Wednesday 27th December 2000 -The last hash of 2000 and on a Wednesday for a change due to the Boxing Day holiday falling on the Tuesday. Today's trail was set by Mike with Peter with added management skills provided by Karen and took us round New bits of Northwich. The weather was frosty with a clear sky; no moon to speak about and we had an Aussie visitor Andrew (insert hash name here later) to view the delights. The trail was of a kindly nature no shiggy to speak of and sufficient room not to fall into the River as we ran alongside it. The trail , unsusually for us, featured stops.. two of them.. with mulled wine and mince pies. It was also not a great deal longer than 8k. An excellent trail and suited the post blow-out condition of the pack of 20. Tuesday 19th December 2000 -No reports for a while as the back had given out but I was testing it out for Rodder's pre Christmas circumnavigation of Northwich. We met in M&S car par; 22 souls and 44 soles, and several dogs. We got off to an excellent start by leaving Doctor Dave behind and he had to expend energy to catch us up. Although slightly drizzly it was a mild night and we twisted and turned our way though the back alleys of Northwich and much to our shock were back at the motors for 9 o clock where Rod distributed Mince Pies and Hot Mulled Wine. We then proceded as usual to get changed in the car park before making our way to the Penny Black. Here, I was told, the Spitfire ale was on song and tasty. The body survived after a 4 week layoff. Tuesday 21st November 2000 -The trail was set from a hash favourite pub, The Stags Head at Warnford. Steve and Tim set the trail though only Tim ( dogless) hared it on the night. The weather was drizzly but not too bad and it was wet underfoot. At one point we headed through a farmyard, fairly clean, and then int a field which was ankle deep in liquid cow doo. yechh!. Fortunately for Eleanor she waited for a further field before she fell over backward in a muddy puddle. I managed to keep going all through and we settled in the pub in sight of the fire to imbibe the golden liquid. A good trail for the conditions with many checks and a good steady pace. Tuesday 14th November 2000 -The night's trail was set by Uncle Albert assisted at the back by PeterK. It was a mild night at the White Barn and dry!!!. The Lymm bus arrived from the direction of Northwich (don't ask) just in time for the off and away we went. It was still dry !! we went along roads, paths, across fields (not much mud!!!!!!!) and we looped near the pub three times by 8:30. On the last of these I took the option of the ankle and hobbled in as the pack took off in another direction. Looking at the map later there was a resemblence to a clover leaf. The pub was in reasonable nick with Beer and John Smiths. A remarkable change from the wetness of previous weeks. Various hash members commented on their inability to find the previous week runsite before giving up. Allan's Alternative report ..Ecological but not ecumenical!. Tuesday 7th November 2000 -As I have been bollixed for a couple of weeks and Allan has been adrift, here is a report from David T (who obviously misses the normal missives so much he was moved to create his own view of 'the reality' that is the Hash. Lay by , Rodeheath near Congleton and afterwards at a pub. Alternatively Ypres 1917 Given the Biblically wet conditions over the past weeks it would have been reasonable to assume that by the law of averages we were due for a dry one, at least from the heavens if not underfoot. However Mother Nature had undoubtedly arranged additional overdraft facilities and decided to continue delivering much of the contents of the North Atlantic in a bulk consignment to the site of the Cheshire Hash's weekly excursion. The numbers hashing plumbed further depths with at least half the regular pack finding a good reason not to attend. At least the normal trail layers refrain of "it was dry when I set it" couldn't possibly be available, unless it had been set in August. The Eden's arrived back from their normal sojourn in warmer climes to be met with a harsh reminder that hashing in Cheshire in November (wet and dark) is somewhat different from hashing in Portugal in October (warm and in daylight). Still, life would be boring if there was no variety. The trail began normally enough with some gentle checking, by and large on hard grey things called roads and only slightly wet things called tracks. The toilet paper was somewhat invisible although this was attributed more to the fact that Roger had set the trail (thanks Roger) rather than the fact that Monday's weather