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Tuesday 29th December 2009

The last hash of the year is set by Mike m from the Oddfellows Arms in Davenham. Quite a nice little pub with an extremely small car park. Not big enough for the hash - even with the reduced version we get between Christmas and New Year.

It had been gently raining for several hours at about 3°C so a fair bit of the ice hanging around had been melted. Fortunatley Mike was aware of the sheltered points where the ground was very slick and pulled the speed merchants back a bit. Although there was a proportion of Urban work the trail took us out and around the footpaths surrounding Davenham with a good section alongside the Weaver Navigation and through the woodlands. There was a bit of an incident towards the end of the trail where Simon P got caught by a 'kissing gate' with a 'kick in the shins' step and unfortunatley this caused a papal ' kiss-the tarmac' moment. This caused some bruising on his legs and a bad split on his mouth. Hope the stitching doesn't interfere with New Year celebrations - Simon! Apart from this the pack got back safely and helped Tony e celebrate his birthday.

Tuesday 22nd December 2009

The trail from the Penny Black was pulled tonight as a lot of the set points through town were treachereous due to slick ice covered with a thin layer of new snow. I had had experience of a similar issue in Manchester when I found my feet disappearing from under me - fortunately without more damage than a sprained wrist.

However there were a few who felt the need to partake of tuesday activity and the following is a report from Paul.
22 December, Whipping Stocks There was to be no "Deja Hash moment" at the Penny Black in Northwich. Icy pavements led to a first in my hashing career, cancellation! Not wishing the health and safety police to gain influence, Nicky contacted fellow hashers who were made of sterner stuff with a plea to rescue our social lives. A break away group was formed and an alternative venue selected based on the low price of beer and ease of access. Eight hashers of like minds gathered at the allocated time for a quick one! Rob had prepared an excellent route, mainy off road in lightning quick time. There were no check points but quick runners had to stop at junctions and jog to the back of the field before continuing on. For me this meant a very quick pace trying to keep up with Rob. For all it meant no rest!

The last time we had a hash without checks, the report included the following comments  "The first time we have been out on a Tuesday night expecting to go hashing and all we got was a run" and "This appears to have been the 'Arm-chair' version of trail laying and is not to be recommended to others planning to set trails for CH3". Strange how different circumstances change perceptions. John Moorhouse wasnot aflicted by the cold and was wearing shorts - I suppose it is warmer than the south pole. Nick had leggins so fluorescent that he hardly needed a torch.

The trail was a little over 5 miles meaning a return to the pub before 9am. The beer was great and a blazing real log fire and mince pies concluded the last (break away) hash before Christmas. A post hash discussion on the awarding of ticks prooved fruitless with Alan refusing plees from drinkers turning up at the Penny Black and runners at the Whipping Stocks. It seems that to get a tick you have to run the official hash at the allocated time. Lets hope we dont have any more cancellations!

Regards Paul

Tuesday 15th December 2009

With all the adjustments going on for the PudPlod the reports have fallen somewhat behind. Tonight was from the Whipping Stocks at Over Peover courtesy of Doctor Rob with Nick T providing the sweeper role.
The car park was abit busy tonight due to the large number (16+) of Alfa Romeo cars. I gather there was a club dinner going on here. However this did not distract too much from the trail.

Intially Rob took us off towards Knutsford but relented after about half a mile and across the main road we went to trundle initially down a lane. Considering the rain in the previous 24 hours it remained good undefoot - something the PudPlod had benefited from around Tatton. With the size of the pack there was a risk of things getting stretched but the hare had dropped in a muster point just before we re-crossed the main road. having gathered us back into one we followed the road for about 300 yards before cutting back across country. We didn't bother much with roads from then on before coming in down the track of the grounds behibd the pub - where there were several pints an some chips on hand.
It has been a bit of a year for chips - I can't remember having had them so often after the trail - in the pub.

Tuesday 8th December 2009

Paul set a trail from the car park beside the Penny Black in Northwich. It truly had an off road start - firstly through the town precinct and then through about 4 car parks before we hit a trail. There is a lot of pathway now from around Northwich and Paul used a good deal of it- Taking im Marbury Country Park, Anderton Lift, The canal before looping us back through the houses to the car park.

Tuesday 1st December 2009

Here we are - nearly Christmas and Steve b has set a trail from the Hare & Hounds in Romily/Marple. This is at the bottom of a long decline called Bunker Hill. So from the hash starting position the only way is up. So this was what we did but in little stages.
The rain had done it's Tuesday magic and gone away for a bit as we went through the first set of checks along the road up Bunker Hill until we made a right turn and headed up a bit quicker

Fortunately it had warmed up a bit by coming over to Romily as it was a good degree higher at 5°C but also there was no effective wind to chill us down. we had our usual largish turnout and it was good to see Eleanor about again and on trail for the second week and Kevan was here as well.(though tonight only in the pub). Steve had pulled together an excellent trail supported by SpecialK running the back. This was about 5½ miles with about 30 checks and we had the run in at very soon after 9 o'clock. This gave plenty of time for a couple of good pints of Hydes.

Tuesday 24th November 2009

Well - After missing last week to go to a gig - i felt I had to get along to this week from the Leigh Arms at Acton Bridge. I was still alittle under the weather but joined the walkers while thinking about how to get all the web files ove on to the new puter as the old beast has a tendency to lose sight of its hard drives as the motherboard is getting a bit crook but it only has USB1 so backing up to a piggy back drive takes ages. The hash files I burn to a cd every so often. As you might realise now I am up and running on the new bit of kit

Back to the plot - The hash was shooting of into the dark while I put my boots on and we wandered off on a straight-forward few miles of walking laid outby Jenny L. Simply put we went out into the wind along the side of the Weaver almost as far as the locks and then turned up to the canal and came back along it and past the pub. We then cut off at a bridge and worked our way to the pub arriving just before the rain came down. The pack was not quite as lucky but they were back before the worst of it came down

Tuesday 10th November 2009

The year is drawing to a close - keep your eyes open for Nick's Boxing day walk and get your booking in ofr the Hash bash in February.
And now a report from Heather as I had managed to crock my back before this trail

The Thieves Neck, Woodford from The well known duo - Colin & Peter

Sadly the weather god had not been listening to the weather forecast which had announced earlier in the day that the rain would clear in the early afternoon - it didn't clear until at least half way round the trail. Despite their many earlier efforts to lose the pack there was a good turnout, so many that Colin, acting as car park attendant, sent some of us off to park down nearby lanes.

After the usual briefing about various animals around the route and not to get too far ahead/behind and to watch out for fast traffic we set off in the mizzle. We headed off into the wilds of Cheshire along footpaths that I am sure we have not been along before. It was quite reassuring every so often to be able to recognise the odd road junction and get my bearings again.

Despite the recent heavy downpours it was generally not too muddy (have I really written this), enough to keep the 'Muddy Puppy' (Mr H) happy but not enough to distress the rest of us. After crossing the Bollin we headed up for a delightful run across a beautifully tended golf course -so no mud here. Back onto the road where one of the local residents reprimanded us for being 'noisy', and then off back to the long slippery trail back across devilish stiles towards Dean Row. Even El Presidente didn't know where he was!

Once we were back on the road again Peter announced that it was just a 'short half mile' back to the pub. Apart from this slight exaggeration the boys did a sterling job and managed to get us back to the pub by 9.15 and hadn't managed to lose anyone. It even brought forth a commendation from our very own 'Victor' the following morning
No chance of The Plank this time!!!

and also from El Presidenté

Tonight’s voyage into the unknown was commanded by two award winning Hashers, Admiral Bodimeade and Rear Vice Admiral Horner. Colin and Peter have acquired a tiny bit of a reputation for their trails, which have in the past won the Hash of the Year award at the annual Dinner/Dance extravaganza. I was reminded as I drove our little group to the pub, about one of their efforts from the Harrington Arms at Gawsworth, where at something past 9 a group of Hashers had found themselves marooned and alone in a large field on a moonless and starless January evening, with no sign of a trail layer. Fortunately, one of the marooned was Bridget who being a vet who practices in the area suddenly said something like, “I know that tree/gate/outbuilding!” which cheered everyone up, but followed with the comment, “God, it’s miles back to the pub from here!” which didn’t.

But tonight, all was perfect. No-one lost, no-one broke, no need for Bridget to perform Hash resuscitation, indeed there was no Bridget. In fact it was so good, Mr Lever complained!

Even the weather offered Colin and Peter relief, as the Met Office forecast at 18.00 for Woodford was succinct “Fog”, but completely inaccurate. As Roy Kemsley dryly remarked, “When we left home, the water droplets were rather too large to be classified as fog.” Bearing in mind that the Met Office get all their local weather readings from Woodford, (less than ½ mile from the Davenport Arms), you’d think at a range of less than an hour, they’d be able to be reasonably accurate with their forecast. Anyway, by 19.45 there were no droplets at all, or at least none airborne. The ground was a bit a damp, and as most of the trail was off road, that slowed things down a bit, but not enough to upset the “enjoyment” of the 6.07 miles with its 1 mile run in!! That stretched things out a bit.

In the early days of the Cheshire Hash we went to the Davenport Arms, when the landlord was a classical Dickensian florid cheeked gentleman of prodigious girth. However, that evening this landlord moved his bulk at such speed that he was out in the car park before the bulk of our modest sized group arrived, forcibly instructing those already in attendance to depart! Never darken my lounge bar again was the message. That’s the first time I was banned from a pub before I’d actually set foot in it. The only other time I was so proscribed was in my late teenage years, when a group of us were expelled for putting a pair of nail clippers to the wiring of the landlord’s sound system, in a desperate attempt to save the onset of madness brought on by his incessant playing of Jim Reeves tapes. For any of you under 45, Jim was killed in a plane crash before you were born, and sang endless melancholic Country & Western ballads about love and misery, that sold in their millions!

