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Tuesday 29th April 2008

Tuesday 22nd April 2008

Allan setup the trail from The Walton Arms - helped out by David L ..aka Uncle Albert .. Now Allan was back again - permitted to run - and on a fine evening he set us off onto the Bridgewater Canal before bringing us up again round the car park for Walton Gardens. So many ways...

However we were paralleling the canal. After a little loop Allan brought us out beside the Stag by the Ship Canal and then across and into the country park. This was not a place to lose track as there were no short cuts out. After this it was quite interesting as we appeard on a road I did not recognise in the slightest. We checked left and down the hill and crossed a bridge and then it became apparent - we were in Moore near the Red Lion a couple more checks brought us back onto the Bridgewater and then off again a small loop and we were back at the canal again for the run in to the pub. And all without starting my torch.

Good trail peeps!

Tuesday 15th April 2008

Having managed to miss last week's trail due to a twisted knee I was out tonight from the Greyhound at Ashley with an Australian in tow. - It was actually Brooke , back from Oz but with a newly acquired Aussie citizenship. Bloody aussies coming over here running through our mud .... but it was a bright and sunny evening about 10°C and a pack of 51 runners and walkers with 4 dogs in attendance.
Allan was out with us running again since his last op..etc and was kept company on the way round by Cat.

The trail was nominally Adam Hydes but as he had a strained fetlock Nigel T set with the help of Martin B. Although a certain amound was on dry land - a large purt was ankle deep - Martin H would have loved it - but was occupied with parental duties - especially as it was particularly squelchy and rather a tough smelly at the last field by the cricket club.

The run in was firm from there and we managed to eliminate a keg of Jennings as a method of recovery.

a not-unejoyable trail enhance by the fact that I did not need to use my torch until 8:45..

Tuesday 1st April 2008

Not from the Fools Nook but from the Star at Lymm - the trail was set by Derek and Roy on Saturday in the sleet and rain before Derek went off with others on Sunday to run the Wilmslow Half Marathon. Well done to all those hashers who did it - the results are here Wilmslow results

The Tuesday itself had been breezy and dampish but resolved into a clear night at about 8°. In fact the only issue was with parking. However the trail got off along the Trans Pennine and then looped us down towards Pool Lane and round to the Statham Lodge. Then it was off down the footpath between the Rabbit farm and the Nursery and round the back of the stables into Thelwall. A quick trundle off then took us though Massey Brook and then the back of Lymm to the Avenue - then down through the lower dam and the trans pennine to home.

Sandwiches were on hand and although the real ale was off - only Boddies and John Smith - the welcome was good. - Good trail chaps

Tuesday 25th March 2008

Sid set his first trail tonight aided by the experience of Brian G. The pub of choice was the Chetwode Arms just down the A49 from J10 of the M56. The night was damp after a wettish weekend so there was a little bit of suffering on the markers but the trail held up well.

Sid had claimed to have spend a sleepless night on Monday worrying about the trail but all turned out well for the 40 odd hashers and the 3 dogs. We returned to the pub in good order damp and slightly muddy to some excellent beer and the pleasure of chips and some spicy chicken wings provided kindly by our Hosts in the pub. The wings were spicy indeed and probably led to some increased consumption amongst the non-drivers.

A good trail and pub.

Tuesday 18th March 2008

I was away so await a report from anyone who wishes to send it in

Ken C has volunteered with this tale

A browse of the Ordnance Survey for this area would show this to be not prime hashing country, and it is many a long year since Martin dragged us round here. Roger and Adrian did well then to come up with and interesting and varied trail using what few paths and lanes were available. There was also the added tag of a quiz to ponder on the way round – What national news item had a connection with the area, and what does MA stand for??? Well, I work for MA, but we were miles from Ringway.
Many ASBOs? No!

The pub was advertising a ‘Field for Hire’, so if you ever need a field at short notice, then this is your place. Off we trotted, soon turning into the fields above Winsford Flashes. Onward then to the charming St Chad’s Church, picturesquely and unusually set in a hollow. Less charming was the housing estate we emerged into where every home seemed to own at least 3 dogs. Breaking out into open country where planks were already installed to help us over a stream, we were led out to the hamlet of Darnhall and up a farm track.