had put it through conditions it was never designed to cope with. I did't see any chalk all night, surprisingly. The first off road section was reasonably good, but as we ploughed through the second I quite expected to see the 3rd Accrington Pals Battalion forming up to go over the top. The illusion was only strengthened by the barbed wire and electric fence halfway along the check. In eighty years time a farmer will probably plough up a pair of Reeboks and a torch and ring the War Graves Commission. The heavy uphill conditions had their normal effect on the hash of separating the back from the front by several hundred yards. The position that was only resolved when the FRB's got hopelessly lost and the main pack was directed by the older Tone with a map who reached the front by not running through any of the difficult bits. Eventually everyone arrived back at the lay by and adjourned to the pub for some R and R away from the front line. Next weeks Hash will apparently be from the Sappers Arms, Passchendale and will be set by General Haig. Tuesday 24th October 2000 -Alas I was not there, dear reader, having knacked my ankle coming out of the pub the previous week!!. However the gallant Mr Jones cycled to the venue at Acton Bridge to give us this off the spot report. Allan's Alternative report ..Delivered within 20 minutes to your door .. or your money back!. Tuesday 17th October 2000 -Today was a wet one. Allan was setting the trail from his bike 15 minutes ahead of us. That is not to say he went along the route he sent us ( We believe , Dear Readers, that he cheated and went round the roads). The first check sent us along a foot path that started broadly and then narrowed drastically with long nettles and sharp thorns. Three checks later we crossed into a field. Even Martin said he got areas wet that usually got wet only in a bath. The field was yea deep...More a small lake than a field really and a Spash not a Hash. The tunnel under the railway chilled the spherical objects of those wot had them.. Otherwise a typical Allan trail with everyone getting back within seconds of each other and we repaired to the Dixon Arms for some refreshment.. Today we had an Australian visitor spreading the word about a 2004 bid for Interhash in Perth.. He Survived. Allan's Alternative report ..Delivered by the SBS. Tuesday 10th October 2000 -Daniel staged his hare-comeback with a moonlight run from the Bulls Head at Mottram St Andrew. It had rained heavily the day before but things were bright on the night. For some reason he chose the navigationally challenged me for back runner (see later). Everything went off smoothly for the 30odd hashers working their way along quiet roads until the off road started off towards Alderley woods. The going got squelchier by the step. At one point the water was so much that the stream in the woods went both sides of the bridge making it more of an island. We crept our way up to the edge and stopped to admire the view before galloping down .... to meet the shiggy we met on the way up. On-on to Hare Hill at which point back marker Max got a stone in his/my shoe. By the time I got it out every one had vanished. A map is useless if you have no compass and you are surrounded by trees. I ended up coming out on completely the wrong side of the woods and by my usual ply of knocking on a door and asking where the pub was, i discovered I was about 3 miles out by road. I had legged it mostly in when I was met by Rod in vehicle who ran me the rest. Hare and passenger re appeared from looking for me 15 minutes later so we got in to pub at about 9:55. Whoops!!. Good trail otherwise and Speckled Hen went down a treat.Allan's Alternative report ..Specially biked in. Weekend 7th/8th October 2000 -The Hash weekend at Tillington Hall, near Stafford, saw the attention of 30 individuals of various ages. 22 of them went out on the Saturday hash from a large reservoir near Stafford. We worked our way through several villages full of pubs ..All of which were Shut??? We also ran around the outside of a Girls school but they were out as well. Heather's trail was excellent and would be reported on better if I hadn't drunk so much at the evening dinner.A couple of Photographs The dinner was very good with alcohol flowing freely until Prof Shiggy laid out his plan for the next day. The 8 three person teams were drawn and everyone was involved. I was drawn with Brian B and Eleanor.. The Sunday orienteering was out past Stafford Castle. The morning started briskly but the sun broke through to give a superb crisp day with clear blue sky. Tony (with Long Gone) had set out 54 markers. and as I drove over from the hotel the team mates divvied up the route and said 'Max do the North West'. So off I went with my usual trepidation, bearing in mind my usual habit of falling off trail and coming in last and late. BUT my navigation took me to where I thought the markers were... and they were there!!. 