The pack gathered in the usual Shaftesbury central car park near all the good pubs. We admired Warthog’s excellent tan from his latest hols abroad. We had a giggle as we told Puddle Duck about her new hash handle. As we laughed about it Ronlet took the opportunity to nominate Strider for the words. No debate there then. The hares gave the usual clues for one of their live hashes about dabs, this time with numbers added at whip-ins, and then set off once BrEW had taken the photo. While we waited the debate focussed on how we really did need to finish this hash as the previous 2 the hares had laid here had proved too difficult to complete. We gave them “almost” 5 minutes start before we set off downhill.
The downhill was taken at a pretty steady pace as last time we had found a smilie at the bottom. No smilie this time and so we ran through a field, with some nettles for Madness to enjoy, before we ran uphill by the main road which we crossed (twice?). Silent Running had just found a dab off right when the on was called – how confusing! The main trail was uphill although Silent Running found a really good falsie downhill which ensured he was last for a while. We then arrived at the roundabout, where we took the Warminster Road and then veered off right (Northeast). We then found ourselves in one of our favourite housing estates for a bit before we took a long bumpy footpath behind some houses with Strider in the lead. We then came to another check where Some Frog and Silent Running wasted their time checking left when the trail went right. Madness here declared that he had pulled a muscle, which was odd as the last time we hashed here he had the same problem/excuse. Last time he got a lift in a car as a result but no luck for him this time. We ran on through the housing estates and by now some were finding the dabs and numbers at whip-ins becoming a bit confusing – probably the first signs of exhaustion.
We then found our way into the town centre and had a very long “on” into the old town. The hounds were now pretty spread out as all the urban possibilities were checked out and most were using torches of some sort by this stage. Puddle Duck was good enough to check out some devious but unlikely options to save the rest of us. The trail eventually led us carefully down Gold Hill with the conversation turning to the inevitable uphill result. We then found a familiar route up through the park, with Warthog leading, including the winding path to the hilltop. At the top the pack went straight on and then turned right and charged back to the pub.
We arrived at the car park just at the hour point. This was a shorter run than some but was a pretty sensible length at this time of year with a finish that was bound to be in the dark. A clever route which kept us mostly under the street lamps when required. The hounds were suitably smug that at least they has finished this trail properly and thanked the hares accordingly for a good trail. The hares looked slightly relieved too. The pub food and beer were fine and reasonably priced. We also enjoyed the new furniture and bar layout.

Hare(s): Jibber and Kinky Bugger

Hounds: BrEW, Madness, Puddle Duck, Ronlet, Silent Running, Some Frog, Strider, Walt, Warthog

Social Hounds/Puppy Hashers: None

Real Hounds: None


Price: Jibber & Kinky       # 449