Actually, the Jim Reeves landlord didn’t ban us for long, as within a couple of weeks of our major league criminal activity, he suddenly wasn’t there, and indeed never was again. Apparently, the brewery had discovered “problems”, but before they finished their investigations, he and his missus did a runner! That taught him not to miss with the Nail Clipper boys! It’s suddenly occurred to me I shouldn’t be confessing to this, what with us having a Hasher who’s a Partner in a major local firm of legal eagles. Perhaps there’s a statute of limitations on nail clipping.

Talking of Stewart, he gave me some details of the background graft that’s been put in to get the forthcoming Tatton Pod Plud 10K event sorted. Apparently, the target of 500 actual runners will be easily met, but the other stuff associated with the run hasn’t been so simple. Stewart’s conducted the now essential Risk Assessment for the event, and he reckons this will mean a need for about 60 marshals, or about 1 for every 8 runners. No wonder he and his organising colleagues have been calling for volunteers over the last couple of weeks. I think paying a tenner and actually running is going to be the soft option, particularly if on the day any water droplets are the size of those observed by Roy Kemsley on his way to the Davenport Arms. Anyway, jolly good luck to all the organisers.
And here follows a map of the trai
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/-woodford/617125794500059343

Tuesday 3rd November 2009

The trail tonight was set by Roger P with the assistance of Brian B and was from the Stretton Fox just off J10 of the M56. Because there has been much building you really need an up to date map to get anywhere close to the current routes. (I once rememberr setting around the area using an A-Z book as the OS hadn't been refreshed at that time).
El Presidenté has kindly written the following report of the excellent trail

The Stretton Fox

This Tuesday morning I went to Warrington to do my volunteer book keeping thing, and when I got home after lunch, there were two pieces of paper on the doormat. One was covered in Tony Higgins’s best copper plate, and the other a photocopy of what look like a street map. Tony wanted to know if I could extract tonight’s route from the street map, and put it on an OS so he could read it. I should perhaps explain that I use a very old version of Photoshop to blow up Hash route maps, when I can get my stickys on them, so that my eyes and Tony’s have a chance of reading them. The days of coping with 50,000 scale maps have long gone.

Anyway, it seems as though Brian Burgess, who was helping Roger Pidcock with this evening’s navigation had left Higgo with this map of the route. He had also mentioned that the map did not perhaps totally accurately reflect the actual position on the ground. That is the accurate position of stuff such as roads, houses, paths and the like! So it was with a degree of trepidation I unfolded my last updated in 2004 Bolton, Wigan and Warrington OS map. Yes, the street map and the OS didn’t really agree with one another for much of this proposed trail. A quick pop onto Google Earth gave a third version of what was actually on the ground!

So, I guessed a route on the OS map, handed to Higgo before the “ off”, 30 seconds before Roger P scurried up with another “more up to date” version of the street map. So Mr Higgins now has 3 maps in his hand, all different! It’s a dark evening, and he’s about to set off running from a boozer we’ve only sullied twice before, the last time being over 8 years ago, when most of the housing within a 2 mile radius hadn’t yet even crossed the planners desks. Not a night to get lost off the back then!

Nicky unfortunately didn’t make it in time to even see the back. There was some trouble on the motorway, and so arrived late. She couldn’t find a map, probably because Higgo had them all, so she had a trot round on her own.

I don’t remember having run from this pub before, but I’m sure quite a bit of the middle of this evening’s entertainment duplicated one of Brooke’s trails from the Appleton Thorn about 18 months ago. And very good hashing country this is. Obviously, there is some suburban estate running, but also some old footpaths and lanes have not been concreted over, and in the dark there were moments when I felt we could be in deepest rural Cheshire, but without much mud.

At the start Roger warned of a placid bull that was loose in a field near the end. I’ve heard of Hereford and Jersey bulls etc but not Placids. (Sorry, ghastly attempt at a joke.) Anyway, where the bull was it wasn’t, or at least I didn’t see it. What there were, were cattle of a more feminine persuasion, that charged about with great enthusiasm when Dr Stephenson and a few of his front running cohorts went in completely the wrong direction across the field they were in. Having finally been corralled into going the right way, these errant Hashers then had to work there way back through the now rather excited herd, to catch up with us more lethargic but cautious Hashers who had already managed to exit the bovine field without trouble, whilst our speedy colleagues created their unintended but effective diversion.

And so an excellent trail with loads of checks finally stumbled to its inevitable conclusion rather nearer half than quarter past 9, but not even Mr Ellis moaned. In the pub the beer was cheap; Martin Hack wasn’t driving, so at one stage he had stacked up a surplus of 6 pints in front of Max. Our Webmeister WAS driving so sadly looked longingly at the forbidden hops, whilst Martin without serious difficulty found sufficient Hashers who really didn’t mean it when they said “No, I’d better not have another.” And he gave the On Sec a shilling or two surplus.

The following link gives a guess as to the trail, but the bits near the pub on the way out and on the way back should be treated like Greenalls bitter - with great caution. http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/stretton/349125726610917687

Tuesday 27th October 2009

Well tonight was way over near Adlington at the Windmill at Whiteley Green. A pleasant pub set down a quiet lane. Martin B set the trail and the Lymm Bus - driven this week by Martin H brought us into the car park just before the pack disapeared so we didn't have to chase much. El Presidenté appeared to be running the back end.

A calm evening saw us off down the main road as a left out of the pub carpark. and for the first few checks offroad the footing was good. However we came to a field where I for one, found that 'you put your left foot in' - no problem. It was when I put my right foot in and this one sank into the field to just below the knee.... It took a little while to get it out without leavin my shoe 18 inches down in a small bog.

From then on we had fields that had these little trappsmto them if you weren't careful - but it was a good trail and we eventually appeared out of a field to find the pub a mere 30 yards away.

Tuesday 20th October 2009

Wheatsheaf, Agden Brow near Lymm - Adam H set the trail with back-up from Allisdair. Considering that I only live two miles away down the A56 I managed to arrive late and needed to hustle along to catch up to the pack at the second check. We had gone south and then turned west across a field to bring us out on the High Legh road. Then it was down a little lane and across to the A56 again. A close swing towards the Jolly Thresher and a turn North at the lights removed the risk of a very short trail... I always find it hardest hashing on territory i know very well. You know what is there and you keep running through the permutations. (I must stop talking to myself while I do this though..)

The trail was excellent though - as was the Hydes beer and the big bowls of chips.

Tuesday 13th October 2009

Twisted knee held me away this week but the report form Allan creates the ambience to perfection

Railway, Mobberley - 13.10.09

Chalk and cheese, fire and water, Jordan and Pete, all clichés defining opposites that could be applied to this weeks trail compared to last weeks endless effort.Tony and Brian really did produce only 4.7 miles of stiles and ploughed fields that didn't finish until nearly 21.15.This week Roger Turner and I had a last minute cartographic aberration, leading to a panic relaying of loo paper, which meant our trail was lengthened to just over 6.5 miles, and yes, the pack still arrived home just before 21.15.

How can one trail be over 35% longer than another, yet still take the same time? It's even stranger bearing in mind the mild chaos that ensued this evening, before the first check was even completed.Roger led the pack out of the pub car park on the 50 yard dash to the first check, just beyond the railway station.Unfortunately, just under a quarter of the Hash didn't make it across the railway, before the level crossing barriers came down - for two trains!!So we were delayed by about 7 or 8 minutes whilst Arriva went one way and Northern Rail creeped the other.

Roger of course, had enthusiastically let the bulk of the pack disappear into a field, most of them roaring with laughter at their marooned colleagues on the wrong side of the railway. When the traps went up the pack had gone!So, there was no alternative but to gather up this motley crew, and set off round the road ignoring checks in a desperate effort to catch up.As this isolated group included Messrs Wyatt and Jackson who are not slow, as well as Messrs Seymour and Jones who most definitely are, we rapidly became like a piece of elastic stretching out between checks, and bouncing back at the checks.Finally, 25 minutes and 9 checks later we managed to glue ourselves to the back of the pack, just in time to get glue all over our Nikes, as the trail went though the only sticky 10 yard piece of countryside between Knutsford and Manchester!Unlike last week, there then wasn't any large puddles of standing water to splash through to clean the c**p off.

A few checks later we trundled down the narrow path beside the remnants of the old Ilford site and out onto the Knutsford to Wilmslow road.By now the pack had spread out again, so being a good trail layer I waited for the back to catch up (actually I was desperate for a rest!)Mr Seymour had had call of nature, and Bridget had managed to end up coming out of the industrial sites front gate, rather than up the correct path, so we became a triumvirate plodding quietly along at the rear through Mobberley village, down the narrowest path I've ever seen in Cheshire.

By the time we re-crossed the Wilmslow road, there were no torches in front.Bridget was apologising for not being at her most agile tonight.She'd just returned from Scotland where she had had her 25 th reunion bash with the other vets who graduated at the same time as her.Apparently, age, children, infirmity, divorce etc has rather slowed down their ability to party, so she did actually get to bed on both nights of this event.A 3 a.m. finish would seemingly have been regarded as a bit pathetic in the “olde” days!Nonetheless, there was much partying, drinking and Scottish country dancing.The last bit may not be quite right, but neither I nor the spell check can manage the correct letters for Kaylee.

And so home to the pub, and yet more chips!This is beginning to become a regular feature of Tuesday nights.Tonight's excuse was this was Roger's 1,000th run.He's been hashing since the 17th August 1982, when Ken Sutor, (who tonight completed his 50th run), was approaching his second birthday!A truly sobering thought.In 1982, we'd just had the Falklands War, Bucks Fizz were top of the charts, Queens Park Rangers were in the Cup Final, and I was still working!

