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Hash 1014

1014

Date
27 Apr 2010
Hare
Hounds
40
Doggos
Distance
dunno

It was a lovely evening for a hash so a good crowd gathered at the Royal Standard in Wooburn Common, some of which were nearly mown down as I drove into the packed car park.  I thought I would stick with tradition and turn up late but it only took a few minutes to catch up and our hare for the evening, Sooper Cooper, waited to make sure the stragglers knew where to go!

The briefing had contained the usual instructions, the long being 5.5 miles and the short… was shorter!  The start of the route took us left out of the pub car park a short distance along Wooburn Common Road then left down a road and footpath.  It was here that Steve told us that he had stumbled across a snake lying across one of the path while setting the hash.  I found this fascinating so quizzed Steve on said snake, which unfortunately meant I wasn't concentrating on the task in hand and managed to open a tall, iron kissing-gate onto my head.  The snake didn't seem so important after that and I was more interested in the lump that was brewing on my forehead!  Note to self: must concentrate more when going through tall, menacing, gates!

On-on we went towards Bristles Wood, passing along the woods and then across a big field.  We came to the Blackwood Arm pub which was closed due to refurbishment and it was here that Gerry gave a brief speech in memory of Mike Gilby who sadly died on the hash in 2004 outside this pub.  It was noted the second sad event being the temporary closure of the pub, but will hopefully be open again soon, all shiny and new!

A big topic of conversation on the hash (as far as I could tell, or maybe it was just me talking about it) was the London Marathon that had taken place a couple of days before.   Ade had decided to go with the flow throughout the latter stages of the marathon, relaxing and enjoying it rather than to 'leg it' to the end in top gear.  He even managed a beer stop at the hash tent at 21 miles!  That's a true hasher marathon runner!!  He didn’t rave about the pint of rank Fullers they offered him though! 

There was a lot of talk about where the spectators were along the marathon course, the atmosphere of the day, how Aud's blisters caused her much pain and how Helen battled round with her inflamed tonsils, but I think the most painful story however came from Mick, who was a spectator at very busy stretch of the course.  You see, he was on one side of the road, and the pub was on the other side of the road, and there was no way of crossing!  With the throngs of runners whizzing by without a gap opening up to get across, Mick was left to stand 5 metres from the pub, staring longingly over the runners heads, through the pub window at the bar…..  he could almost smell the ale, but not able to get a pint of it!!  So near yet so far!! 

On-on through Littleworth Common, past Boveney Wood Farm and Abbey Park Farm, down Abbey Park Lane and then through Boveney Wood (thank goodness for this map I was given), across another road, past Hicknaham Farm, through some more woods, up towards Dipple Lodge, past Odds Farm and Castleman's Farm (there are a lot of farms round this way!), on towards Sheepcote Farm where the first long / short split came up.  The shorts made their way along Wooburn Common Road back to the pub, the rest of us headed in the opposite direction over a little wooden bridge through the woods. 

Moose, who is aptly named so, moosed for the second time in these woods, attempting to bring me down in the process - which was only partially successful - ending up lying face down on the leafy ground.  A short stint and another long / short split was upon us, taking the shorts past Sheepcote Woods on to the pub.  The longs carried on with a loop through Hedsor, up Hedsor Lane, over Sheeptcote Lane into Johnson's Coppice, a short run along Heathfield Road and back on ourselves through the Coppice of Johnson again, then a little loop to the On Inn! 

Back in the pub we had a toast to Mike Gilby, the GM for HWH3 from 1991 to 2004.  Audrey and Helen, who quite sensibly decided to forgo tonight's hash, joined us for a drink.  They both did brilliantly in the marathon on Sunday.  Aud's legs and lungs held out extremely well she said but her feet succumbed to some pretty painful blisters, thanks to the downpour they all had to endure at the beginning, resulting in very soggy socks and trainers.  Helen ran an excellent time, one which she should be very proud of considering having tonsillitis and even spending a night in hospital wired up to a drip only 4 days before!  Well done both of you, and to Ade!  

Thanks to Steve for a great hash, and for informing me he has also never seen Star Wars, I thought I was the only one!!