It was with great delight that a well sized crowd of Hashers converged just outside the
allotments to break the monotony of yet another long hot summer's day by taking part
in the nine hundredth occurrence of the Chichester Hash.
A solitary JM, Vixen, addressed us to inform that Prancer had broken a rib or two trying
to sail single handed round the world, yet was even then firing up the barbecue.
We welcomed virgins Maggie and Bill and an erstwhile Chris, also a seldom seen
Brylcreem turned up hoping to clear a wedding reception hangover.
My ears are now inured to the whines and barks of dogs that rose to a crescendo as
we sallied forth south east on Cemetery Lane to a check just outside the dead centre
of Westbourne. After a brief detour through the markers for souls at the final regroup
we continued on the dusty lane to Duffield Lane with Dr Blood and Brylcreem way out
in front.
Not for long, because the hares had laid a falsie on Duffield that went nearly all the way
into Woodmancote, thus a select group comprising Dr Blood, Brylcreem, Bambi, Kinky,
Pancsi etc. found themselves with a million mile return run to catch the pack which had
disappeared south west on South Lane.
A good bash on this mercifully shady footpath was punctuated by a fish hook that
caught Old Faithful, Bambi, Snake Charmer, Pocket Rocket, Pink Flamingo, Mary,
Spiderman and The Ref.
Next it was South over the River of Death on to the vast prairie near the College where
the knee high crop was ready for the Combine.
We bumped into a fish hook for one that caught Old Faithful and then one just for
Cheesy Chips.
A check at the corner of the playing fields was in shade with a cooling breeze, which
meant that there was reluctance to emerge into the glare and look for trail.
At this point the Hares offered a short cut, which some wimps accepted while a reduced
pack continued South to a regroup at the rail crossing. After looking and listening, and hearing
only Pancsi's tummy rumbling from lack of beer, we found ourselves at the top of Penny Lane
and almost in Brylceem's back garden.
He was still mumbling on about if he'd known we would be so close he could have slept
in and joined us here as we turned North to recross the iron rails. On this side of the tracks
the crop was knee high Broad Bean which Bambi found had a rather tough skin but tasty
cotyledon.
Continuing North we recrossed the lanes of Sunday Drivers at Lumley Croft and were
charging up Mill Lane when we reached a final Fish Hook for factorial nine hundred,
this started a debate as to whether or not it would mean the pack having to run around
in ever decreasing circles until all were dead, nothing new there then.
All that remained was a trot alongside the clear flowing Ems, a walk through the
churchyard and a jog on hot hot pavement to reach the On-In via North Street after
one hour and seventeen minutes of sun dried hashing.
We retired to Vixen's Earth where Prancer and helpers welcomed us to a whole
feast of grub and grog which we commenced to consume with great relish in groups
clustered in the shady spots of the garden.
Almost forgotten, the Hash-It was summarily allotted to Dancer for laying the mother
of all Falsies before we settled down to the raffle, an event of two halves, at first hoping
to win a prize and then hoping to not win a prize.
The experience reached a climax when we all gathered for a group snap wearing
our new nine hundredth commemorative shirts, made possible by Vixen and Prancer,
we owe them a debt of gratitude for this and their hospitality.
Also thanks to the rest of you that made it such a great day.
On On ! Bambi.
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