-SHIRT RATINGS
(??*) - Denotes attendance by those not Mug Rated (social hounds).
GOLD T-SHIRT AWARD (50 AND OVER)
Andy (Warthog) Goodman (180); Bronwen (Ronlet) Jones (134); Terry (Buggalugs) Canham (108+1*); Brian (BrEW) Errington-Weddle (104); Ed (Birdseye) Sadd (96); Terry (Walt) Disney (87); Mark (Jibber) Humphries (71); Tim (Classic) King (69); Tim (Silent Running) Bryning (68); Duncan (Day Glo) Ray (59 + 2*); J-F (Entente) Lechanoine (55)
MUG AWARD AND CAN WEAR BLUE T-SHIRT (25 - 49)
John (Semaphore) Carr (42); Jason (Kinky Bugger) Wareham (40); Martin (Madness) Lawson (39); Tom (Jock) Moncur (38); Sylvie (Ça Va) Lechanoine (36+1*); Frances (Stop Watch) Canham (35*); Ruth (Typhoon) Canham (35*); Helen (Elle) Goodman (26*); Jim (Forget Me Not) Forrest (25 + 6*)
NEED MORE HASHES OR POSTING ORDER (10 - 24)
Steve (Bob the Builder) Pritchard (20); Nick (Tri Harder) Bateson (20); Gordon (F Med) Rafferty (18); John (Strider) Bryning (17); Tom (Two Shoes) Gillard (15); Ian (Abdul) Condie (11 + 1*); Lesley (Tinkerbell) Bryning (12*); Edward (The Wanderer) Vincent (11); Mark (Shady) Vincent (11); Rowland (Pet Rescue) Stibbards (10)
NEED MORE HASHES (5 - 9)
Gail (Tour Guide) Sadd (8 + 6*); J-C (Moose Milk) Boisvert (7 + 1*); Sarah Bryning (1+7*); Ben Sadd (6); Emma Sadd (6); James (i-Plod) Vincent (6); John (Nokia) Noraika (5); Nick (The Gnome) Laffan (5); Jayne (Blackberry) Boisvert (5*)
KEEP HASHING (1 - 4)
Clare Sadd (4); Ombeline Lechanoine (4*); Heather Terrington (2 + 1*); Steve (Cloth Ears) Lomas (2); Rod (Dyno) Thomas (2); James Carr (1); Julie Carr (1); William Carr (1); Martin Hughes (1); Debbie Keevash (1); Gabbi Lomas (1); Colin (tbc) McGrory (1); Mel Taylor (1); Fiona Ray (1); Robert Carr (1*); Sandie Disney (1*); Kate Forrest (1*); Fiona Vincent (1*); Janice Vincent (1*)
Price: Birdseye # 373 |
