THE “DEAD FISH” HASH
Run Number: 408
Date: Mon 20 Aug 07
Time: 75 (+/-) 10 mins
Distance: About 5 miles (give or take)
Run Location: Sturminster Newton
The Pub: The Bull Inn
Pub Links: To Follow
Weather: Cool, overcast
Hares, Hounds and Hash Stats
THE WORDS
18 energetic hounds gathered at the Mill car park , Sturminster Newton to be met by our hares Shady, Hidden Depths, and Crazy Fool. There were some initial excuses from our hares about the weather, wild animals, and cosmic radiation potentially affecting the course. And although these ramblings were quickly dismissed by more experienced veterans (ergo Hashers and not the aged, although sometimes they are one in the same) I believe that the seeds of doubt had been planted. Madness used a little time before the start to conduct some warm-up sprints to “check the stiffness of his old tired legs”. His words not mine.
The briefing was just that – brief. Overall distance was about 5 miles (+/- 1) and would take about 1.5 hours (+/- ½ hour). There seemed to be some slight disagreement between the hares as to the location and general distance of the markings. Warthog questioned Shady on his Hash etiquette and ability to lay a proper trail. The start was a check, blobs had been used on occasion, there may or may not be false trails, and there were 2 Whip Ins. Mention was made to the fact that there might be some mud and nettles (HA), and that we should be on the lookout for a bull and a fish. While the fish comment from Crazy Fool had everyone confused, Ronlet looked very worried about the possibility of a bull. BrEW as ever took a couple of photographs. Kinky Bugger mentioned that he cuts the top of people’s heads off in the back row.
Although things started out well enough they were to take a nasty turn. The usual front runners Warthog, Strider, and Jibber were more than a little timid to begin the run. This left it to the more patient runners to blaze the way for others to follow. And indeed Walt, Silent Running, and Muddy were out in front of the pack. A most unusual and infrequent occurrence.
The run started off normally enough with a turn here and there followed by some fence jumping and brush dancing when suddenly the trail went cold. The lead hounds at this point, Silent Running and Emptier, seemed to have lost the trail. Had they missed a check? Were there no marking? Or was it just the inexperience of leading the pack instead of following. Luckily we had two new aggressive adventurers in Quelque Chose and Piere Jnr who quite smartly doubled back down the road to find a much winded Shady standing by another path and sullenly studying the ground muttering something about mud and saw dust looking very much alike. Again Warthog took the opportunity to question the hashing knowledge of all the hares.
It was at this point that many of us began to realise that perhaps the hares by individually laying different portions of the course failed to connect the dots. Everyone, including the hares, seemed extremely surprised when we had to traverse what can only be described as a the “path of pain” where we were forced for 50 meters to navigate a patch of very nasty nettles. As always not a peep from Ronlet who I can only assume is immune to the sting. Or perhaps she doubled around to avoid them – again. By the time the stinging started to die we were well into the field with the bull. Sloe in his bright orange shirt was slightly apprehensive, but forged ahead which is a testament to his courage and devotion.
Our joy at finally having some open terrain to run through was short lived as we once again plunged in the brush and saw the trail turn to a deep sticky mud beneath our feet. While a swear I could hear Warthog singing gleefully, both Jibber and Kinky Bugger constantly complained about having to clean their footwear. Very much like running on ice it was lucky no one sustained any injuries as many in the group would have tried to hold the hares legally responsible. As Crazy Fool predicted there was a dead fish lying upon the trail, although no reason for its existence was provided.
As we turned back and headed into the town, with cries of “On, On” ringing amongst the houses, a sense of completion started to settle over the group. Our usual quick hounds, led by Strider and Madness, now decided it was time to lead the way home. And with a bust of energy they had obviously been saving for the past hour forged ahead, only to miss a tricky little turn down an alley and lead the majority of the group down a false trail. Sloe quickly recognising their error having found the appropriate route called them all back with a quick shout that most certainly saved their dwindling morale and obviously tiring legs. One more turn, the last leg across a field, and the Mill was in sight.
Thank you to Shady, Hidden Depths and Crazy Fool for laying a slightly above average trail between the three of them. On a high note the pub was quite nice and it is always a good thing to be at a place where you can afford to eat and drink without taking out a mortgage on your home.
