Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
1004	2023-03-12 11:00	Substandard and Popeye	Chidham Maybush Copse	SU787052

T’was a bright/overcast 9oC, which felt warm-ish in the sun/wind shadow with a steady south westerly force 4 breeze as the group of 10 gathered in Maybush Copse, Chidham.

Bambi welcomed the group (plus Aragorn and Belle) to run 1004 and regaled us with essential facts, such as the world wide web being invented and Uranus discovered on this day, at a random time in the past.

The hare was Popeye. Olive Oil had helped lay the trail but had to disappear for a teaching commitment and co-hare Sub-Standard was unfortunately struck lame with an Achilles issue. The tracks, whilst superb the previous weekend, had been rendered really quite greasy by inclement weather, but remained incredibly flat with some small bits of minor road work. Popeye set off alarm bells mentioning a 6.8 mile route check - errors were made - actual route much shorter.

On west was outbound through the little copse. Most of the flour had been eaten/removed causing confusion, but the true path was found zig zagging to the sea wall curling back towards Prinstead only to find a back-check. South along the sea wall the route was discovered, and on until a short back check indicated that the route lay east along the very roughly square course. A fish hook for 4 caught Bambi, Snake Charmer, Old Faithful and Kinky.

Once back at Cot lane, there was a short south section before branching left onto a south heading path. A check straight on fooled the FRBs (Bambi, Snake Charmer and Kinky) who headed west too eagerly/early, a correct thought but west was at the next check on the road. With a check at the junction and falsies north and south, the trail past banks of primroses and huge green houses that had seen better days as it headed to the next check at Chidham Lane, but not before a fish hook for 3 caught Bambi, Snake Charmer and Old Faithful. It was then up on to the sea wall before descending onto the field edge path. Rather picturesque views of Bosham from Chidham Creek view point were photographed. Up again onto the sea wall north towards the main road, a third fish hook for 2 caught Bambi, Snake Charmer for the third time before branching left, through an extremely slippery bog and out onto Hamstead Medow. The trail joined Chidham lane and the On-Inn was back along the main road to the waggons.

The post run circle in the shelter of the rather lovley, spring, Maybush copse, the birds were tweeting for all their worth.

Substandard and Popeye laid on beer/cider/fruit juice, cheese, biscuits and fruit. Whilst Bambi handed out traditional hashing ballad hymn sheets and issued “down downs” to:-
•Popeye for breaking health and safety rules, jogging in a most unsteady fashion along the sea wall edge whilst chatting,
•Sonya for keeping her new t-shirt in pristine condition at the expense of a muddy Iphone/hands,
•Kinky for route advice from strangers.
•Popeye was awarded the Hash-it.

A couple of us visited the BarleyCorn Tavern for warm drinks from really friendly bar staff, having completed the 3.7 mile core run in a steady 75 minutes.

On-On,
Popeye

See: Bambi's track ... AND ... photos by Old Faithful & Bambi