18 insects later and having used up a mere 1hr 45m of the allocated 2hr 15 I was in. All the team came in under the time and we got 46 out of the 54 to tie first with Kevan's team. All involved thoroughly enjoyed it. Tuesday 3rd October 2000 -The evening started calmly but the wind was picking up from the North West. The trail started with a 1km run out through the squelch with a torch flickering like mad. Second check it had packed up. No spare bulb. Fortunately Prof Shiggy, who was junior hare, had a spare Maglight with a spare bulb. A true HERO. Onward through the relatively warm evening though very blowy. Conkers were striking the ground around us and giving the occasional beaning. A good first effort by Nigel though marred by Pam crocking her ankle in the woods.Allan's Alternative report ..Specially biked in. Tuesday 26th September 2000 -Unfortunately I missed the Hash at the Garden of Eden® as I had crocked my knee getting in a shower. I always thought the application of water to bodily parts was a risky business best left to professionals. This was sad as I had an inkling that it was a 200th.. Cheshire have very few traditions and normally this is the non PC one. My 200th 'celebration' involved whipped cream and a female who had a surprisingly limited wardrobe in numbers but made up for in imagination. You needed to imagine she had clothes.. especially with the Mrs ( a crocked hasher) sitting 10 yards away. As Allan says ' Sit at the back with two pints and refuse all invitations to help. At least there was no smell of singed hair!!. Back to the point. It was a reasonable evening but it was likely to have been wet due to the previous day and morning rain. Remember the Cheshire Chorus.. all together.... ' It was perfectly dry when I set it'. However, Our Grand Master comes to the rescue with one of his chronicles Allan's Alternative report and he WAS there for the on-in!!. Next weekend 7th Oct is the Hash weekend Tuesday 19th September 2000 -The Velocitous Vet set through Lymm from the 'Farmers Arms' . Unusually for a Tuesday it lashed it down....stopping briefly in the middle. So there was a sufficiency of clarts. He took us through the nooks and crannies of the village . ' I didn't know half of it was there before' he admitted later. The trail went well with a front runner and a back hare. Dan made an appearance after a long spell missing and much drinking was had by all. Heather handed out a hash contact list for all. Our on-on sec is getting Very Organised as they were laminated. Just as well as I dropped mine outside on the way to the motor. Allan's Alternative report and he wasn't there!! Tuesday 12th September 2000 -The Horseshoe at Kingsley It's the middle of the Petrol Crisis - there just ain't a drop to be had. Nevertheless an excellent turn out at a pub with no beer - The Horseshoe at Kingsley is closed for refurbishment. The Landlord kindly allowed us to use the car park.It was a standard 10k with 29 checks with a number of loops into and out of the village. It was a lovely late Summer evening, no-one was lost, there were no major mishaps, the Hash didn't get too spread out and we were back at the car park just after nine.Drinks afterwards at the Red Bull (the other pub, now the only pub, in Kingsley) - some people had enough energy but not enough fuel so they walked, whilst others drove around looking for somewhere to park (the car park at the Red Bull is not large) ... the walkers arrived first! In the pub.... you've guessed it another Quiz Night but we were not deterred and a good time was had by all. Maybe some of the Hashers didn't have enough fuel to get to work later that week but at least they managed to Hash on Tuesday Regards Herr (Hare) Uncle Albert Report on 5.September.2000Another Month and the nights are drawing in. The hash tonight was set at the last minute following pleadings from Tony 'Prof' who was the acting on-on a couple of weeks ago. Initial thought was for a different pub but after two afternoons of searching and 'It was here I'm Sure!!!'