Hare - F Med

Hambro Arms, Milton Abbas. September 30th , 2002

The Blandford Hash is not for Wimps and Wooses and Slouchers are few and far between as evidenced by this latest edition of our Monday runs.

Now that we are on our daylight saving schedule and starting at 6.00 pm (sorry 18.00hrs) in an effort to finish before dark it is even more difficult for Birdseye to turn up on time, in fact he has missed the last two runs (duly noted) altogether on the feeble excuse that he had to work. Actually it took him this long to recover from the run he set 3 weeks ago!

I digress, for which I apologise. 18.00hrs came and went and the evenings' participants swelled to significant numbers with the inclusion of 5 new faces, all looking horribly fit and enthusiastic. Urgh!

In a quick briefing, for the benefit of our newcomers and those more forgetful past participants, we were informed there were three hills to ascend; one short and sharp to get us all wheezing, one long gentle one to sort the men from the men and give Ronlet a chance to show her mettle, a third one which came before the forth one we were never told about.

At least we started off going down hill, but always with the knowledge of what goes down must surely come back up again, which we certainly did. Across a couple of styles (good excuse to catch your breath) then more or less straight on scouring the stubble for piles of dust. Warthog thought he was on but could not find the trail until Birdseye with his African bush trained eye picked it up only to loose it again a bit further on. Peter (new boy) found the trail and disappeared down the hill on a falsie, only to be called back when Birdseye found the trail going off to the left. A couple more good guesses from Birdseye had us all hurtling pell-mell after him. Thankfully he took a wrong turn then it was up to Bloodhound and Warthog to spar for the lead. Our five new recruits were hard on their heels and it wasn't long before new voices were calling On On from the front of the pack.

Straight across one of the few roads in the area and along a fairly flat stretch (one of the few) steeply down a hill with Warthog and Birdseye in full pursuit of the leader to try and rein him in for a whip in to ensure we did not get too far apart. Our erstwhile hare was at this stage muttering about the speed with which we were finding the trail and Brew was looking hopefully for an opportunity to catch his breath.

Now checks came thick and fast, so fast in fact that Birdseye found a smiley face before the rest of the Hash had reached the previous check. This should have made us realise that further treats were in store and from here it was uphill, forever, with mutterings from Jibber that he wasn't getting enough ..................exercise to stay fit for these fast Hashes.

Semaphore and Walt were beginning to wonder if they would ever get a chance to rest: they need not have wondered because it was not to be. Jack and then Vespa had their moments of glory before the front-runners made it to the BH3 and got together in a huddle. Within seconds there was a general consensus not to wait for the Hare and to peg it for the Pub where rumour had it the beer was good and the food ready and waiting.

Sweaty bodies were allowed to cool briefly before we all piled inside and Vespa was getting in the orders whilst Bloodhound tried to sort out the change.

The organisation of the run went with military precision and was FAST. Although such comments as I never had a chance to stop were overheard in the car park it was a most enjoyable run on a balmy (read sweaty) evening through some beautiful Dorset countryside.