I remembered from my Wettenhall trail that this lead to a radio telescope dish, (part of the Jodrell Bank network). Following the recent news that the government's popular Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has decided to pretty well destroy UK radio astronomy, we're saddened to note that Jodrell Bank observatory is up for sale on eBay:
Potential buyers among you are advised that you'll have to collect Jodrell Bank in person, but that once you've got it shifted and reassembled at home you'll discover that it "works via the car’s 12v cigarette lighter adaptor", gets "great Sky TV reception – no need for any dodgy cards" and doesn't require a licence. So here was our news item. Roger did tell me what MA stood for, but I can’t remember what it was (was it Merlin something?).{Array}

The dish did look impressive lit up by those fancy torches that some people have adopted. The pub however was a dismal affair as I remembered from our previous visit. The smell of paint didn’t help the insipid beer. With pubs closing at a rate of 4 a day, the Raven looked to be on it’s last legs, and those of us with discerning palettes opted for an early night.
Good trail though.

Tuesday 11th March 2008

Martin was originally going to set local to himself at the Holly Tree but decided against and went over to Frodsham to the Bears Paw. His main thought was the area of land to the North of the M56 - a fairly flat Moss that I remember having been part of the 4 Villages once upon a time.

He really wanted to make use of the many motorway bridges but had the added bonus as far as the pack was concerned in that they only had eyes for the top of the hill above Castle Park and at the slightest excuse were running up towards it.

So off we went to start with towards the Castle Park but then doubled across the road and towards the first of the bridges as it got dark. Across once and then off alongside the big area where dredgings from the Manchester ship and the Mersey were dropped. Then we went through a field and across the motorway again. After another field we cam up a road and a trip across the smelliest field ever - Though Martin said it was better than when he had set it.

The trail recrossed the motorway and by much devious motions worked its way back to the previous bridge for the last crossing of the night. The trail now worked it's way up towards the hill but turned away at the footings. We dropped down towards the station and moved on before Martin missed out the final little loop to give everyone a gentle run in back to the pub.

Tuesday 4th March 2008

Paul was the architect of this trail, assisted in the setting by Cliff, and run out from the Salt Barge at Marston near the Old Lion Salt Works. I got off to a good start this week by arriving before everyone left. It was good to see Tony H back on trail walking after his recent spell under the surgeons knife. The night was cool about 4° and clear sky at the start and although the temperature dropped a little it remained calm.

Paul announced that, unusually for him it was (a) Flat and (b) shortish (5.6 miles) and off we went down towards Northwich before turning sharply up a path between the houses followed by a trip into the Flashes. After somne meandering around we hit the canl - crossed it and were in Marbury country park where we happily hacked about chasing trails. After much of this we returned to the canal where it was announced that the run in was at hand - It turned out to be about ¾ of a mile straight down the canal and the a brisk right turn into the pub.

Much Black Sheep was drunk by all. A good trail.

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Tuesday 26th Feb 2008

David L was accompanied by Rob Baddeley in setting this hash of a reputed 6 miles and 29 checks, starting from the Maypole at Acton Bridge, on a fresh night warmer than of late but with a brisk wind. The walkers, comprising 6 in number, were guided by Jenny L.

We were whipped away promptly tonight and went off towards the Hazel Pear and then right dwn the road with a following wind. A couple of checks later it was off across the fields and over a railway footbridge for further off road efforts. About this time Bridget and Carol managed to catch us up - a brave effort considering their treck in from Macc.

From then on the trail teased us with checks that included bridges back across the railway - all denied until the majority false checked up towards the River Weaver. Round we went and then approached one of the railway bridged from a different direction and so we went across before coming to the last check, halfway up the hill that leads from the A49 up to Acton.

After that we caught the scent of the barmaid's apron and the run in. The beer was in fine fettle (Thank you Maggie for driving back at short notice) and the Landlord and Wife kindly donated a bottle of wine towards the Charity Quiz night on April 18th - please support.. Nicky was doing brisk business distributing the new running vests to those who had ordered and brought their £15.00

Tuesday 19th Feb 2008

I remember saying to Peter (tonight's Hare) that what ususally happened to me at the Railway was I came tanking up to the pub just as the hash was disappearing and when I get sorted out of the car can see the hash off acrosss the railway line and the gates coming down as the Chester Train comes into the station. And guess what - this year was no different... I will manage it one day.

However tonight was one of thos magical wintry nights - the sky was clear - the moon was two days short of full and there were masses of stars visible. The air was cold but there was no wind and the fields gave this satisfying crunch (hot chocolate drinking chocolate) noise as you ran across them.