Footnote: And congratulations to Shady for gaining his tankard!
HARES, HOUNDS, AND HASH STATS
Hare(s): Shady, Hidden Depths, and Crazy Fool
Hounds: BrEW, Emptier, Jibber, Kinky Bugger, Madness, Muddy, Quelque Chose, Ronlet, Silent Running, Sloe, Strider, Walt, Warthog, Mike Lock (No handle yet), Pierre Jnr (No handle yet)
Social Hounds/Puppy Hashers: Not this time
Real Hounds: Dumb Blonde, Tommy†
Since this run we learned that maiden hasher, Tommy, died in the night following the hash. Our condolences go to Pierre and his family for this sad loss.
Back to The Words
MUG & T-SHIRT RATINGS
(??*) - Denotes attendance by those not Mug Rated (social hounds).
RED T-SHIRT AWARD (100 AND OVER) ….when we get them
Andy (Warthog) Goodman (206); Bronwen (Ronlet) Jones (170); Brian (BrEW) Errington-Weddle (133 + 2*); Ed (Birdseye) Sadd (122); Terry (Walt) Disney (115); Terry (Buggalugs) Canham (108 + 1*); Tim (Silent Running) Bryning (103 + 1*); Mark (Jibber) Humphries (104)
GOLD T-SHIRT AWARD (50 AND OVER)
J-F (Entente) Lechanoine (79); Jason (Kinky Bugger) Wareham (74); Martin (Madness) Lawson (72); Tim (Classic) King (69); Duncan (Day Glo) Ray (64 + 2*)
MUG AWARD AND CAN WEAR BLUE T-SHIRT (25 - 49)
Sylvie (Ça Va) Lechanoine (44 + 2*); John (Semaphore) Carr (42); Tom (Jock) Moncur (38); Frances (Stop Watch) Canham (35*); Ruth (Typhoon) Canham (35*); Jim (Forget Me Not) Forrest (25 + 6*); John (Strider) Bryning (27); Helen (Elle) Goodman (27*); Tom (Two Shoes) Gillard (26); Mark (Shady) Vincent (25)
NEED MORE HASHES OR POSTING ORDER (10 - 24)
Gail (Tour Guide) Sadd (8 + 16*); Steve (Bob the Builder) Pritchard (20); Gordon (F Med) Rafferty (18); Rowland (Pet Rescue) Stibbards (17); Lesley (Tinkerbell) Bryning (14*); Graham (Hidden Depths) Plaice (14); Edward (The Wanderer) Vincent (12); Ben (The Slobby Uno ♂) Sadd (11); Sarah Bryning (1 + 9*)
NEED MORE HASHES (5 - 9)
Emma Sadd (8 + 1*); Peter (Emptier) Fuller (9); Patrick (Sloe) Ginn (8); James (i-Plod) Vincent (7); Clare (The Slobby Uno ♀) Sadd (4 + 2*); Paul (Crazy Fool) Kadoch (5); Ombeline Lechanoine (5*); John (Nokia) Noraika (5); Wendy Stibbards (5*)
KEEP HASHING (1 - 4)
Jean-Baptiste (Pierre) Blandenet (4); Steve Thornton (4); Nikki (Xtra Miles) Brooks (3); Andy (Muddy) Cheney (4); Pierre (Quelque Chose) Leroy (4); Jenny Fuller (3); Heather Terrington (2 + 1*); Manuela Leroy (2*); Pierre Leroy Jnr (2); Rebecca Leroy (2*); Steve (Cloth Ears) Lomas (2); David Orriss (2); Rod (Dyno) Thomas (2); Janice Vincent (2*); Chantelle Wareham (2); Mary Burden (1); William Burden (1); James Carr (1); Julie Carr (1); William Carr (1); Ben King (1); Gabbi Lomas (1); Colin McGrory (1); Hilary Naylor (1); Fiona Ray (1); Robert Carr (1*); Sandie Disney (1*); Kate Forrest (1*); Renee Ginn (1*); Mike Lock (1); Alf Sadd (1*); Fiona Vincent (1*)
Back to The Words
Price: Shady # 408 |
