Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	Aerial
729	2012-01-15	Sureshot, Stitchup & French virgin	Eartham Woods	SU938106

The combination of a sunny, crisp and dry morning, and a woody location served to coax a large number of hashers out of bed to start the year by keeping to their resolution to do more hashing. We welcomed newcomers Jo and Karen (a.k.a Splashback) and once again Splitpin and Bollocks (Henfield HHH).

After the usual perfunctory mendacity, delivered by Stitchup (as spokesman for co hares Sureshout and French virgin) in his charming Gallic brogue we were ushered to the east in the directiona of what Can Man assures me was a WW1 POW camp.

We crossed Stane Street and entered into the maze of paths just north of The Plain with Pancsi way out in front, but not for long as he selected the first of what were to be many diabolically long falsies, in this instance it was up hill to boot.

Soon we found ourselves back on Stane Street with Dave up front on the long slog up to a check under the seven way signpost with the seat below. Snake Charmer was heard to mutter ?Oh God!? on arrival here and despite several hashers turning their head to acknowledge the complement I rather think that she was referring to her surprise at finding so many possible trails to check.

Naturally it took some time for us to find the true trail into North Wood and the continued climb towards Stubb's Wood that stretched the pack intoa a long line of puffing souls in need of a rest, which provoked our new JM (Flash) into calling an impromptu regroup.
As we took a breath and had a bit of a natter, as you do, I noticed that Flash had his T shirt on, inside out. Apparently he noticed his mistake right at the start but Panda had said to him that to turn it the right way out would bring bad luck, was she avin a larf?, in any event he was not taking the risk.

The first check after the restart, just west of Dawtrey's Hooks, on the NT boundary, had a falsie that took those that were lured to it on a long steep climb to end overlooking the true trail. A whole bunch of shortcutters including, Karl, Aaron, yours truly, Dr Blood, Pink Flamingo etc were just too knackered to get all the way back to the check, so attempted to sneak down the slope to rejoin the pack, but were easily spotted by the JMs.

Now we turned west and mercifully down hill at last and charging down the path towards Mary's Wood and thinking that it would be all down hill from here and beginning to feel great with endorphins coursing through the veins. Too good to be true !.
Suddenly everything down was false as the trail headed north and we were on a long slog all the way up to the track to St Mary's Farm.

Those that had saved a bit in the tank got to the top first, including Max, Pancsi, Mike,Bika,Splitpin,Bollocks,Olive Oyl, etc, others, having flat batteries, chose an official short cut and avoided the climb altogether.

Finally we all made our way down Ide's Common to the On-In after one hour and five minutes (it seemed longer) of highly energetic hashing.

At the circle we all applauded the hares for a most enjoyable and testing hash. Mention was made of the mass short cut (as starlings know, there is safety in numbers) however Splasher was re-awarded the Hash-It because he forgot to bring to this run, a heinous crime.

The pack retired to The George as you would expect.

Finally, it is with some sadness that we have to wave au revoir to Stitchup and French Virgin who are moving to pastures new (Bexhill) after such a short time of hashing with us.

Bambi.