The Hack-man and I studied the map with Mike Murray and we decided to catch them via the road and cut them off - which we successfully did at Wood Lane. From then on it was a matter of keeping up, keeping the eyes peeled for trains on the two crossings of the railway lines from footpaths, and seeing the occasional plane take off from Manchester airport. The trail seemed to run longer than the stated 6 miles and we eventually got back to the pub at about 9:25 with a quick sprint against Ray and his young daughter - she moves quickly for a little un but what do you expect form a junior Humph...?

However it was a good trail thoroughly enjoyed. Looking back on the report of the 5th about the two new hashers - tonight they were up to trail #3.. Must be hooked.. And Adrian L was back out with us trying to get himself back onto the statistics

Tuesday 12th Feb 2008

Nick C was the hare for this one from the Three Greyhounds by Shakerly Mere with the assistance of Colin B.

I surprised myself by arriving 5 minutes early and being prepared for the cool but bright conditions - lots of stars. Before we started Allan gave us a brief update on Tony Higgins who had been whipped into Macc hospital to have part of his bowel removed. The news is that he is gradually improving.

Then off we went - After a trundle up the road we made an early dive to the trails around Shakeley Mere doing a big loop before emerging onto the road towards Peover. At this point I checked across the foot bridge over the motorway. After coming back all but those hardy souls who were in front of me (Ray and Cliff) had vanished so after checking all the other ways with no luck we headed back to the pub to see the map.
At this point we met Steve A and after a brief discussion R and C decided to power on towards Byley and catch the pack and Steve and I decided to run up towards Lach Dennis

Having gone there and returned we joined the pack coming in.

And Allan give a trail runners view

Three Greyhounds, Allostock - 12.02.08

A notable absentee tonight was Mr Reliable Tony Higgins. As most of you will now know he is going to be away for some time. He went to the Doctor back in November, and Dave Arthur referred him to Macclesfield Hospital, who decided to invite him to a residential course involving practical anatomic dicing and slicing. The good news is so far he's fine, although it's going to be some time before he's Hashing.
Tony being Tony, on discovering he'd need an op, told no-one other than Brian Burgess and of course Dave Arthur knew the position. Tony doesn't do 'fuss' so kept everyone else in the dark until a couple of days before he started his residency. Brian kept Tony's confidence, and Dave being a Doctor has of course taken a vow of celibacy, and isn't allowed to say anything to anyone. Anyway, Higgo progresses, and has every intention of returning to Hashing in the future.

So, in the event there was a Hash on Tuesday night, with Nick Carter doing the steering, and Colin Bodimeade acting as tail gunner. Colin looked even more cheerful than usual, perhaps due to the imminent rise in his accounting workload at the financial year end, but more likely he was thinking of the increased billed hours he can charge for. Sorry Colin, poor joke.
And so after Nick's instructions, he reckoned the trail was about 6 miles, he had no idea how many checks, and we weren't to cross the main A50, off we went. Oh and finally he said, 'The run in may be a bit long!'
With Mr Higgins now being on injured reserve, I'd managed to persuade Cat to keep an eye on my creaking frame, as I hoped I'd worked up enough fitness to at least struggle round at the back of ehe pack. She did an excellent job, and I'm hoping it's going to be a case of 'same time next Tuesday!' although a dodgy right knee is not leaving me feeling optimistic.

So off round Shackerley Mere we went, and then right over the M6 to the 4th check, where one or three Hashers at the front thought it was a 3 way check, when in fact it's 4. Ray Humphries and Steve Argles diligently explored the 3 routes they could see, and 3 times found one piece of bog roll, but not the required second. By the time they returned to the check for the 3rd time, Nick and Colin had steered the pack down the fourth alternative and inevitably correct route, so Ray and Steve found themselves on their own, with the pack apparently abducted by aliens. They tried shouting for directions, but all they heard was the constant bellow of the M6 a couple of hundred yards away, which unknown to them was the direction they should have gone.

Meanwhile the remaining Hashers were padding quietly through the old now water filled sand quarry right next to the motorway, and then on to the static caravan park by the A50. The one great asset of running round Allostock, is that even if it's the weather's been soaking wet, the ground is almost always dry. God bless the Old Red Sandstone. And so round in a corkscrew clockwise route we went, until we came to the entrance of Woodside Golf Club. Now a few Hashers were rightly suspicious of this two-way check, as the road to the Golf Club is private, so off down the A50 to Holmes Chapel they went. Wrong!