Roger is the 6th Cheshire Hasher to get to a 1,000.Brian Burgess is about 3 months away, with the On Sec having around 15 months to go, providing she doesn't have too many more holidays.After that there's a huge gap, with the 9th potential CH3 1,000th runner probably not going to qualify for their tankard until at least 2014!However, lower down the charts we have a much more concentrated mass of Hashers.There are currently 32 regular runners who have done between 100 and 299, so hopefully there will be folk available to continue the Cheshire Hash, when age and treachery finally makes the old guard succumb.Now for a drink! http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/mobberley/378258883

Tuesday 6th October 2009

Tonight Brian and Tony substituted for Pam and Mike to set the trail. The location - the Red Lion at Eaton - which those who remember back a year or so was where the hash got harrassed by zealous locals (?) who seemed to think that footpaths only worked in daylight hours. The pub itself was excellent and welcoming in contrast.

However this time it was found late on that the pub was shut (not certain why) but the car park was used as the meeting place with the on-inn to be at the Egerton Arms at Budworth who repeated what they did in the deep winter and made an excetion to being shut on a Tuesday night and opened up for the 40+ thirsty hashers.

As to the trail .. All day long it had peed down. At 7:44 it was raining. At 7:46 it was not raining and did not restart until well after the hash was finished. ??? You could not script it better. BB and TH set a trail fractionally less than 5 miles with a total of 22 checks. We were slowed somewhat as the speeier hasher had taken part in the Sandstone trail race at the weekend - some on the 10 miler and some on the 17 miler. The stiles will also have slowed it down in company with the copious amounts of water underfoot and the fact that we went across about 8 freshly ploughed fields. You know the ones... shoes 300 gram at the start of the field and closer to 3000 at the other side.

However a good effort enjoyed by all .. wish I knew how they did the rain thing though!

A further report from himself - El Presidenté

Red Lion, Eaton (Tarporley) - 06.10.09 (or maybe the Egerton Arms) From the weekend before, the kindest thing to say about the forecast for this forthcoming Tuesday night was that it was "Inclement!" The last time we ran from this pub, it was open, but the natives were definitely restless. Much chasing Hashers around the countryside with 4x4s apparently occurred, as the locals took exception to us running on "their" footpaths.

So, as Brian B & Tony H had now discovered the Red Lion is currently closed, a run through a monsoon in an area populated by rebels wasn't appealing. Dave Lever e mailed to say that Jenny had decided at lunchtime she wasn't going to walk in the dark in the rain. Quite sensible thinking really. I jokingly replied that Nick positively guaranteed it wouldn't precipitate, but Dave's response can't be printed as you're reading this before 9 p.m.

Whilst the ON Sec and I were discussing in the middle of the afternoon, which one of us would drive, down came another cloudburst. The BBC and Met Office websites both said that at 7 & 10 p.m. there would be "Heavy rain", but the good news was by 1 a.m. there would be a clearance. "As its Brian & Tony in charge tonight, we may get a chance to see that clearance before we get back to the pub!" muttered a somewhat cynical On Sec. These two mature Hashers do have a bit of a reputation for the length of their trails.

Now I already knew from Higgo that this evening's route was short. Tony had passed me a copy of the route, saying this was the shortest trail he and Brian had ever devised. Apparently, their original route would have taken the pack past the Shire Horse centre on the A49. However, having seen the tonnage of equine flesh thundering around their paddocks across the available footpaths, they decided on discretion, or at least a short cut. A quick whizz through Map my Run showed this evening's route was a paltry 4.7 miles. But given the impending waterfall, this was a much better prospect that the 7.07 miles they laid from the Romping Donkey last May.

And so to horse, or at least Lexus, as Nick and Heather had decided to drive, mainly because they were off on (another) holiday the following day, so perhaps a more modest imbibing of liquor might be sensible. Oh yes!! Down the Northwich bypass we went, with the wipers on hyper speed, and conversation only possible at half bellow. We turned into the pub car park, passing an enormous puddle of water that had accumulated over the day, which was promptly exploded over a 50 yard radius by a car coming the other way at speed, as clearly the driver hadn't noticed this temporary obstacle. Nice, I thought, as the first part of our route was up this road, and the additional prospect of being showered by spray from boy racers, as well as being hosed from on high did not make for a pleasant evening.

It was then I noticed it wasn't raining!! In fact, it didn't rain again until we were going back down the Northwich bypass after a couple of pints, with the wipers on hyper speed, and conversation only possible at half bellow. Much enthusiasm was initially shown by the pack, given the prospect of a dry evening. This optimism was eroded on the second bit of off road where the local farmer had recently planted what may be winter wheat, but had not rolled the footpath. So, most of the Hash stuck to crop free paths up the field, which whilst not sodden, were very soft and sticky. I entered the field at 5 foot 10, and came out 6 foot 1. The next two fields had been ploughed within the last couple of days apparently, as the standard trails layers lament went up "It wasn't like this when we laid it!" Ploughed fields are slow going!

Indeed, the whole evening was to be dominated by ploughed fields and stiles! In fact, there was one bloody stile after another and another and another! A quick count in the pub after the run showed 21 checks, but 22 stiles! We have had steeplechase trails before. Nicky laid one from the Frozen Mop back in 2006, but this effort by Brian and Higgo must be the Grand National of them all. Despite the short trail, and I have double checked the length, the bulk of the pack didn't return to the defunct Red Lion till 21.15. Dragging an extra inch and a half of New Red Sandstone soil on your trainers is guaranteed to slow anyone's running!

But the good news was, the rain didn't, the rebels didn't, and the staff in the Egerton Arms opened their pub (again) especially for us! I suspect they may have been getting a tad worried, as we must have been somewhat late arriving there compared with the original estimated time. And yet again Nick's mantra that "it never rains on a Tuesday" proved accurate! Sorry Dave.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/-eaton-(tarporley)/264125484333052766

Tuesday 29th September 2009

Tonight's trail was provided by three of the ladies in conjunction : viz Bridget,Carol and Cat. The night was dampish and Mr Saunders has navigated many narrow roads, known since his childhood days there, until we dropped dowd from Adlington to arrive at the Miners Arms. There was much shuffling about as instructions were given and a count was made of all who would like Chips!! after the hash.

Once organised correctly - away we went. There are many different routes around here - the roads - the Middlewood Way - the Canal and between them all were covered thoroughly by the large pack who turned out despite the drizzle. One being one of the hares - Carol - who had run a repectable 2 hrs for the Macc half marathon a mere two days before.

It was an excellent trail and the opportunity to sink a couple of pits as Brooke was driving was appreciated. There follows a much more descriptive report from El Presidenté

A further report from El Presidente

Miners Arms, Adlington - 29.09.09

A few weeks ago whilst trudging wearily along at the back of the pack, Cat mentioned that she, Bridget & Carol were going to run their trail at the end of September from the Miners Arms at Adlington. 'Never been there' I gasped. 'Maybe we'll have two virgin trails in a row!' I continued. Now, advancing age means you ache more than you did, you creak more than you did, and it takes you far longer to do ANYTHING more than it did, but it teaches you not to believe everything you first thought of.

A quick scurry across the spider's web of the Hash spreadsheet showed that we had indeed been to the Miners Arms before. Four times!! The comforting thought was that I had never earned a tick there, so for me it would two brand new trails in a row. I've thought about laying a trail in this area for many years, but although in miles it's not far from Knutsford, in minutes it takes plenty.

On this particular evening Tony Ellis was driving. He's been volunteering to drive for some weeks, but others in our car school have had good reasons why they have wanted to do the necessary, although it has to be said, Tony hasn't exactly argued vehemently against the prospect of being able to sink 3 pints, again!! Anyway, given the time it takes to get to Adlington, he picked me up at 7 p.m. having already collected the On Sec. Her husband was ' unavailable' this week, as apparently he had 'jobs' to do on their Welsh estate. I learned later that this Tuesday was the last monthly run out on the train to Barmouth for a liquid lunch that Nick and some of his sailing friends engage in regularly during the summer. At the time his wife and the rest of us set off to get soaked running round Adlington he was snoring gently in front of Eastenders! No tick for you then Nick!

So having safely belted up in the back of Tony's Mazda, I suddenly realised he'd brought Jane as well, who I haven't seen in ages. There she was with her bottom stuck firmly to his dashboard, with her large single green eye, staring unblinkingly into Tony's face. He'd only got the motor into second gear, when Jane pronounced 'At the junction you will turn right.' Yes, Jane is Tony's sat nav. He'd brought her because he hadn't been to the Miners Arms before, and didn't want to run the risk of missing a tick. In fact, Hash records show Tony had been on two of the previous four visits, but somehow the delete button had been pressed in his brain, and he maintained had no memory of these trips.

As he happily drove us down the A537 towards Macclesfield, Jane suddenly told him to turn left at Marthall down Sandle Bridge Lane, which to be fair, is not a well known Cheshire back lane. But, Tony being Tony did exactly what his woman told him to, and we spent the next 25 minutes busily trying to work out which route Jane had decided was the quickest way to the pub. Twice we came to road junctions, and me being unfamiliar with this technology, was surprised when Jane made no comment at all. 'If she says nothing, you have to choose the most likely straight on route' said Tony. When we got to the village of Adlington, Jane took us across the main Stockport to Macclesfield road, and steered us down ever narrower lanes, until Tony was having to go so slowly he was having to choose between second and third gears whilst worrying about a large vehicle trying to saw his rear bumper bar in two. It turned out this was Mike and Pam in their minibus who had recognised Tony's motor, and had decided Tony must know what he was doing and simply latched on the back. In the end all was well, and the Miners Arms appeared out of the heavy drizzle.

