THE “WATERWORLD” HASH
Run Number: 388
Date: Sunday 25 Feb 07
Time: 60 minutes
Distance: About 6km
Run Location: Spetisbury
The Pub: The Drax Arms
Pub Links: To follow
Weather: Overcast and cool
HARE(S): Terry (Walt) Disney
HOUNDSTerry (Walt) Disney
- Bronwen (Ronlet) Jones
- J-F (Entente) Lechanoine
- Tim (Silent Running) Bryning and Monty (Alamein)
Not In Photograph:Social Hounds/Hash Puppies:Real Hounds:
THE WORDS
So it was that the pack met in the Drax Arms car park on a cool Spring morning ideal for a spot of running. Walt gave the usual briefing and I find myself unable to remember all the details other than the fact that our hare had laid the trail in a minimalist way – “one dab and you’re on” even at the checks. Our hare also mentioned that it was a bit wet in places but that we should finish with mud free trainers. Those hounds with long running trousers were told to expect to carry a bit of extra weight with some water later. Birdseye skidded to a halt just after a quick photo of the pack by Entente and we were off.
Silent Running was first into the lead and led us inevitably uphill. Birdseye was soon dominating the lead with Entente doing really well and finding the way at some of the early checks. We were soon at the old railway bridge and found our way South-East from there. Birdseye led us up across an open field onto the Spetisbury Rings Hill Fort and along the narrow ramparts footpath. Here Entente took a tumble and then we circled round to the trig point with a chance to enjoy the excellent view. Walt was doing a grand job keeping the pack together with the occasional, much appreciated, hint to the slower hounds. We then started our descent down to Louse Lane and then back to the A350. Having crossed the main road going North we were soon thrashing around in the muddy fields near Crawford Farm with Birdseye still leading. Ronlet was not quite her usual dynamic self but was doing a grand job limping along having tweaked a knee on her recent skiing trip.
We emerged from the fields at what I now know is the minor road near Tarrant Crawford. Here the hare gave us a short breather for a whip in. The pack looked down to the West and admired the extensive flooding around the River Stour. We steeled ourselves to get our feet wet. Alamein greatly enjoyed a huge drink from the nearby puddle. Entente and Silent Running then found the way but spoiled it by taking the wrong options at the next junction and the two found themselves as back markers.
Led by Ronlet the pack found themselves at Keynston Mill. Some of the hounds recognised a possible route over 3 footbridges back to Spetisbury. However the river was so high that the footbridges were nearly 2 feet UNDER water. Birdseye and Entente hesitated for only a moment and charged into the deep cold water and were soon wading across the first footbridge. Before they even got to the first footbridge Alamein was seen to give Silent Running a soppy look as if to say “How am I expected to cope with all this water as I’m nearly out of my depth now”. Moments later Silent Running was in dog carry mode with Alamein tucked under one arm and the other hand firmly on the footbridge railing – a process to be repeated twice more. There was then a period of splashing along with teeth gritted against the cold with the fast running river water trying to push us off the bridges. After running through a field only a foot or so deep in water the pack then caught up with Birdseye and Entente who had found the start of the next footbridge which was almost totally immersed. We then ran into more sodden fields and over the third footbridge after which we were back onto firm ground again. I presume the dabs were somewhere under water for this half kilometre or so! We all met at Clapcotts Farm where we compared the numbness in our legs due to the cold water. Reassured by the information that the England Rugby Squad and Paula Radcliffe use ice baths after exercise (but not at the same time!) we squelched over the main road and ran for a few hundred yards along the old railway track and then back to the pub.
Walt was warmly congratulated (well, from the knees up, anyway) back at the pub for his sense of humour in setting such a soggy trail. We all agreed that it was a shame that Warthog had missed this one as he would have literally been in his element. The beer, a warm hearth and a very good Sunday lunch were then very much enjoyed. Walt was right though, for once we all finished with spotless running shoes – plus a totally mud free Alamein!
MUG & T-SHIRT RATINGS
(??*) - Denotes attendance by those not Mug Rated (social hounds).
GOLD T-SHIRT AWARD (50 AND OVER)
Andy (Warthog) Goodman (190); Bronwen (Ronlet) Jones (149); Brian (BrEW) Errington-Weddle (116 + 1*); Terry (Buggalugs) Canham (108 + 1*); Ed (Birdseye) Sadd (108); Terry (Walt) Disney (98); Mark (Jibber) Humphries (83); Tim (Silent Running) Bryning (83 + 1*); Tim (Classic) King (69); J-F (Entente) Lechanoine (66); Duncan (Day Glo) Ray (63 + 2*); Martin (Madness) Lawson (52); Jason (Kinky Bugger) Wareham (52);
MUG AWARD AND CAN WEAR BLUE T-SHIRT (25 - 49)
Sylvie (Ça Va) Lechanoine (42 + 1*); John (Semaphore) Carr (42); Tom (Jock) Moncur (38); Frances (Stop Watch) Canham (35*); Ruth (Typhoon) Canham (35*); Jim (Forget Me Not) Forrest (25 + 6*); Helen (Elle) Goodman (27*)
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); Rowland (Pet Rescue) Stibbards (15); Lesley (Tinkerbell) Bryning (13*); Mark (Shady) Vincent (12); Edward (The Wanderer) Vincent (11); Gail (Tour Guide) Sadd (8 + 13*)
NEED MORE HASHES (5 - 9)
Emma Sadd (8 + 1*); Sarah Bryning (1 + 8*); J-C (Moose Milk) Boisvert (7 + 1*); Ben (The Slobby Uno ♂) Sadd (7); James (i-Plod) Vincent (6); Clare (The Slobby Uno ♀) Sadd (4 + 2*); John (Nokia) Noraika (5);
KEEP HASHING (1 - 4)
Peter Fuller (4); Ombeline Lechanoine (4*); Wendy Stibbards (4*); Heather Terrington (2 + 1*); Jenny Fuller (2); Steve (Cloth Ears) Lomas (2); Rod (Dyno) Thomas (2); James Carr (1); Julie Carr (1); William Carr (1); Patrick Ginn (1); Gabbi Lomas (1); Colin McGrory (1); David Orriss (1); Fiona Ray (1); Robert Carr (1*); Sandie Disney (1*); Kate Forrest (1*); Alf Sadd (1*); Fiona Vincent (1*); Janice Vincent (1*)
Price: Walt # 388 |
