Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
1025	2024-01-07 11:00	Hangover - Old Faithful and Bambi - chez Old Faithful & Pru	Drayton chez Old Faithful & Pru	SU675060

T’was a bright blue cloudless sky. Great to see after so many storms, rain and floods. However, at 0°C with a north easterly force 4 on the high seas, it was on the cool side, as we met at Old Faithful and Pru’s house in Drayton with their terrific views over Langstone Harbour to Hayling Island. Being in the lee of Portsdown hill there was little wind.

Bambi welcomed the 17 of us and one dog to run number 1025, after searching frantically but unsuccessfully for Substandard. Quite possibly a first, loosing someone before the Hash started. The hares were Bambi and Old Faithful, who explained the flour markings were conventional with a fish hook and a couple of regroups.

From the house, it was on left (west), through the houses to a back check, and a path up to the green of Portsdown hill.
We then trogged gleefully west along Portsdown hill admiring the view, till we came to Collyer’s pit and snaked our way through the many paths in the wilder part of this green to the A3.
On the other side we skirted the caravan park, past a herbal hasher smoking quietly and headed up towards the, oh… so tempting, and famous 24 hour burger van on Portsdown hill, where a stranger admiring the view, kindly took a photo of us at the regroup.

We then headed east on a higher and cooler path so near to the top of the hill and into wind. Down some steps close to the A3 to the chalk cliffs at the bottom.
I remember with horror, that I took my sons there when they showed an interest in climbing. Now, I know that no one climbs on chalk. Apparently large bits tend to fall on your head - hmm….. Thank goodness we never actually climbed there. Somehow, they survived, and are now both excellent climbers.
Having crossed back over the A3 we headed along the road for a bit before descending to a picnic table for a regroup and photo.
It was then over Portsdown hill road to edge of Portsmouth Golf Course and Fort Purbrook. Some of us pondered the number of forts on the hill, we had many answers but didn’t settle on a final number (there are 5 high level ones on the hill and 5 low level ones towards Gosport).
A fish hook caught Olive Oyl, MJ, Dr Blood and me, before we recrossed Portdown hill road and descended towards the On-Inn.
The trail was 4 miles, covered in a leisurely 100 minutes.

At chez Pru and Old Faithful, a tremendous spread was on offer together with refreshments. Having warmed and refuelled ourselves, reposed comfortably indoors, the formalities began with a swift review of the highlights of the year and down-downs were awarded to:-

1. The Hares by way of a, “Thank you” for a lovely completely non-muddy run.
2. Blind Ness and Sausage Lottery for being two thirds of the way through 3 Hashes in 3 days
3. Sonja for taking so many photos – and why not, with such a good view on a lovely mid-winter day.
4. Bika for coming on the hash as well as suffering from man flu, allegedly!
5. Treefeller for being Honorary Secretary and CanMan for being Honorary President.

The Hash-it would have been awarded but Snake Charmer has it, along with COVID unfortunately. We wish her a swift recovery.

It was lovely to see Tigger again, one of the founder members along with CanMan.

The group wished to thank Spiderman so much for his continued work updating the web site and group emails in his absence.

The Hasher of the year was awarded to me! To my great surprise, for being the Hash Trash scribe, reliable hare and supplying single apiary artisan honey.

The new Hash Masters were announced as being, Kinky and Thumper. They in turn announced the raffle for group funds.

On-On,
Popeye

Bambi's track
... AND ... photos by Bambi and Sonia