The three girls gathered us all up, gave livestock warnings to the assembled Hashers, and off into the mist we went. Having been provided with a map, a quick glance had shown a loop to the east of the pub. That meant hills. Now the trouble with having a vague idea of where you're going is the vague word! I did correctly go uphill, but only at my 4th attempt. The only consolation with the previous 3 failed uphill manoeuvres was that at least I hadn't checked downhill. Towards the end of the evening's festivities, we had two long sections between checks culminating in one or two Hashers who knew the area, suddenly deciding they knew the pub was only 75 yards away, and off home they went. 'They' included Mr Ellis, who as we know from paragraph 4 reckoned he'd never been here before, but somehow knew exactly where the pub was. The rest of us were then cajoled into doing the final loop, involving more non stop runs down the Macclesfield Canal, and then the Middlewood Way, before blessed relief and 3 pints of something or other eased the pain. A good night then ensued in the pub, where for the second week in a row chips were provided, albeit in exchange for a 7 quid kitty. Still the On Sec was able to squirrel away a few quid at the end. There are apparently more bills to pay!

P.S. A thank you to Carol for providing Higgo and I advance copies of the route. She made two old men very happy! http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/united+kingdom/adlington/430125397452099696

Tuesday 22nd September 2009

Allan and Martin set this trail and El Presidente has presented the view from the back as well..

Maltings, Warrington - 22.09.09
It's about a year since I last wrote a Hash report. I'm afraid my creative literary juices expired last autumn. How do newspaper columnists cope with endlessly having to sit at a keyboard, risking repetitive strain injury, curvature of the spine and then produce witty incisive copy every week? I'd got to the state where I was finding all I could think of to say was things like, 'and then we turned right up a muddy footpath', and similar boring drivel. Not stuff that would keep the circulation figures up, even if it kept the circulation going in the fingers.
Anyway, a modest ½ pint of enthusiasm has returned to report on a Cheshire Hash novelty - a completely virgin trail at the 1,436th attempt!

I've done my bit of book keeping volunteering in Warrington for over 10 years, and was vaguely aware of somewhere called Sankey Valley Park. But it wasn't till a couple of months ago, that I finally stirred the trainers and had a bit of a walk around part of it. I was surprised! A canal, a small river, a maze, a funfair and lots of woodland all squeezed into the area just west of Warrington town centre. This Park has been regenerated over the last few decades, after the old Sankey Canal was finally closed in 1963. It had been this country's first true commercial canal, and predates the Bridgewater Canal that the Hash is much more familiar with.

The one thing that was immediately obvious was that it would make ideal Hash country. It offered firm footing, but few roads, lots of woodland, and loads of possible checks! All that was needed was a pub, a problem easily solved. The Maltings is right next door to one of the Park's many entrances. It's a wee bit tired, needs a coat of paint, has virtually no carpets, so in every sense is an ideal Hash pub. Beer is less than £2.50 a pint, although inevitably on the night there were one or two Hash beer connoisseurs who complained 'It's only John Smiths!' The landlord was quite happy to cook us up a load of après chips, so a £6 kitty covered drinks, food and provided a modest surplus!! In true Hash style, the landlord was absent on the night, as Tuesday is his night off! At least he'd primed his staff to expect us.

And so to the trail, or at least the preliminary laying thereof. Martin Hack and I had our names down for this Tuesday. We've done two other trails in the last year, and both have run perfectly. However, our trail laying has not! During our effort from the Penny Black in Northwich last Xmas, we managed to lose each other. In our trail from the Big Lock in Middlewich in the spring, I laid it on the Saturday and Martin on the Sunday! So, cliché time, would this be third time lucky? We managed to meet in the right place, and complete the paper hanging without problem, but right at the end of our efforts Martin announced, 'I might not be here on Tuesday night!' Apparently, a work based subsequent unavoidable engagement had arisen, that meant that he wouldn't leave London Euston until 17.07. His plan was to arrive in Runcorn about 19.00, and provided whoever is currently the franchise holder for that rail service managed to operate an on time service, he'd be back in time. Just!

He turned up in the Maltings car park at 19.50, just as I was about to dish out throughout the assembled multitude the many route maps I'd prepared, just in case! I was mightily relieved, as I'm far to slow these days to marshal a Hash on my own, despite my best verbal attempts.

And so to the main attraction. Instructions were given about NOT crossing busy roads unless invited to do so, by bridges or underpasses. Unusually, there seemed to be only one violation of this rule. Further guidance was given re the short distance between the markers, which as usual was ignored. With 34 checks in a tad under 6 miles, there was plenty of room for going wrong. I'm delighted to report that my feelings regarding the spectacular inability of Hashers to know where they are going was thoroughly vindicated. Messrs Baddelly, Moorhouse and Lever in particular spent many happy checks overtaking me again, and again, and again! Sorry guys, but you need the work!

In the end nobody was lost, with Messrs Rose and Higgins guided home from the last but one check without incident, despite the intense interest of a small mixed sex group of teenagers, wondering what on earth all the elderly gentlemen were doing interrupting whatever teenagers get up to in a completely black park at night. They were even more rudely interrupted, when the remaining 40 Hashers bore down on them 5 minutes later as the pack scampered across the open parkland with their Night Searchers blazing, illuminating the now thoroughly alarmed kids.
There was Much Screaming in the Parkland!

Tuesday 15th September 2009

Well - I missed a couple - what with going off for a long weekend to Paris but this was a good one to get back to. I'd got out for a run on Sunday morning so the legs were a little stiff but - the weather was fine for tonights trail from the Plough at Radway Green, near Alsager.

Simon P was the hare - I think El Presidenté was doing the follow up and so we powered up our torches and were off onto the road for a check or two. A mistake by all as the route was back through the pub car park and onto a footpath that disappeared though some cow-grass and into some meadow. From the next check onwards I was in trouble - I kept checking and getting it wrong. At least there were no hills to speak of - so there was a chance to get back to the pack.

The other advantage of no hills is that you avoid the occasions where you are hacking your way up an incline at 'top' speed and one of the hash dogs walks past you.. not fair really. The fileds - without much shiggy - provided a good workout for the new(ish) hash shoes. They gripped well and seemed incredibly light. Then of course they didn't have 6 moths of mud trapped in the webbing like my regulars. (which will be preserved to make their final trails in Kuching at next year's Interhash

The trail was excellent - the bit of beer I had was good (driving - so just a taste) and the boy was still working..

Tuesday 1st September 2009

Mr Lever has kindly sent some detail for his and El Presidentes hash from the Tiger's Head.(It was Maggie and my wedding anniversary..but first some feedback from a virgin hasher

Did my first Hash at Tigers Head, Norley in Cheshire September 1st 2009 and just wanted to say how much i enjoyed myself, what a great event and i will be back for the others...everyone said i would get hooked, they were right...many thanks and see you soon. mathew simister.

And now David..
A cast of 52 assembled for Hash 1433 from the Tigers Head, Norley marshalled by David Lever and Allan Jones, to be told that the run was 6 miles with 28 checks.
50+ Hashers isn't a bad attendance for the day after an August bank holiday. Car parking at many pubs is becoming more difficult with such a large group of Hashers and tonight was no exception - many of us were required to double park on the grass to ensure that there was sufficient room to accomodate us all.

We didn't set off until 19:55, as we all waited for Carol Culley who had arrived "just too late" in her civvies and was changing in the pub. There were a few new faces which we hope we will see again; and the return of a few old ones including Chris Newman and eldest son Tim after a long absence (we hope that we will see them again soon too). The eight intrepid walkers were led by Jenny Lever. Recent days had seen some very wet weather and there had been some very, very heavy rain up until 7 pm. But the Hash Gods cleared the skies just before the start and it was a lovely dry and clear evening for the Hash.

We set off immediately down Pytcheley Hollow and looped and looped around Norley on largely traffic free lanes and footpaths. At half way we passed the pub; but as far as I am aware no one surrendered to the temptation. Then more looping around to complete a sort of figure eight by the time we finished. We never strayed much more than 1 km away from the Tigers Head throughout the run. There was quite a bit of up and down hill throughout the run - the Hashers probably felt like the Grand Old Duke of York's soldiers.
The run moved along at a reasonable pace; moving on quite quickly immediately those at the back arrived at each check, giving them little time for a breather (sorry folks). However, the front and the back didn't get too far apart at any point.

The markers were quite small and tucked away in the hedgerows, which tended to slow down the elite athletes at the front and allow us lesser mortals to stay in touch. Of course, there were the normal complaints that the markers weren't there, comments about there being a world shortage of toilet tissue and the like. All nonsense ..... the markers were there - a little bedraggled, but they were there - some people just weren't looking hard enough!! El Presidente once again demonstrated the power of the human voice as he called back those runners who had gone the wrong way. No one in Norley or the surrounding villages would enjoy any sleep until the Hash was complete!

Considering all the rain of recent days the footpaths were not really muddy and there wasn't much lying water - not really ideal for Martin Hack who enjoys a good splodge. The run finished at a fraction after 21:00 - so no complaints from Tony Ellis. The walkers were back a fraction ahead of the runners. As we arrived back at the Tigers Head we ordered the beer, so that it was ready to drink as soon as we had changed.
As usual at the Tigers Head, Tuesday night is Quiz night so we were crammed into the Public Bar at the back - the few regulars in the Public Bar expecting a quiet night out were soon disillusioned and were probably overcome by the fragrance emitted from our group of sweaty runners. The beer and the service was good - thank you Tigers Head.

