Hare - Bloodhound

Pools of Sweat in Puddletown
15 July 2002
The Blue Vinney

Hare: Bloodhound
Time: 45 minutes (Hoorah!)

Given the previous week’s rather rain sodden, more than 5 miles’ splodge around the Fiddleford Inn, temperatures of 24°C promised dampness of a different kind. A reasonable turnout of eleven Hounds (considering such draining conditions) was promised a route of 5 or 6 km with some hills – “But only one steep one” – and predominantly in the shade of the nearby woods. Scepticism, bred of the years of falsehoods perpetrated by Hares, greeted this announcement and grew as the ‘little jog’ to the start of the lay proved to be gruelling enough for most. It was up hill for a start and the trail itself continued in this direction alongside curious bean-like crops with not a hint of shade in sight. An early check provided welcome respite but the On went up (steeply!) and the lean and mean raced ahead leaving the less lean and mean gasping for oxygen behind.

Fortunately the route found the woods but the slight drop in temperature corresponded to an increase in mouth-level flying insects, forcing the pack to call the On through clenched teeth. The conditions were such that the usual masochists undertook the checking – Vespa, Substitute, Warthog and Jack – with the occasional assistance of Sir Walter (clutching a water bottle) and, in an impressive return, young Bob the Builder. He was taking those hills at an amazing pace – was this the result of a secret fitness campaign (he’s certainly looking a little sleeker) or the enthusiasm of youth? Certainly you weren’t going to catch Up Front, BrEW or Ronlet getting up to such nonsense.

The woods near Puddletown provide an attractive hashing location with sufficient paths to keep the pack guessing. The wilier amongst them, Warthog and Substitute, were convinced that the Hare would be making more use of the many narrow paths winding amongst the trees, offshoots off the main tracks, and eagerly checked these out whenever the opportunity arose – whether at a check or not. But the Hare was generous and decided that his so-called gentle hills were challenge enough for the Hounds without the need to subject them to dark, overgrown tunnels of pine. He also laid a number of well-placed ‘whip-ins’ to allow for suitable recovery and even the ‘whip-pets’ appreciated these – especially Warthog whose break in the Balearics had involved no running and copious quantities of brown ale.

Towards the end of the run, it became clear that Bob had peaked too early and that he either has to take a leaf out of the older generation’s book or get some more endurance training under his belt – although it would be most unHasher-like to encourage such activity. Warthog too was seen to remove his running shirt in an attempt to cool down – not sure about the propriety of this. Should it be written into the rules? What rules?

The On-In was timed nicely – just as dehydration was setting in – and took advantage of the first leg of the trail. This was much appreciated as it was now down hill. Back at the RV, Hashers were advised not to just let themselves go, but to spruce themselves up for the newly introduced weekly photo shoot – a feature of our very own web page. BrEW took the happy snap thereby ensuring his anonymity – perhaps the Hare should take the group photo and then be ‘snapped’ on his/her own in order that the guilty can be easily recognised!

Price: Bloodhound  15 Jul 02     # 003