Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
870	2017-05-21 11:00	Mussolini	Stoughton Forest	SU815125

OMG it was a lovely morning to be alive, just think of a perfect day, this was it.

No JMs this morning, both having weak and feeble excuses for doing something else, so it fell to Bambi to welcome a sizeable contingent from Brighton, Wild Bush, Roaming Pussy, Keeps It Up, and Bogeyman, all eager to take in the West Sussex air.

Mussolini had laid some of the trail the previous evening with the help of Pancsi who was another with a feeble excuse for not being there.

Early arrivals who were observant would have seen Mussolini returning, with flour, from the west, however this turned out to be a clever ruse to throw us off the scent.

An interesting discussion about the germination rate of Dr Blood's beans was cut short as we circled up before leaving, with Bambi attempting to raise a smile or two with some feeble humour and Mussolini putting on his "seriously" face to warn us to keep off any cycle tracks before pointing us north east on the main gravel track.

The first check arrived after a hundred yards or so, causing the pack to wander east into the trees. Fresh legs allowed some to wander well away from the check, causing Mussolini to call us back, but not before Keeps It Up had stumbled on to the "On-In" mark. To his credit, KIU didn't spread the news about this spoiler.

We continued on gravel to the next check, better this time, then north west on the edge of knee high wheat into Wildham's Wood, and a long slow climb north east towards Ramsden Copse.

All was going well until Bambi over ran a falsie on this path, taking the front runners away from the trail west into the valley below the steep climb to Blackbush Copse.

Yes, up we went, and up, and Aaarg! a fish hook, catching Bambi, Old Faithful, Keeps It Up, and Bika.

Here we were spared any more up, as the trail took to the undergrowth and brambles to cut west and then south on the path to Greatdean Bottom. I think that it was around here that Belle ran off somewhere, good from my point of view because she is always trying to trip me up, however there was some concern from Snake Charmer who was also having to deal with a flagging Jones, oh! it's all too much.

Bitch located, we took another climb towards Blackbush House, encountering another fish hook so badly drawn that we ignored it, to stop just short of the top for a natter and a group snap.

From here we followed Mussolini south west to the crest with a lovely view of Stoughton, most of the flour having been consumed by slugs overnight.

All that was left now was an anti clockwise loop back to the chariots via the familiar steep climb from the lowest part of Greatdean Bottom. Those of us with the energy to be at the front here were treated to another fish hook, namely, Bambi, KIU, Sinbad and Flash.

We reached the On-In after one hour and eleven minutes of vertiginous hashing.

We did not really have any misdemeanours to discus at the circle, just dog loss, and Panda's trust in what the Hare says, until someone noticed that Canman was more intent on finishing his crossword than joining us. Canman was duly presented with the Hash-It. (By the way, the word he was looking for was Lyonnaise).

We then adjourned to the garden at The Barley Mow, some for the tasty carvery, and all to slake a thirst.

On – On ! Bambi.