In the pub we all congratulated Martin Burke as he was awarded his tankard for 200 runs - well done Martin. It is also worthy of note that it is Richard Goulding's 50th birthday on 2nd September - Happy Birthday Richard.
Anyway, On On until next week. Wibble wobble On On David

Tuesday 25th August 2009

It is many years since we last went to the Bear's Paw at Warmingham - set in a pleasant hamlet just up from Sandbach.
The Lymm bus - me this time - navigates via the motorway and then back up through Sandbach. Possibly not the shortest route but quite quick. This showed from the fact that unusually for us we were early.

We were approached in the car park by the gentleman from behind the bar - who, it appeared, had not been informed by one of his colleagues of our pending visit - as he saw the spaces in his car park shrinking. Even with 4 to most cars - over 60 hashers take up a lot of room
However , on the bright side for him, we drink a lot of beer afterwards.

The trail itself was by Richard and was exceedingly well set and managed to cover a lot of countryside (six miles) via many checks and then back for our initial order of 40 pints - while we got changed in the car park.

Tuesday 18th August 2009

A huge turn out on this run - the total including walkers and dogs was a record 70. 55 were running (2 dogs) and 15 walking (4 dogs). Additionally two turned up at the pub after the trail - Namely John M and Carol C ( who suggested that we need a new category for ticks - social - Allan disagreed)

The trail itself was excellent - from the newly refurbished Dun Cow who exceptionally opened on a Tuesday night for us. How did we reward them - We drank lots of beer. The combination of onand off-road was excellent with Heather even stating that there was one footpath that she couldn't ever remember hashing along.

Good trail Paul & Co.

Tuesday 11th August 2009

Great run tonight - but then Peter and I set it so it would be

Tuesday 4th August 2009

Roger set an orienteering masterpiece with the assistance of Dave A. There were maps, pencils and at the points of reference there were little clothes pegs with carefully pinned ends so you could bite holes in your sheet to prove you were there.

Unwisely Martin and I linked up with Allaisdair and Adam - who were running somewhat quicker than us. Martin was suffering as he had spend three weeks being pampered in Thailand and me cause I'm a slug. As a result aof this and the decision to go for the furthest marker and not find it probably meant we got the lowest number of points we possibly could.
however - a fun do with excellent food laid on in the garden.

Tuesday 28th July 2009

Well I managed to get to tonight's trail at the General Elliot at Croft. This was set and sheherded by Derek with the support of Roger P

It is a while since we last came here was in 2003 with Brian B and Tony H.
Tony E was later to be seen with a photo of himself and 'friend' - as the pub was the site of his 200th in 1987. Looking back at the records the hash came here 3 times in 3 months - September 8th 87 and December 8th from the late Mike Gilbey and then on the 22nd December set by Bill Richards(?) - So that was a busy period.

Back to tonight. Off we went across the road - followed by a quick mill while we found the end of the footpath tucked behind the houses. This has managed to remain a nice little path as you soon get under a tunnel of branches that lead you ou into fields and tonight this was welcome as it was a touch damp as it was drizzling strongly. So - a bit of ambling in the squish was called for before we headed across the main road and ended up after a few more fields at the Prison.

There were several choices here but for a while I got the checks right - i was getting knackered being at the front!! (some of this was because in the dim past i had set two trails from here - and in those days I would take two weeks to scout the area nad then one to set it. Fortunatley my streak failed and I was 'able' to trundle along as a back marker for a while until one sprint too many pulled a muscle - very close to home - I mumbled this to Derek and started walking slowly in and allowed the hash to pass me - as I had a strong supicion that the hares would divert the hashers onto a footpath a mere 20 yards before the pub - and they succeeded! I had the carpark to myself for another 5 minutes as they ran round the block...

A good trail and the Tim Taylors and the proper chips were welcome.

Tuesday 21st July 2009

Tuesday 14th July 2009

Brooke set an excellent trail from the Ring o'bells at Daresbury - a big pub with a big car park which we need with our numbers.

There are a lot of interesting routes out and we took one of them with a warning from Brooke that there were some cattle with calves in some fields and horses in another - but fortunately the horses were off somewhere else.
The evening had developed fair and bright as we swung out through the countryside passing under the main road and workin our way into the compex interchange of canals that occupy that part of the county. before heading back towards the Daresbury labs . A swift jink though the woods brought us to the back route into the Village and then the trot back to the pub and beer. - Well managed trail

Tuesday 7th June 2009

After two weeks in France - where I actually ran three times , albeit at 7 in the moring as it got a bit hot otherwise - I got back into it with a BBQ hash at Rob S's. For a change he set a normal hash - with checks and markers!. The weather stayed good as it had looked threatening as we set off into Moorside in Knutsford . This then resulted in our heading out towards Mobberley before cutting down the side of the Showboat takeaway

After that it was into the fields where there were lots of horses. These were safely negotiated and we then re-entered the byways and highways around Knutsford before returning to the excellent beer and BBQ. Fortunately Rob gas a cnvas gazebo on hand as well a a large garage as soon as the walkers returned it started raining steadily. this didn't damp any appetites though and the evening progressed merrily on it's way

Tuesday 16th June 2009

I cannot remember eating so may excellent chips after a hash. I nearly couldn't find room to finish my second pint of the wonderful beer.

Nicky and David L set us from the Blue Bell Inn set in Bell o' th' Hill,Tushingham to the South west of Cheshire near to Whitchurch. The evening was grand for a turn out of about 30 who had covered the distance involved to get there.

Tuesday 9th June 2009

John S and his sibling Andrew set tonight from the Legh Arms at Adlington. Quite a good sized pub and John advised us that the beer price was within a better price range than the previous weeks - and included Bombardier and Greene King IPA

Although the weather men has predicted a damp eveing for the Tuesday night i ty=urned out that we had a mostly clear sky with a fringe of clouds. We were immediately off by the station and headed in a linear fashion for the first 5 checks (though one of them seemed well over a km between stops). the trail worked very well leading us past a grand lake and then a feint towards White Nancy before dropping us down into Bollington. We soon picked up height with the climb up onto the canal aqueduct before we cut out and back towards the Vale before moving across country.
a further meander brought us back to the pub to change and imbibe. All 53 participants (runners Walkers and Dogs) having had a good evening

Tuesday 2nd June 2009

June has struck on a glorious evening over towards Chester at the Foxcote at Little Barrow. A good turn out ensued for the trail set by the OnOnSec and the Foot Warrior.. As stated a line ago the evening was excellent and Nick led us out to set us checking. It is a long while since we hashed over in this neck of the woods and the hares had managed to find some of the less walked footpath if the contact between the nettles and my legs was anything to go by. Lots of 'Ow, Ooch gerroff' noises were made by those in the shorted nether garments.

I fared quite well for checking tonight - getting a significant percentage (100) of the first 6 checks correct - which meant that I had to keep checking. This meant that I was first to the field with the interested cows in. They saw me coming and gathered around the Stile for me to come over. Fortunatly Brian B joined me and between us me managed to persuade them to gallop off to the other end of the field..
I was glad that as we reached Little Barrow village centre that I got the next one wrong as I was getting a bit knackered and was ready to be a follower for a while. The trail remained interesting until we eventually made it back to the pub.

The pub itself appeared to be fairly quiet and appeared to be mostly a restaurant these days - and this was where we came to a slight undoing. When it came time to settly the bill on complretion of the second round we found the kitty was substantially short of dosh - by the order of a 100 quid. It seemed that as it was a restaurant these days the beer -(John Smiths!) was £2.85 a pint with lager at 3.40. A whip round produced enough to get out debt free but over the next few days this generated much email traffic.

TOP

Tuesday 26th May 2009

Well- tonight was set by the veteran team of Tony H and Brian B on a pleasant but cool eveing - It is great not having torches for the trail during these summer months. less to carry.

The hash gathered at the Romping Donkey at Hassel Green, near Congleton, and a goodly turnout there was. After Roger T and Sky turned up to a spontaneous round of applause - the trail got under way.
There are some good trails round here and as it turned out it appeared that the dynamic duo were determined to use nearly all of them. Excellent use of the paths besides the canal - great use of the Salt trail - an ex mineral railway - and many other footpatch with subtle loops and shimmies kept the pack busy for a while. As it turned out for just over 7 miles of a while (except Rob B who recorded 9+ miles on his pocket sat nav - but he checks a lot.. sometimes correctly)

Eventually the pub was regained but soon tragedy struck.. During the first round the Speckled Hen (at 2.50) ran out so the next ones were Bombardier (2.70 but they supplied it at 2.50 - very kind). Later we killed this one and some had to drink John Smiths or Tetleys as the other Cask ale was too recently delivered to put on. Excellent evening

Tuesday 19th May 2009

Birthday day again (the hash is 27) saw a total of 47 mixed hashers/walkers turn out on what was, initially, an unpromising evening as it had been cool and somewhat damp all day. However the clouds eased off - a bit of blue was seen - and we all arrived in good time to impart our post hash food orders and dosh to the OnOnSec.

Tonight's trail was set by the OnOnSec and the footwarrior from the Dog at Over Peover - the site of the first Cheshire hash in 1982. For a change we set out towards the Stocks but then turned left down a narrow lane - New Lynn was being quite brave in following Doctor Rob but on this occasion he was correct and the pack was following them instead of the reverse.

Generally though Heather and Nick were very kind - the off road was soft but firm -(except at the end where it was very soft and smelly) and the combination of tracks and roads kept us well together - including a section of reverse tracking over previous ground. The Radio telescope at Jodrell Bank was peering upwards tonight rather than horizontally as we ran near.