A quick sprint up towards the Golf Club brought us to a Public Bridleway post, where Nick had drawn two arrows pointing right back towards the pub. Effectively, this was 'On On ' home. I measured the run in afterwards at 1.67 miles!! The whole trail was exactly 6 miles, so the run in from the last check made up over a quarter of the total run! There are no detailed Hash records of length of run ins, (and I'm not starting now), but Nick's effort would most certainly be a contender!

http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/allostock/475380152

Tuesday 5th Feb 2008

The day started out wet and , in Manchester at least, got worse with quite stong rain in the afternoon. However when the car set off from Lymm to pick up Martin the weather improved and the sky was clear at one point.

After getting past the comments of the other hashers as a result of arriving at the pub (Heath Farm, Congleton) before quarter to 8 I decided that the two layers on top were enough and off we went with the trail. An immediate turn up a footpath was the order of the day from Nick and Heather. This was quite waterlogged and rapidly became wetter before we came out back onto the A534.

It became apparent at the check here that the hash again comprised three entities. Following on from last week's trail where Allan and Tony H did a shortened version of the main trail - tonight there was a repeat but with an extended cast list.
So there we were with 6 walkers and a dog - Maggie, Jo & Bob, Helen j, Jenny L, and Adrian and Dot L, four mini-hashers comprising Allan, Tony H, Pam and Peter R all in varying degrees of recuperation, and the hash proper with everyone else.

The way it turned out the main hash did the stated 5 miles and 7 furlongs, the mini-hash did less and came in second and the walkers followed an interesting path which fizzled out in a wood and when they recovered their trail at about 8:45 were half an hours walk from the pub.

It was an intersting trail which ran well - though in one place the wet came over the top of my shoes - but the sky stayed dry. Two newcomers gave all the signs that they were enjoying themselves and we hope they will appear again and not join the list of one nighters.
After the beer and announcements in the pub - three birthdays this week Dave A, Carthief and the OnOn Sec all featuring in the lists - it was time to go. It was thrashing it down so we luckily we had had the hash god back from their holiday.

And from El Presidente - an ode

Heath Farm, Congleton –

Having decided last week to increase my exercise level from the walking group to padding around with Mr Higgins, a similar ploy seemed sensible for the On Sec's latest effort from a new pub on the outskirts of Congleton. I was surprised to find that last week's duo, was this week's quartet, with Peter Rose and Pam Eden joining Tony and myself. Pam has apparently tweaked something in the bovine department, a calf or something, and is very gently reintroducing it to the thought of effort. Apparently, she did it playing golf!! Pam & Mike took up the sport that Mark Twain called 'a good walk spoiled' 3 or 4 years ago, and now spend so much time bashing the little white pillock round, that they're winning tournaments and stuff. Well done them!

Anyway, to return to tonight's Hash, where for the first time in 5 weeks the rain didn't, Nick gave the usual ignored instructions before the 'off', including a reference to not getting too far off the front when the housing estates were reached. Apparently, they were a bit of a maze and there was the danger of lost Hashers.

Well, so it proved!!! Our quartet of happy campers chattered their way round the beginnings of their shortened version of the Hash proper, and got to the first housing estate, whereupon El Presidente missed the first right turn that he wanted! I was looking for the first road on the right, and took the four of us past two concrete bollards, that have recently been cemented in to block an old road entrance into this housing estate. So we actually turned right at what is currently the first right turn, but USED to be the second. Oops! Within a few hundred yards, I was doing that 'making the map fit what I could actually see around me' thing. That's always means trouble for me when I'm map reading. Eventually Pam breezily said, 'Should we have a school on our left?' 'Ah……………….no!' says I.

I worked out what we had done. Namely, succeed in running for some distance at 90 degrees to the proper trail. Anyway, our position was at least known, and remedial measures were taken. 10 minutes later we're trundling down the A54 back into Congleton, and this time we really are trying to find a school on the left. Can we? Can we buggery! The map said that we should turn right just after we came to the school's playing fields on our left. So straight on down the main drag we padded, so we could pick up the A34, and work our way back to the trail. Later it became apparent, that where the On Sec had laid a wiggly, but relatively straight route through suburbia, I had led the four of us on a huge S bend folly!