. I found that the 'Wellgreen' had been knocked down. So the 'Greyhound' in Ashley it was. When I went to set on the Sunday I was informed that there would be a Quiz Night....ARRRGHH!! too late to change. The lady then said that the WI were having a quiz night the night before so it might be quiet on the Tuesday and PHEW it was a low turn out for the quiz as it was a goodly turnout for the hash. Many of the kid owners were back from their summer hollies having escaped the clutches of the French blockaders. Why don't they blockade Belgium or Switzerland for a change instead of Calais and the Tunnel? To Business. The trail was a meagre 9k and moved briskly so we were back at the pub by 9. Nobody important was lost for long and Tony E was back before the rest. Follow the link for The Earwitness report from the Cyclopath and grand master Allan's Alternative report Report on 29.August.2000Bill set this Hash over in territory not visited in over 10years and then a little further. The pub was good, The George at Compsall to the South east of Stockport. The terrain, although hilly was interesting with a stunning view at one point over the aqueduct into the valley below. This was however followed by the plummet down the path to pass under the aqueduct which was an impressive piece of engineering with the brick work including circular openings to lighten the load. On we went up hill and down dale and up hill and up hill and up hill.. then was a little cry in the distance of on-on and a beer stop ensued administered by the birthday girl. Bill announced that there were two options left.... the other 5k up hill or 2.5K mostly down hill. To a man we wimped and off we went through the remaining checks and increasing gloom to the pub. A good trail and good ale. Report on 15.August.2000Max was away in France drinking and eating and having fun....so this report comes from the pen of the hare.... Hashing from the Bluebell at Smallwood Disaster struck for Dave Lever - Report on 8.August.2000The trail was set by Hilary from the Swan with 2 nicks at Little Bollington (Nowhere near Bollington, Bill) on a clear evening. The trail mixed road, field, shiggy deer and Bullocks with a certain amount of canal and got us back in sniffing distance of the pub just after nine. There seemed to be a TVR rally going on as the car park filled up rapidly and expensively after we arrived. The sky was darkening and sadly we are drifting back to torch carrying time. The Swan Ale, brewed by CoachHouse was excellent. The on-on sec, for registration and insurance purposes, has had us all certified including the dogs it seems. About time too I hear you say BUT it seems we are now ATHLETES!!!. I didn't know raising a pint to the lips qualified as an athletic pursuit. Allan's Alternative report Report on 1.August.2000Heather and Nick set a looping trail along the canal banks and byways of Rode Heath from the Broughton Arms on a fine sunny evening. The Lymm Bus arrived on time this week and thus could get the brains in gear before setting off. Their trail laying was excellent and Brian B led the way in with very little gap between the first and last to be greeted by the grand master Allan J who had cycle down to time it for the drinking bit. A busy pub with some good beer including Pedigree and a great smell of food.Allan's Alternative report Report on 11.July.2000Rob and Tim set one of their mock orienteering (You call that orienteering our cat could do better and he only has 3 legs!! ) trails with the added effect of allowing bikes for them as wanted to use them. The format as usual tempted people to go for 'Just one more 10 pointer' with the danger of losing 2 points for every minute late back and the additional danger of reducing the drinking time.. Prioritise..Prioritise!. We had our usual (yawn yawn) God is a Tuesday hasher weather. and the barbie was excellent. PS Eleanor says to says to point out that She and Karen won fair and square by the unseemly ability to navigate, read and arrive back on time. Allan's Alternative report Report on 27.June.2000Rod chose to set the trail from The Hanging Gate at Weaverham.. A village no longer on the A49. On a warm summer evening there was year best turn out of 38 Hashers and merely 3 dogs. Bridget was out again proving that after childbirth everything else was less painful (and probably demonstrating that it did not necessarily improve you mentally as otherwise why are you out hashing again!!)) We rambled off through the village and were soon running in circles of Rod's making It became worrying at one point when we passed through a 9way check point for the third time and from a different direction whether there were another 6 attempts to come. Much joy unfolded when we got away and were back into the woods, then the houses and finally the public house. It was an evening for sitting out in the light drinking until home time and with great