We did however get back at a good time after the 5½ miles and then changed and in to fill our faces. The food and beer were good - the chips excellent and a fine evening was had by all. Thanks N&H for the trail and organising and thanks to El Presidente for his stats.

Tuesday 12th May 2009

Tonight Dan and Co set a trail in Bollington and as it was the Bollington Festival there was a request that we do another Red Dress run. (See Pictures)
A slightly reduced turnout, which included two who were lured in by the trail being included in the Bollington Festival events list. It was, however, a bright sunny evening with a slight chill which soon vanished as we got moving from the car park behind the Vale In in Bollington.

The town was packed and there were many smiling faces as we ran though in our various interpretation of Red Dress theme.
As was to be expected given the location - we were soon of into the countryside as Daniel and helpers lured us towards White Nancy. A couple of teasing runs were diverted sideways before we ended up above the quarry but went downwards without quite reaching the dome. But the view from the top in the dropping sun was excellent.

We meandered our way downwards before cutting across the recreation ground and back to the cars and change before partaking of some of the excellent Bollington Brewing Company beers.
Great Trail

Tuesday 5th May 2009

Karen, Jenny and Steve contributed to this trail from Marple Bridge But as I was Poorly (cough - cough) I am unable to report.

But Heather sent this

MARPLE BRIDGE The Weather Gods had forgotten that it was Tuesday and we had rain for most of the day and there was light drizzle as we set off for Marple Bridge. Tony E was doing the honours and a full car and guided by a combination of his Sat Nav and helpful comments from his passengers.

Karen Mc, Jenny and Steve Mc. Had set the trail at the weekend and were bemoaning the fact that it had hardly stopped raining since and that their trail would have been washed away - at least missing markers helps to keep the pack together some of the time. Steve led the small group of walkers, Stewart hobbled to the first check on his crutches and the rest of us were led off by Karen and Jenny. Lots of multiway checks (many with 5 or 6 ways) later we were high above Marple Bridge and I think heading for New Mills. A swiftish decent and we were down to the canal again, those with 'a nose for home' wanting to go left but Karen insisting that right was on. Simon commented 'that it was a shame that Martin wasn't out to enjoy the huge puddles and muddy patches, and that perhaps he ought to deputise for him'. A little later we came across Martin and Brooke, they had arrived late and were tracking us down by trying to do the trail in reverse.

Some more downhill and we were soon back down in Marple Bridge. When we arrived in the pub it was packed and a great hush hung over the place - they were all watching the semi-final 2nd leg match between Man Utd and Arsenal. Fortunately the final whistle soon went and Man Utd had won to the great relief of everyone there.

An excellent trail in beautiful countryside pity the weather didn't let us have the wonderful views.

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Tuesday 28th April 2009

The location chosen was Alderley Edge - starting in the car park opposite Running Bear.Tonight was Dylan's first set - and under the guidance of Rob S we were slightly trepidation on how quickly we were going to move to the top of the Edge. However the speed was well modified by the checks and Nick had volunteered to back mark and look after those (including the On-On Sec) who had run the London Marathon two days before.

We moved steadily through the posher houses as we worked our way up bit by bit until we reached the top where we paused to admire the surrounding view. It was a pity it was not one of our clearer evenings.
The route down was a little more randontill we got back to the car park just after 9 - and in fact before the walkers got back.

After a quick change it was off to the Stag at Warford for some welcome beer. A good trail

And from the OnOn Sec is the following

CAR PARK IN ALDERLEY EDGE
This trail was originally going to be from the large National Trust Car Park up on top of the Edge, but Dylan and Rob discovered that the car park is locked at 5.30 p.m. each day so no use for hashers. This was Dylan's first venture into trail laying and we were all hoping that he would not be led astray by the good Dr. Rob. Rob thought that he would be unable to be there on Tuesday so Nick was volunteered to be back-marker. In the event Rob did appear and decided that he would run with the pack, making a good attempt at leading the front runners astray once or twice.

As you will have guessed from the first paragraph we did make our way up onto the top of the Edge along the roads and footpaths that wind amongst the grand houses built on the Edge and eventually gathered at the' beau point de vue' to admire the view over Cheshire to deepest Manchester.

It was then a steep decent back down to the plains, a bit slippery in places but all seemed to make is safely to the bottom. It was then off across a couple of fields, down the lane, more fields where the grass is now getting a bit longer and then across the corner of the playing fields and out into some houses. Luckily Nick knew where he was and was able to lead the back of the Hash onto Heyes Lane and then OnOn home. Once the walkers had re-appeared it was off to The Stag for a few well earned pints.
All round an excellent trail - well done Dylan, and Rob is getting the hang of trail laying now.

Tuesday 21st April 2009

Nick and Heather set this pre-London trail. Normally at this time of year Heather tries to set something that will not cause problems with those doing the Marathon at the weekend so the damp spell and then drying out gave a rougher surface under foot than she had hoped for - as the cows had broken up the surface in the damp and this had then set solid into trip traps.

However the trail tonight from the Church in at Mobberley went out on a fine evening - with the first field being occupied by cows with very small calves = all of whom congregated nervously round the stile. You could tell they were nervous as the ground had substantially changed colour and texture - but that's hashing for you. The next field we approached - but did not cross - was full of a herd of Llamas who looked disdainfully as our pack of about 50 trotted past the end of the field.

This trail seemed to turn into a tour of many of the pubs we had run from including going past the Frozen Mop. But the evening was good - an excellent trail with the dark falling not long before the end of the trail

Tuesday 14th April 2009

The trail tonight was from the Blue Cap - set by David L and assisted by Mike M (though according to Mike the main support was by him not laying a marker due to family commitments)

The evening was mild and slightly overcast but it was a great pleasure to run a large prtion of the trail without using a torch. Checking off from the car park a goodly portion got it wrong and had to leg it back along the main road before we headed south towards the fields and woods

Tuesday 7th April 2009

Well tonight was from Altrincham and there were 50- bodies for the trail set by me and Rob B - which is why there is no particular report.

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Tuesday 31st March 2009

The last day of March and the first hash of the year after the clocks have gone forward - Unfortunateley I couldn't make it as I had an exam the next day - but following is a report from the ononsec with soem startling news about Stewart

Tuesday 31st March - Hale Golf Club Our first trail of 'Summer Time' and the weather God was being kind to us - dry and mild. We arrived in the smart surrounding of Hale Golf Club car park to discover that one of the participants of the Wilmslow Half (Stewart) had managed to break his leg and was wearing a very smart plastic cast and balancing on his crutches.

He was photographed by Nick at about 10 miles steaming along and looking good, but by the time I arrived mear 11 miles he was sitting on a chair at the side of the road (unbeknown to me) waiting for an ambulance. Luckily the other 16 of us managed to get round without mishap and our very own 'Cat' even managed to win the Ladies Handicap Prize.

Anyway enough of this witter about the Wilmslow back to serious matters of the trail which was set by the ancient pairing of Tony H and Brian B (they used to be a very scarry combination in their younger days!). We set off in the daylight for the first time this year, leaving Stewart to enjoy the hospitality of the Golf Club.
An excellent trail which took in a little of the smart roads of Hale but mainly featured the woodlands and fields alongside the Bollin. After heading over in the direction of Ashley we headed back along the road, Tony E. admitting that he didn't know where he was and that he thought that we needed to head off to the right, at the next check Tony E who was, unusually, leading the pack headed off down the lane to the right which sadly was not the correct way and was the end of his stint as ffront runner.

After another trip through the Bollin Valley woodland we headed back for a short trip around the byeways of Hale and the Golf Club .
A very convivial evening and Cliff was congratulated on reaching '100'

Tuesday 24th March 2009

Well - It has to happen sometimes - tonight we had rain - WHILE WE WERE RUNNING!!!. It did ease off in the course of the trail though.

John R with the assistance of Peter R . conducted the trail from the Ship at Styal. In combination with the rain/drizzle it was colder than I thought it would be so the addition of the showerproof kept me comfortable throughout the trail.
Initially we wenf off down the lane and soon met with some off road actionwhich took us up to the chapel and then round through the field paths. After a bit we came to the main road and then after a quick left we were back near the pub - short hash we thought - barely 15 minutes in - but no . It was past the pub again and then a right turn across the fields. This gave us lots of checks in lots of places that did not stray far from the river. getting into the parkland and woods around Styal we were told to keep our eyes open for bridge names that we used to cross the river
One was Oxbow Bridge, a second was Giants Castle and then I went a different way as I had pulled my Achilles. (sounds like I got lucky in ancient Greece but this was not the case)

However - it was a good trail that brought us back to the pub at a non-raining point for the 'getting changed in the car park' bit of the evening then Rapidly followed by those who were not driving with the spreading the wetness internall by application of liquid containing a good wetting agent (C₂H₅OH)

Tuesday 17th March 2009

Colin and Peter were the hares for tonight's trail from the Wagon & Horses at Eaton. It had been a fairly mild day but -standing around in the pub car-park - we were aware that there was a bit of a change as a cold wind was blowing from somewhere which left the pack of about 1 + dogs keen to get off and generating a bit of heat.

It looked as if the promise of sustenance had buoyed up enough to partake again of the mysteried of a Horner/Bodimede production. After a little warning about the initial run-out down the busy A34 we were underway to the first check and contrary to expectations we were not off towards Bosley but to the opposite direction. Thus began our trip out which soon took us off road and along a worryingly large number of narrow stiles. Many more of these and there would be half a mile before front and back before the third check.