The correct route is at: - http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/congleton/350995172 Note this is 5.54 miles long.
El Presidente's effort is at: - http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/congleton/801969388 This folly turns out to be nearly as long as the proper trail at 5.23 miles!

Our misadventures meant that when we eventually came down to the beach at Astbury Lake, we could see the pack's headlights up on the hill in front of us. They had overtaken us! At this point, Tony announced he wouldn't be letting me have the map in future! But, there was nothing to be done, but plod wearily on, and because we had one future planned short cut that we executed without mishap, we met the pack again two checks from the end. So after all our adventures, we ran back in one large group. Apparently, the walkers were very late back to the pub, but no details were forthcoming, as people were far more concerned about the Bass running out before the second round could be ordered.

On telling Heather in the pub of our misfortunes with the schools, where we found the one we didn't want, but couldn't locate the one we did, she airily said 'Oh, that second school's now a housing estate!' Someone should tell the Ordnance survey. (though it is probably ok on the Cheshire Co Council web site which will be a newer map -max)

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Tuesday 29th Jan 2008

Tonight I assisted Brian (Grutel) Glover with his trail through Padgate - in the North West of Warrington. Several hashers will have a vague recollection of the territory if they have run the Woolston 10k organised by Warrington Road Runners - a two lap run through parks and road and with a grass finish.

Brian chose the pub with care - the Dog and Partridge on the A57 - an are known as Paddington. He had also made arrangements for there to be chips and bread for hungry hashers - so a distinct incentive not to get lost.
Although the weather forcast had been poor and it had rained a bit it was distictly drier than when we first set it a week previously. Brian had been out again and refreshed the chalk check points and those few paper markers that people had kindly tidied up.

So we started off with 44 people and 4 dogs. About 8 walkers went off with Carol, Allan - who has only just started running again after his op - went off with the senior Tone and a laminated copy of the map (see link below) to do the Readers Digest version of the trail. The rest went off to the first check at Woolston Linear Park. There was a good mix of surfaces - from the hard packed park paths followed by grassy ways and gravel paths before we crossed over the railway and went to a long muddyish path which led towards Padgate Station. Along the way at the youth club two lads - who happened to have torches - picked up with us and continued for the next 4 and a 1&frac;2 miles back round to the pub. As we trolled down Bruche Lane Tony W pulled up with a strained calf. Quite handy really as he was about 150metres from his house.

Then into the park where Brian had put in a tester. The trail ran down the side of a brook and he had the trail crossing it to the next check point. After Dave A went ankle deep in squelchy smelly ooze the others felt that the wimp route offered a lot of promise. Then to a muster to check we had all got across the A57 OK and then off and down the side of the Warrington Cemetery and towards Kingsway Bridge. However there was a jog right before we got there and the trail took us through the Twiggeries, a boardwalked nature sanctuary where Dave A paused to wash off his legs and shoes.

Now it was down to the Mersey and a run over the footbridge to the edge of Victoria Park and then along the river bank back to Kingsway Bridge where we changed sides of the river for some more off road round a loop of the river before the run in to the pub
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/warrington/241153760

Back at the pub the two lads asked if we would be running from the Dog and Partidge again soon but we had to tell them to keep an eye on the web site. Allan added them into the hash stats as is his wont. As it happened the father of one of the lads was at the pub - so what he made of the fact that they had just trailed 5 miles in the dark through mud and track with a bunch of strangers I don't know!

A good trail from Brian and the chips were excellent as was the Jennings after we had finished off the Bombardier.

Tuesday 22nd Jan 2008

This is a mini report on Bridget and Carol's trail in Macc as Max was driving - cocked up and we arrived late. Maggie settled for a brief walk round Macc followed by going into the Nags Head (as at this time we didn't know which pub)
Martin and I found the car with the map copies and after some head scratching Martin - wisely - persuaded me that we would not catch them and my idea of a short cut to intercept might prove problematic.

It was decided that we would run it backwards until we met them and then come back with. This nearly worked in that we misinterpreted the start point - missed the return route and hacked our way up to Tytherington school. Martin then navigated us back to a footpath at the bottom of the hill we had climbed and we pick up the reverse checks. After losing it at one point we finally came to the canal where we could hear cries of the front runners - so we waited while discussing the well wrapped tarp on the bench beside the canl - eventually deciding that - it not being an egyptian mummy - it was possibly someone sleeping rough.

