Run 457 - 12th August 2001 - Eartham Wood

A goodly size pack arrived at Eartham to find some keen souls led by Sinbad had already been for a bike ride before taking their exercise with the pack - Show offs! The pack was called together by the JMs and we received the sad news that Andrew Tarry, one of our founder members had died in the previous week. A minutes silence was held at the beginning (see accompanying sheet).
JMs introduced another of The Can Mans harem from the Czech Republic (Eva), gave Homerun Barclay the hashit to carry for being rude to a JM and after a short preamble by the hare, who had laid the trail all alone, the pack was off.
Out onto the road but shortly we turned into the wood and onto the first check. Selwyn had laid the trail with flour which is becoming a favoured option for hares as it is easy to carry and also only 9p a bag at Sainsburys or Tescos (buy some now whilst stocks last). It will be interesting to see how the trail looks if it ever snows. Like the keen runners we are, the pack hunted out the correct trail and deeper into the wood we went, all of us certain we knew which way Selwyn had decided to go. As usual we were wrong. For those of us who thought that trail laying on his own meant a short and easy course, we were given a rude awakening. The first problem was that there were both trails and long falsies. The second problem was that some idiots had kicked out some of the spots which was a pain, but on occasions they had kicked out 2 of the three falsie spots. Does this suggest an ex-hasher disgruntled or seeking revenge? The insider knowledge makes the blood curdle. The third problem was that due to the fact that many dog owners are tight wads and do not feed their animals properly, these hungry creatures lick up the spots (or so Selwyn tells us). All of which is a long winded way of telling you, gentle reader that we could not find where we were going and this was a reasonable excuse. The trail twisted and turned before doubling back on itself and Joyce was at the forefront of it all checking valiantly. At a check back on the Stane Street road, Peter Maisey was heard to be taking clues from a passer-by who informed him that the three spots were that way. Peter said this was not hashitable because she had volunteered the information and he had not asked for it.
The former conservative M.P Neil Hamilton tried a similar excuse and it did not work on that occasion either. However the pack had already found the true path and at the next check Whispers was seen bounding up the track whilst we all called Lets Hear You!. A whispered response floated into the air but true to his name nobody could hear what it was. As he disappeared into the distance we worked out that he was on a trail (Hashers dont miss much). Check after check followed and a few anxious glances were cast at watches. With only two checks to go Homerun Barclay had his nose to the ground and led us straight to the last check and headed for home.... the wrong way leaving The Can Man to offer an impromptu lecture on the leper colonies the previous hashers had lived in( or something, I got confused). Shortly after the On-Inn was sighted and we were back to the chariots after a fine run. Upon arrival Miss Perfect had turned up late and although catching sight of the hash had sensibly lost them. Jill and Tony then went one better turning up on the bikes after the pack had all got home. Some excuse about mistaking 11 oclock for 12 oclock.
So the pack was called to order and after the usual nominations Joyce was awarded the hashit for over enthusiastic checking. The pack had to agree and we all retired to the George at Eartham after a fine run.

Humble Scribe PS Recent numbers have been Fair. However let us have a push on recruitment. If we all just con one innocent friend into becoming a hasher the pack doubles in size which means that you have to run less checks, and more raffle prizes at Xmas!!