However this soon reduced - especially as we were now back on a road. This switch back and forth beacame a feature of the trail but as we went back out of the fields we found ourselves with a long drag up to Eaton Church tower. After the equivalent of a muster - the pack thought they were at a chck but weren't so no-one found anything, we moved back off road for a litte while and were given the choice of a standard way in or a longer loop. Generally we went off on thr normal trail. We then made our way along a very wide path - recently established as these were diversions as the land either sidr had been put over to sand quarrying. A little jiking about then brought us back to the pub

As ppromised there was a fair quantity of chips/sausage and bread available for an extra £2 in the kitty and these were gratefully consumed by all and sundry. There was a slight cock-up on the catering front howevet in that the rest of the kitty did not manage to stretch to a second pint of the excellent Robinsons. - A surprisingly good trail though in that Col and Peter managed not to lose us all.

Tuesday 10th March 2009

Though initially billed as a Martin trail tonights route was crafted by El Predidente with the assistance of Mr H keeping the front in trim.

For the second week in three the raoid strike road- closing team had shut off the simplest route from the north. So a longer loop was made to get to the Big Lock at Middlewich. A lot has changed since we were last here. The canal is still as it was but the pub is now surrounded by new houses - which must please the landlords. This meant that there were now may footpaths for Allan to set on that had not previously been in existence.

We initially spurned the canal as the route out took us through said houses but as the trail progressed we made full use of the network of canals there are. It is said often that Middlewich is almost an island due to being surrounded by them. There is also the saying that Middlewich is like Venice - but without the Gondolas, St Marks, the antiquities or the style of the real one - only some water.

We trundled round an excellent trail in the light of a full moon - unexpected (not the fullness but that we could see it) as the weather had been a bit overcast earlier in the day. The oub was welcoming and two '100' glasses were awarded - One for Jo amongst the walkers and the other to Cat amongst the runners. Well done to all.

Tuesday 3rd March 2009

Ken C set tonight around Northwich with the help of Moll. From the look of the size and the low level of a lot of the markers Moll had done this bit as well. Clever dog.

Although we had left home in a shower - by the time we got to Northwich - unfashionably early - there was no rain to be felt. The wind was a bit cutting so a quick change was called for from a peaked cap (to keep my specs dry) to a bobble hat (to keep my ears warm).
A few checks in the middle of town took us out towards Morrisons and round towards the many car parks at that end of town. We soon went through one of these to the splendid gates to the park established on reclaimed land. This proved to be the place where I went from being a checking front runner to being a catch up merchant as the pack moved at a brisk pace - aided by the lack of stiles.

From here we moved briefly onto some paved road with a tempting route along the canal which was passed up and then into the woods. We came across this canal a little later and the pack briefly took a turn along one side to re-appear 500 yards further down the same road they had left. Then it was off into Marbury.
This is where my navigational skills came to the fore. I hadn't the faintest idea which way I was going.

A little more of theis then over the canal by bridge left us back in the original recreational park and back to the pub.
Thanks Moll - and your assistant

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Tuesday 26th February 2009

A less contentious trail this week but arrivals were a little delayed due to the westbound A500 being closed at an important point - The work around route brought us to a serious bit of road works - re-building a bridge - which was protected by the shotest timed traffic lights that I have seen in a long time. Get a slow person at the front and they were the only ones through. So from nearly being 10 minutes early we managed to arrive late - but we weren't last.

A goodly turnout made it to the lower parts of Cheshire - It is amazing what the promise of free sausage and chips (and no fog) brings.
Stewart started off the a quick re-calculation - due to the unfortunate closure of the A500 the start was delayed by about 15 minutes so he adjusted the expectations by saying thet the planned 6 and a bit with 29 checks would be more like 5 and a half and a few less.

There was one warning he made before he and Alison set us on our way -'If you be in a wooded area and off the footparhs then Beware as you might be on the Moss (mwah hahhaa). and you risked falling through the metre thick layer of peat and getting into the semi-liquid underneath. On this note we went on our way

The early part of the trail was off along the footpaths initially towards Hough and Shavinton but soon took us in a loop. After that - as usual - it became a little vague as I endeavoured to keep on trail but failed in my attempt not to check wrongly.
The weather held up very well with only a small amount of drizzle and we progressed until we came across fields and saw the brightly lit tower besides the pub. There was then a check which took the pack off to the right. As I was slightly crocked I went left and was surprised at the bravery of this check - The pub was a mere 150 metres down the road.

The pub itself is very welcoming and as the pack got itself back in for drinks the chips,sausages and bread appeared and very rapidly disappeared.
Thanks to both of the hares for the trail and to the pub.

Tuesday 18th February 2009

Heaven's to Murgatroyd.

A large muster of reports from both attending hashers and those who didn't quite make it on trail although they made the attempt - Nothing like a bit of Variety
I will start in a mannerly fashion with the report from a visiting Hasher A Mr Busby from Berkshire and then go on with the no-shows and working to the other arrivers

A Visitors Tale

Hi, Have just checked for the report of the run from The Hanging Gate, Sutton Lane Ends. Seems that at least 2 local hashers failed to make it - suffice to say that I came all the way up from Oxford and found it with no problem! Pre-planning helps!

The trail was excellent except that we were warned of some serious shiggy - this wasn't to prove a lie as I almost sank without trace and had one hell of a time extricating myself from the morass that seemed to want to keep me there. Having fallen behind the front runners I at last managed to get running again and jogged down the hill chasing after the only flashlight I could see in the distance. I caught up with the other hasher as we hit tarmac. "Saved, he'll know the way of the trail" I mistakenly thought.

Wrong, I had met up with one of the Brians and he was also lost. However we hit upon the outgoing trail and after wandering on in the wrong direction we realised we should be heading southward rather than northward. We eventually came to pass the Ryles Arms at which point we asked a local the way back to the Hanging Gate - he gave us a strange look and then sent us on a 2.5 mile detour along the lanes but we did get there - oh, that he had thought to send us on the direct footpath to the pub!

Later, we did wonder which route the rest of the pack behind us took to avoid the shiggy as no-one followed us down the hill Well done Hares, I enjoyed your trail and my visit (my third) and look forward to the next one. On-On David Busby Berkshire H3

My Story by webmaster - aged visibly

It was a little closer this week - I started out from Lymm just after 7 and was going quite well - apart from the odd slow driver - there was a little mist but nothing worrying. The thing that slowed me was some traffic in Macc and then geting stuck at a set of temporary traffic lights. Time was getting tight - if things went well I would get there by 7:50 maybe slightly later but I could catch up!!!

Pah!. In to the turn to Sutton Lane Ends and a bit more slow traffic -pass the Langley turn and the visibility drops - more temp traffic lights mist appears to clear a bit as I reach the 'Ryles' but I will be chasing - or so I thought. I started up the hill and visibility dropped to two fifths of bugger all. After a bit I reach a side road and stop to get bearings. It is now nearly 8 although the pub is only a bit further along the road (maybe 2 miles). The decision is will I catch anyone? - Probably not. Will the visibility improve? - The risk is not - so while I have some memory of the route - and two other cars heading down - I beat a slow retreat back to Lymm and arrive back at about 8:45. So One and three quarter hours without getting a sniff of the trail - at least I could get a drink at home as I wasn't driving any further that night.

Sorry chaps - hope it went well.

More of the same from Mr Lever

A report from someone who didn't make it ...............

We didn't make the hash tonight - we just couldn't find the pub. I'm afraid the directions on the website were about as useful as a chocolate fireguard .... luckily I know where most pubs are, so I manage to get there - but this one I didn't. Perhaps the time has come for me to invest in satellite navigation. Jenny & I left home at 18:45 to drive to the Hash - 60 miles and two and a quarter hours later we were back home. We were driving really slowly in thick fog as we climbed higher and higher around Langley and Winkle, but we just couldn't find the pub. When the time got to 20:00, we gave up and drove home. We couldn't really see where we were in the fog. I hope that it was a successful trail and a good time was had by all. Hope to see you next week. On On David

Now unusual -Two from the same car!

Ladies First so - from El

Well unlike the previous two correspondents we persevered! I collected Ken at 6.35 and Mike at 6.45, we also made the same mistake and drove up to the Ryles Arms, realised we'd got it wrong and in the thick fog we panicked and decided to get back to the Macc-Leek Road and try and find the A54. I am stubborn and refuse to get satnav, believing in old-fashioned map reading, and had bought an OS map in case of trouble - but rather stupidly hadn't brought my reading glasses and as Mike and Ken are equally blind the map was no use.

In practice we were about 5 minutes away at the Ryles Arms but instead spent 20 minutes driving round to the A54 and up the hill from the other side, (we managed to read the written instructions) finally arriving at the pub at 8.15. Anyway we were all very cross with ourselves as we'd all been to the pub before and we'd been confident we knew how to get there.

By this time Mike had had enough and went straight into the pub for a beer and a Su Doku, whilst Ken and I went for a memorable run with Milly and Moll: down to the forest and then back up to the pub via the Gritstone Trail, which was very challenging given the thick fog: we had to do a fair bit of searching for stiles. Back to the pub to find a few walkers and early returners.

The main pack didn't arrive back till well after 9.30, with Brian and his friend finally making a late appearance at nearly 10 o'clock! They all looked pretty exhausted having been out for two hours. Anyway it was a lovely pub with roaring fires and good beer (I'm told), and a very friendly landlady who made a fuss of us and our dogs and provided excellent chip butties. We got home at 11.30 by which time Kevan was thinking of sending out a search party!

Getting more Positive from Ken - though the last line seems a little unfair

On Tuesday Ell, Mike and I set out in good time for Hanging Gate, with me (wrongly) confident of knowing the way. When we found ourselves passing the Ryles Arms we realised that in the fog we had missed a turning. Even though the two pubs are only spitting distance apart I couldn't get my head round how to get to the upper road. None of us could read the map without reading glasses and we went into headless chicken mode and arrived via miles of driving at 8pm.