The hash appeared and greeted us with the usual 'Didn't know you were here' and the 'How come you aren't covered in mud like the rest of us' we joine up for the 3k run back home.
So 66% of the trail distance and 0% of the mud. Sounds good to me.

After changing the smell of the chip shop I was parked next to became too much (no tea) so a quick bag and then to the Queens Hotel where the Holts was on excellent form and being Holts was an exellent price.
Good choice and from what I saw of it Good trail B & C

Tuesday 15th Jan 2008

Having had a most horrendous sore throat since the previous has I stayed wrapped up at home for this week - even though it was relatively local - Heather sends a little report

Have the weather gods abandoned us? Don't they remember that Tuesday evening is supposed to be dry i.e NO RAIN.
As always when the weather is at it's most inclement we get some of our bigger turnouts - even a goodly number of walkers this week. Better prepared this week for the rain after last week when most were driven back to the pub by the hail.

The running trail was set by Tony H. and Brian B. both long serving trail layers. The old timers amongst us thinking that after all these years they would have decided to lay a nice short trail. Wrong! at 8.45 we were still heading away from the Axe and Cleaver, Brian was a little concerned that he hadn't seen Tony for some time. A car suddenly appeared in the lane and stopped, the lady inside asked us not to spook her cows. We were just about to head into the muddiest field of the evening so far, no sign of any cows anywhere they must have sunk into the mud or possibly fallen into the Bollin.

Anyway after this bit of excitement Tony H. had reappeared and we were on the high ground - the disused railway line.

At this point several hashers realised where they were and headed off acrosss the next muddy field with the scent of home beckoning. Back at the Axe and Cleaver, Rob was busy marketing his designer fleece tops, Nicky had some samples of the new running vests, I was busy trying to tick the register and get the Hash Bash details sorted.

Dave A. was seen to give Tuppy a packet of crisps (not his usual Tuesday task) we found out afterwards that this was to celebrate her birthday. Happy Birthday for Tuesday Tuppy. Make sure you get more than a packet of crisps next year.

Back to Tuesdays - 8th January 2008

First a Walkers report from Allan

Since my venture onto the slab in Wythenshawe's Cardiac Ward at the end of September, my Hash appearances have been purely as a walker. Somehow I've got out of the habit of writing a report, but Paul and Cliff's effort from the Blue Bell, deserves some comment.

The weather forecast had had gloomy prognostications for this evening for the 48 hours beforehand. However, with half an hour to go before the tapes went up, the sky was dry, the wind firm, and enough enthusiasm was raised for a late decision to go for a walk. Another decision was made as well - take foul weather gear on the ' just in case' principle. So out came the Berghaus, on went the (new) Karrimor walking shoes, and into the haversack went my wife 's waterproof and breathable over trousers. I'm not quite sure how Christine came to own such an item on clothing, as her enthusiasm for being out in the rain, is less than mine is for going back to work!

Anyway, a goodly crew of walkers assembled, including Mr Ellis, he like me suffering from a lingering sniffle that won't go away. Also present was a lady called Victoria, who was introduced to everyone by the returning Jenny Lever. Victoria announced she only lived just round the corner from the pub, so in the case of navigational failure, there was hope for us! As often occurs with the walkers, there was a minor delay in getting started. This week, the Lymm bus was late, but Max eventually steered it into the pub car park just as the runners disappeared off up a muddy lane. A sign of things to come!

The Lymm bus disgorged only Max and Martin, so our wait for Maggie was not necessary. So away we went – at speed! Nearly all the walkers actually walk much faster than me. My insistence on providing the route is purely self-preservation. Without everyone else having to stop at junctions to check the right way, I'd get hopelessly left behind. Even Adrian and Dot with their Wellington boots disappeared away into the gloaming. Only sudden flashes of orange light were occasionally lighting the gloaming. 'Could be the electric trains on the main railway line arcing on the overhead power cables,' I suggested. Wrong! It was lightning.

Within 3 or 4 minutes of setting off, the rain started to rain. Not badly enough to stop and put the waterproof pants on, but enough to be annoying. 'I hope this doesn't get worse,' said Tuppy, 'I've not worn my waterproof jacket!' At that moment, Mr Ellis decided that over trousers would be good, and promptly popped them on. Reluctantly, a minute or so later, I thought 'The man's right!' So, I tried to get Christine's waterproofs over my trousers. Now, Christine is somewhat slimmer than me, and her waterproofs, whilst excellent, are a pain in the **** to put on, as they are really a touch small for me, and have a breathable lining, that gets caught on my shoes as I try to haul them up. Eventually, much to Tony's huge amusement, he's helping by shining his torch on me, as I end up sitting on my **** on the road, whilst desperately trying to haul the recalcitrant waterproofs over my shoes.