effort we managed that difficult task.. By the By,, Max did not fall over again and break anything, though Peter had a go. Report on 20.June.2000Here we were at the bottom end of Cheshire at Audlem. The Lymm bus was late as mostly and had to 'run' to get on to the back of the trail. The weather was kindness itself after all the strong squally showers and Max ( FivePointNine) managed not to do his famous Plummet. K & L set an interesting trail enlivened by views of streams, Girl Guides and sheep. Plenty of short cuts were available for those so inclined and I particularly liked the one from the top of my pint of Wadsworth 6X to the bottom in one easy downhill action. ( I thing there was a footie match in which Roumania did quite well). Allan J exhibited great fitness by cycling from Knutsford to arrive in time for the Ale. Too Fit by Half.Allan's Alternative report Report on 06.June.2000Dave T set an excellent though vertical route to the tops above the Bickerton Poacher. We again had a sunny evening with views as far as Liverpool and some of the Welsh hills. Coming to the last but one stile I was for some reason at the front and decided to take a closer look at the ground. The ground fought dirty and hit me in the head with a rock it had concealed in a cowpat. Dr A did a good job with the clean-up and spot weld and over the next few days I turned into Mr Potato Head. ( NOTE.. I must not pick on bigger opponents.) There follows an Ear Witness report from Allan J.. Allan's Alternative report Report on 30.May.2000A trip out to Frodsham took 27 Hashers (Unusually no dogs) out through the little parks and crannies through to the Monument at the top of the Mersey View on Frodsham Hill. Strangely it was drier on the trail than when I (Max) set it. A lot along Bridleways and footpaths and wooded area made the views more spectacular on the brilliantly sunny evening.The cathedrals in Liverpool were clearly visible as were the Welsh hills. Long Gone braved his poorly knee to go along a curtailed route (though he managed to confuse the short cuts into long cuts). Somehow I managed to lose both Adrian and Eleanor at different places but due to their superior navigation skills and my 'superb hemhem' trail laying they found us (must try harder). Of course the shouting had nothing to do with it. The Helter Skelter proved enjoyable with Weetwood Bitter at £1.48 per pint. Report on 23.May.2000The summer trips to the south of the county got going well with a trail from Heather and Nick from 'The Castle' at Mossley near Congleton. We were joined on this trail by six hashers from the Potteries Hash, including Florence of Arabia and Angus. They brought the numbers up to 25 for an interesting trail though the countryside near Rainow Hill towards the Cloud. All survived to drink again. Report on 16.May.2000The Hash was 18 today. Mike 'Fig Leaf' and Pam 'PeeWee' Eden took us out from the excellent 'Bird in Hand' At Knolls Green, Mobberley. There were many checks and about six miles on a good evening..no torches required. The trips round the Moss involved losing several hashers who nevertheless still arrived back at the pub. The hares kept a whip hand as there was tucker laid on Curry or Fish and Chips with a pint of Sam Smith for the sum of £6. Report on 9.May.2000Hare Peter 'Whimsey' Rose set from the Legh Arms in Knutsford, A well used pub by the Hash. He sent us on a whimsical trail taking us through the streets of Knutsford along many a wooded path...though some he took us along more than once. Having appeared at the same check from 4 different directions we were coming a little turned about until he had mercy on us and brought us home to sit in the dusk outside the pub supping Marstons til home time. Report on 4.April.2000Brian B stepped in at the last minute and set an excellent trail from the 'Fox and Barrel' at Little Budworth. Although quickish there were plenty of checks and choices and only about 5 miles and a bit. Then Back to the pub for some excellent beer with choice between Pedigree and Speckled Hen proving difficult. About 26 and 4 dogs braved the blustery conditions but none of the snow affecting the rest of the country appeared, the shiggy was there but slight. Report on 7.Mar.2000Ken set from the Bowling Green in Northwich assisted, unusually, by 'I'm not hashing until it's light in May' Lynn. 17 and 2 dogs were out on this mild night spent running through the parts of Northwich not normally broached by any but animals and hashers. A goot trail followed by a little Wadsworths at the Bull at Davenham... as the Bowling green had a quiz night in flow when we got back. |