Obviously you had all gone and there was no map for late arrivals. Mike retired to the bar, while Ell, me, Millie and Moll set out into the fog in the hope of finding the pack. On the way we'd been discussing the rumour that the Hares had set a grueller, and that to do this in February, on upland terrain was pretty foolhardy.

Maybe missing the start wasn't going to be so bad after all. Anyway, we trotted along to the Macc Forest, thinking (wrongly) that this was where we'd come across the pack. No sign, so we continued round the reservoirs to the Leathers Smithy and back along the Gritstone Trail. A nice little run that got us back for 9.00 and changed and in the pub (with the dogs) for 9.10 still wondering about the pack.

The first ones back at 9.20 were Higgo, TonyE and PeterR who baled out early when you started going up Croker Hill. It was 9.50 before most were back having been out for over 2 hours. Brian Burgess didn't get back till gone 10.00 because he got lost in the fog. Everyone was either livid or plain exhausted. Heather was apoplectic. Mr. Lever was supposed to be there but didn't arrive - pity, I'd like to see his report.(see above -max) We eventually got home at 11:45. I believe the pub has been re-named the 'Hanging Sutor'.

Stewart again wields the mighty pen with the following

"17th February - The Hanging Gate - aka "the Hash that wasn't"

This was Ken S's first go at trail setting (assisted by Nigel- ed) and he picked a tricky location. Rob S used the same pub for his infamous "3 routes and no checks" hash last year - winning him the Plank award. Ken seems to have been overcome by the "check-lite" fever this pub creates, producing a 6 mile course with 15 checks. Add to this a reduced turn out due to fog so thick you had to part it with your hands, a hilly route and poor conditions under foot and Ken had his work cut out!

Very quickly the pack was hopelessly fragmented, with Nigel struggling to sweep up so many stragglers. With the quick boys racing off the front all communication was lost - forlorn shouts of "muster!" were absorbed and suffocated by the fog. So I can't tell you about the front runners. I can say that about half the hash eventually made it back to the pub - after 2 hours on the hills. By pure chance 2 separate groups met up - one of which included Nigel with a map - even though both groups were way off trail!.

After negiotiating some very "organic matter" by an isolated farm and a particularly high voltage electric fence that dumped several people onto their backsides in said organic matter we grumbled home.
Heather was quite vocal in her thoughts on the hash! Sadly due to the time there was no opportunity to sample the food Ken has organised. On the way home (and at about 10.15) we met Brian and another straggler coming up the road to the pub from the south. They were very grateful to be told the pub was only a few hundred metres further) - theirs' is probably an epic tale which we await with interest!

It may be early in the year to nominate awards but Ken may have already secured the "Plank"!

Tuesday 10th February 2009

Stewart B again to the rescue with a pithy report for the Cock at Henbury :-As For Me - missed again - Work this time as it took nearly 2 hrs to get out of Manchester and home

The description on the website should have warned me off. "Not suitable for dogs". With icy conditions underfoot this was mostly an urban hash and was fast as a result. Rob B. clocked up 8.7 miles on a 6 mile route with lots of checks! I never knew there were so many back alleys around Macclesfield/Prestbury!
Don't ask me where we went as I was totally disorientated within 5 minutes of the off! I do recall it being fun though! A good mix of routes and all well marked. And a very pleasant pub, recently refurbished, with friendly staff. Well done Martin!

Tuesday 3rd February 2009

Well - I bin poorly so missed last week at the Cock o'Budworth as as a slight continuation of the chesty cough I restricted myself to joining the walkers for the hash from the Bay Malton in Altrincham.
Although there were a fair number of hashers on their way out we were down to 4 walkers with Maggie, Helen, Jo and myself taking up the ambulatory challenge.

After we saw the hash disappear down the side of the Bridgewater we decided to follow. The bulk of the buildins on either side are industrial units with one interesting one that had a water gate to allow barges into the building to offload.
You get a distinctly different view and were surprised by a pair of 'modernist' apartment buildings - the rooms appeared to have high ceilings and all levels had balconies which protruded further out the higher up the building. This may have had a slight shading issue but had the added advantage that you could not peer down at the residents underneath you.

However enough of the shilly-shallying - an important factor was 'Where were we?' - this resolved itself when we identified the Navigation pub on the A56 - so we cut past the sea scouts hut and found ourselves besides Halfords. The simple route from here was then down Atlantic street all the way to the end. Again it was interesting to see the range of industrial units and estates in place - including a large number owned by 'Cotton Traders' the sportswear company.

By the time we reached the end - we could see the Trans-Pennine Trail and we turned left but were surprised to see how close to the pub we had come out - so we gave up and p[artook of some excellent Thwaites. The runners came back later but i had partaken of some beer by then.

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Tuesday 27th January 2009

A late entry for the repoting front from Stewart - Many thanks

27th January The Cock , Great Budworth. It didn't bode well on the drive up there. A light intermittent rain turned into a heavy persistent one just as we eased into the car park. So much for the 'it doesn't rain on a Tuesday night' mantra!

Still with the deluge easing just before the off most chose to forgo the waterproofs and set off for a quick 6 miles. All credit to the hares - they had laid a thoroughly confusing trail with first 'ons' about 400 yards from the checks and the 'on on' about another 400 yards again. That's how it felt when you were checking anyway. I've never spent so much time chasing the back of the pack! Add to the equation that checks varied from right to left and back again and it was self evident that the smart runners weren't checking! I have so much to learn….

The rain did hold off though… right until the run in when it returned with renewed fury. On the bright side it was like having a quick shower before getting into the bar! Notable omissions from the runners was Rob S. who was injured but walking. He was able to divert his energies into the nominations for the Hash Dinner in two weeks and did a stirling job of button holing people to declare their choices.If you haven't voted do so before the dinner!

Special mention goes to Allisdhair who was showing off his three (yes three!) medals from the Walt Disney run in Florida. One (the Daffy) for a half marathon, one (the Mickey) for a full marathon (in a very respectable 3.45) and the third (appropriately named the Goofy) for doing the runs on two on consecutive days! A most enjoyable evening!

Tuesday 20th January 2009

Doesn't the year fly when you are enjoying yourself. Tonight was an excessive 3&dg;C and We met up at the Unicorn - neatly located between two roundabouts on the A5102 at Dean Row near Wilmslow. I gather there was no difficuly in getting there following my instructions - I you did it the way i went then there was an extra roundabout to negotiate which threw the navigation into a mild confusion.

The pub looked slightly 'standard from outside but had a massive car park. In the region of 40 hashers arrived - keen for the off - especially Moll the dog who Ken had already taken for a 3 miler in the afternoon but was as keen as ever to get moving. There was a slight lead out down the road before we hit the first check but from then on there was excellent use of every byway and footpath available. Many were hidden down the sides of houses and gave a distinct 'no-overtaking' feel as you were either hedged in or had close strands on barbed wire.

Although there had not been a lot of rain the ground underfoot was a bit slick as the previous frost had melted and left the ground a trifle soft. One check brought us to an inoccuous splitting of the route and I went uphill a a slight slither. A large group went the other way lured down to the side of the Bollin - So keen in fact that they failed to note that there was no second check. These were heard at the next proper check ath the top of the path up - plaintively crying 'are you?' for a hint of the location of the pack. They managed to get back to us.

A little later we rejoined the Bollin trail and then came out to zig-zag through many little paths before we were taken through an increadibly damp field - most unlike the on-on sec. We finished off with a trip across the ring road via road before looping back over a footbridge and then through the houses and a run-in.
The pub interior was excellent with Black Sheep and Thwaites

Tuesday 13th January 2009

This week was suitably warmer than last - at an impressive 6°C but there was a similarly good turnout for the trail from the Swan with 2 Nicks at Little Bollington. Hared by Simon W and Roger P we were taken across the bollin by the little footbridge and the checking took us on across the park to the stile out. This was followed by a brief loop which brought us back onto the Dunham to Altrincham Road. A quick check later took us into Dunham Forest Golf course with the route eventually taking us onto the A56. Another check and then across towards Bowden but then we faded left towards Altrincham, And out beside the Stamford Arms followed by a quick trundle past the Cinnamon Club (a Jazz/Blues/Comedy Venue).

We drifted further into Altrincham until we re-met the A56 next to the Duham Parich Church. Over we went and into the many back streets and footpatch to bring us out behind the Golf Course again. this was followed by a check free interval until we met a new permissive footpath that fed into a older PRoW. This took us down to the Church , near the Axe & Cleaver but off down the lane and then onto the Bridgewater Canal for a trip towards Lymm. But we came off at the bridge near the Vine but then through the woods and back across the footbridge and into the pub - Good trail and relatively mud-free

Tuesday 6th January 2009

The first of the year - set by Mr Lever and ably supported by Mr Baddely - was from the Egerton Arms near Oulton Park. This was novel in that said pub does not normally open on winter Tuesday nights and did so when the Dave scouted out. In reponse to this action nearly 50 hashers turned out on a very chiily night.

It was -3°C when we set off with enough of a breeze to make my face numb. As it had been cold for a few days the ground was mostly hard and where mud had been was rutted and ankle turning. Fron the check out we went off trail and disappeared into the forest and most of the evening we traversed one part or another with one or two p[eople having a tumble. we were part way round when Carol appeared - as she had arrived a little late and spent an amount of time trying to catch up. At one point she said that she had got completely lost but then the hash had appeared - so no change in circomstances there for her.

In the light of the chill weather Dave triggred Plan B. This involved cutting out a 1 mile loop so the end trail was 5½ instead. This was welcomed by the pack ad thus we took advantage of the pub being open. A good trail and as we have previously found - a good pub

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