Finally, success is achieved, I return to the vertical, and the hail arrives horizontally! For a few minutes we all tried to shelter, but the hail continued to batter us, and there was a general agreement that surrender was the only sensible option, as Tony and I were the only ones with bombproof gear on.

And so 8 walkers retreated to the pub, whilst Tony and I continued. The hail stopped, the rain steadily eased off, and finally stopped, at about the time we came upon two highly reflective souls seemingly stooping over in the gutter. Turned out to be Bridget and Carol, who were busily trying to get hold of and secure a chocolate coloured Labrador, that was paying court to Bridget's dog Danny, and had apparently been cheerfully following the ladies for some time. Now this chocolate Lab was of the dark not milk complexion, and was virtually invisible in these inclement conditions, and gave Mr Ellis quite a shock, when it amorously and enthusiastically pounced on his left leg, as a change from harassing Danny.

At this exciting moment Paul J, one of the trail layers appeared querying the health and safety of the two ladies. No interest in Tony and me of course. Bridget & Carol assured him they were fine, and knew where they and the pub were. So Paul rapidly faded back into the night to continue digging the surviving runners out of the mud. Survivors because when the hail had hit the runners, there was a similar mutiny to that which had afflicted the walkers, and a number of them had returned early to the pub, which featured a choice of real ales and a roaring log fire. Given the conditions it's a surprise more Hashers didn't opt for the early pint. One of those supping early was Nick, who had said in the car park before the start, that as the weather was dry, he'd decided to run. He did, but without taking his battle gear with him. He's suffering from the same cough and splutter as Mr Ellis and me, and really shouldn't have been running.

Anyway, all eventually returned to the open fire, except that it was invisible behind a solid wall of flesh made up of the earlier finishers. Richard Goulding was one who did the full trip, who maintained he was so frozen; he was having trouble making his hands work. He was managing to down a pint though!

The link below shows the route.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/smallwood/715566867
P.S. I wonder what Victoria thought of her first Hash?

As to a runners report - mine will be well brief

Martin and I turned up as the hash was disappearing up the lane - My fault as the piece of sting stuff that ties the waist of my tracksters had come out in the wash and it took me a while to thread it back though - However we arrived as I said as they disappearead up the lane in the rain.

Off we legged in the direction but then we cam to a check and got this one right. We could see torches in the distance - vanishing - well it was raining. We took the next check point - this looks about right we said and wenft off - The field was squelch - over the gate through another gate and we were on some kind of boardwalk - not the usual kind of footpath but what the heck.

after a short while we realised that any sounds had vanished.Back to the pub to see if there was a map by which we could intercept the hash or would it be like Bridgets the previous year from the Fools Nook where it was basically a square trail with no way of shortcutting - just following. As we set off back the wind - which had been brisk opened up loaded with sleet - quite painful and very wetting

Back at the pub we saw Jenny L had abandoned the walk and even more there were Mike Murray, Nick and Heather had dropped out of the trail. We found a map and spent a few minutes working out that we could cut across and then Martin convincing me I had the map wrong and off we went. Another three quarters of a mile we realised we had passed the turn and while Martin bravely went off to intercept I trotted back to the pub in the driving rain with the start of a sore throat for my minimal amount of drinking as I was the driver of the night.

Wednesday 2nd January 2008

Well - First of the year and set by me from the Railway in Lymm. The pub we had though had died but in it's present incarnation is more undead. The to let signs are still up so I assume that there is a temp manager in at the moment. I have however had a lot worse Boddingtons than came out of the hand pumps

I volunteered to set this as there had been no other takers and I was feeling slightly poorly when Nick approached me. As a result I set a simple trail - fractionally over 5 miles MapMyRun Although it was cool the run out was freezing due to the wind chill. Once we got shetered it was better. Up to the canal and then through spud wood and up to Grammar School road - where Helen S caught up with us.

It was then onto the paths around the Dam and then round and down the lower Dam into the middle of Lymm. Through the small park to Sowbrook and down the trans pennine and home

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