| Run 424: | 7 May 2000: Roadside between Forestside and West Marden |
| Hares: | Jan Hill and Michael Brown |
Click for a look at the route (75K)
I do not have the benefit of the signing in sheet as I write this, but from memory, we had an attendance of about twenty of the "hard-core" Chichester Hash apart from a newbie Ian Lamonby brought along by Hugh. Even Trevor turned up, on time for the second time in a row. Graham was seen sporting his new ten "good conduct" stripes but had only sewn them on lightly in case he had them the wrong way up. For the record, it was a very pleasant day, weatherwise.
Phil, again early for once, (because he was the only joint master present) gave the opening address and handed over to Jan and Mike. After the usual lies about hills and mud the On-On was called and we were left to our own devises to locate the out-out. This took some time. Yours truly remembering the run in (1994?) thought we had it sussed and took off across the adjacent field only to realise 500 yards or so later that I was going in the wrong direction. By the time I got back, most of the pack had disappeared the right way down Oldhouse Lane, I think with Joyce in the lead. First check and Robin thought he had the right trail and disappeared to the left between two fields with myself, Amanda and Paul in hot pursuit. However, we all over-ran the falsie as it was cunningly laid off to one side and eventually the hares called us back. By this time, we had a bit of catching up to do. The trail continued down Oldhouse Lane until it reached a copse and we were taken off to the right and through the woods. After a couple of further checks, we came to the "big hole" and Paul Mortimer posed for a couple of photos down the bottom of said hole. A short trail through thickish wood and we were on the trail again.
At this point, somehow, I got in the lead again, quite convinced I was on the right trail 'cos it was so long. However, as I turned into the woods again, I could hear Phil Spooner calling and as I got close to the sound of his dulcet tones, I began to think "oh no, an enormous loop...oh dearie, dearie me" (or similar). Anyway it transpired we were all on the wrong trail and back to the check we went. (why are hares always grinning like Cheshire cats when they catch you out like that ?). Fortunately the next bit was down hill and I realised I was on familiar ground. We eventually arrived close to the Victoria Inn and regroup was called. Again, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and once again some of us old hands set off in the wrong direction only to be called back again to the true trail up a small path off the main road. We ran some way up a long track to the next check. However, despite Jan's efforts to entice us on the the right hand footpath, we all had the scent of the chariots in our nostrils and that of Edith, the large and friendly Charollais cow we had to pass on our way up hill. Several more checks and one more falsie that I checked out and we found the On-Inn.
We all finished relatively clean, and relatively together after a very successful run. Our thanks to Jan and Mike for a good hash accomplished in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Phil awarded the hashit at the roadside as some members were dashing off. The award went to Trevor I believe for nothing more than locating the hash the second time running and being on time. (his map reading is improving). Refreshments were taken at the nearby Victoria Inn, which I believe is under new management.
ON-ON Alan K.