| Run 519 4th January 2004 |
The Doc and The Chamois
The Hangover Hash - Freeman Towers, The Drive, Chichester - Bring those unwanted Xmas goodies for hash prizes. Click for a map Click for a detailed map |
We have had Hangover Hashes in snow, in rain and hail but never it seems on a bright and balmy day in January. It may have been the weather or perhaps the fact that there was to be the annual bunfight at the end but the pack was large and in good spirits. Treefeller called them to order for multiple photographs on multiple cameras which confused everybody but finally the JMs called for Hash Hush one last time and as one of them was also half of the hares team gave a few well chosen lies abefore setting the pack off with The Doc sprinting ahead to the corner to direct everybody to the right.
The pack ambled through the small estate around Freeman Towers annoying neighbours and ensuring that the Freemans do not get invited to any drinks parties next year before being turned around and finally back to the muddy alley at the back of the house which was where we thought we were going in the first place.
With some keen sorts showing those more leisurely runners a clean pair of heels the trail went through the alleyways in Lavant before a regroup to allow slower member to catch up. A brief respite and then across the fiedls and into the muddier areas of Lavant although the river was not flowing so no padling this year. Across Lavant and a nice meander around the fields before jogging down tracks we all know so well but always the question - which is the true.?
Buster had been joined by two new canine members who kindly brought their owners to swell the numbers and in no timeat all it seemed as though we could smell mince pies. However these crafty hares never make it that easy and just when we thought we were heading back up the muddy alley way to home they sent us back down the fields to come back along the paths by the Marchwood estate and the stile leading home.
Almost exactly on the hour the pack struggled back to the chariots and changed into their finest atire to enter the scene of the 19th Hangover Hash held at Freeman Towers.
The pack instantly threw themselves on the food supplied with gusto and there followed an unseemly fight for sausage rolls, mince pies and cheese. However the feast began to draw to a close and the JM performed the last act of the year and awarded the hashit to Bambi for front running and generally giving hashers a bad name in doing so. The Can Man was then awarded Hasher of The Year and managed to trap his head in the toilet seat supplied. Finally the new JMs for 2004 were announced (Bambi and Spiderman) who began the time honoured ritual of the hash raffle. Expectations were high as Ian and Joan had travelled all the way down from the midlands for this very moment, and to be fair the clutch of valuable prizes they took away made the trip worthwhile. However the first name out of the hat was Catherine Barty who pounced on the best prize available (a radio in working order) and the rest of the pack followed scooping up prizes as fast as they could. Eventually even these games were exhausted and the pack had to wander off home to ponder which was worse the American flag shorts worn by one runner or the tarten trousers sported by another (you know who you are!)?
So another year of hash insanity ahead. Happy New Year. On On.
Humble Scribe