Jubilee Hash no 692

Run  –  692 Hare:  Dormouse Hounds: Elizabeth, Peter, Jamie, Kate, Mark, Iain, Stefan, Sian, Frances, Becky, Bill, Tim, Keith, Sharon, Harriet, Nikki, Pat, Phantom, Bangkok, Tony, Floater, DiTW, WAM, Tenzing, Liz, Ellie, Rachel, Paperwork, Paul, Martini, Big Bird, Why Bother, Pink2Lips, Derek, JB, Dave, John, Simon  (apologies if I have missed anyone or got a name wrong,  but there were lots of you…..) On down: Lydeard House

Being on car park duty, for once the three witches flew in early…  

All runners parked and dutifully dressed in red, white and blue, with bunting being utilised to make some very fetching skirts…. (Thank you to my fellow hasher for the loan of my lovely shorts!)   

A hash pack of 40 (I think) convened by the main entrance, the numbers swelled by some local Bishops Lydeard runners, walkers, and brave new hashers.  

Dormouse gave some brief explanatory hash instructions and on out to the right.  On-on called up a rather steep lane, which despite not seeing flour for some time, several of us doggedly slogged on up…. we should have known better!  A distant call of on-back and we turned on our heels and retraced our steps, back down the hill to a gap in the hedge, a clamber up over a bank and onto the right trail…  A nice steady run through some fields and tracks and then we do it again….. A missed check - causing several of us bowl along once again in the wrong direction, eventually we are called back!   (Too much cackling and lack of concentration on my part!)  Once again we are set on the right trail.  A brief meeting with the walkers and on-on called through some more fields, eventually popping out onto a road.  By this point no one is daring to race off in any direction, so we all loiter for a while, waiting for some brave soul to make a move, eventually someone does and on-on is called and we’re off again.  

Even though Paperwork is carrying an injury, he was very much back in action, generally being the front runner, with John jostling for the lead on the odd occasion.  More distant calls of on-on, taking us through fields of peas, corn and very long grass (being careful to stick to tramlines in one corn field – something to do with stewardship I think!) More fields and then a nice steady bit of road running and onto regroup, for some well earned sweeties and a fabulous view of the Quantocks.  

Check it out and along more country lanes and fields.  Eventually we find ourselves running along a long,  wet, muddy track, which takes us back to fields on the outskirts of Bishops Lydeard, where we run along Quantock View, then turn left, past the ‘Bird in Hand’, and down to the right, into Lydeard Mead.  Carefully picking our way through some rather smelly ‘something’, we run through the last few fields, skirting around the multitude of horses and ponies, and on-in to Lydeard House.

A huge thank you to Dormouse for being the brains behind the event, and setting a fantastic hash.  

I know that all of you would wish to thank the wonderful hostess, for welcoming us all to her wonderful home, Lydeard House and extending such generosity.  It was a lovely evening and I know enjoyed by all.  £170 was raised for Genesis Research Trust, which is a fantastic amount.  

On behalf of the ‘Mad Bird’s on Bikes’, I would like to thank all of you for supporting us.  I know the existing hashers will have enjoyed the run and hope all newcomers did as well and that they will venture out with us again.....  

Next run: Buncombe Wood Car Park ST 200328