Run 867 - Garsington
Run PhotosRun: 867
Date: Sunday, 29 March 2009
Venue: The Plough, Garsington
Hare(s): Plod (Technical Advisor: FBJ)
Hounds: Twitcher, Pressganger, Eric, Gnome Alone, S/Shoveller, Penelope Pitstop, Big Stiffy, Pyro, Rubber Sole, B-Cider, Lemony Snicket, Buzz, La Crease, Home Alone, Full Term, Dickie Dido, Finger Flasher, Barbie Doll, Shagger, Wha'd'ye'say, Fag End, Roadie, Scraggy, Silent, Lockjaw, Gadget, Tamagotchi, Pure Fantasy and Dipstick
The K9s were represented by Meg, Whispa and Hattie
Scribe: S/Shoveller
The “We got Tossed” Run
As I sat on the bus shelter wall in the warm sunshine I wondered who would write some words about the trail which was about to unfold before us. Then I thought, “if our Hare Plod gets in first, the words might be full of praise for our Hares”……so I also thought “I’d better get my thinking cap on early……...”
Whilst I say ‘our’ Hare there were in fact two Hares, the second being FBJ (Oxford Hasher extrordinaire and erstwhile GM of TOSS H3 and sometime Didcot Hasher as well) – now, knowing Plod, I bet myself that the false trails would be set by the fit young FBJ whilst Plod would just, well, ‘plod’ around the core trail. I think this was how it turned out!
Said FBJ was not alone as he had brought along a pack of 15 to 20, or so, TOSSers – this being their first run of summer and a ‘raid’ on the Didcot trail.
Soon I was distrurbed from my reverie on the wall and along with the other Old Timer (Lockjaw) we were called to listen to the stern words of Plod – “Usual markings, 6 on a check, laid in a tight area, river crossing, burble, burble……….”
The trail headed north up the slope and then left down the lane and then back up the steps and pathway past the school to a check on the main road. Then we hit on new territory to the east of the main road. La Crease found the trail on down and on-on into the playing field where (under 12 year old?) Full Term could not resist a go on the cable runway. Unfortunately the on-on from the check we had passed, was not into the playing field but back up the hill and turn right. This led to our running down the slope alongside the main road to a check in the dip where FRB La Crease found the trail up the small path on the other side of the hill.
Up and over the hill we went and at the bottom of the hill, on the far side, we regrouped before speeding down the hill to the stile. Wise man, Twitcher, wasn’t prepared to queue at the stile and opened the five bar gate to let the cattle hashers through ‘en mass’. At another check by the gate, which had most turning down hill, the trail actually went up hill back towards the pub. This excited the TOSSers as this was meant the trail would only be a little over their normal length of trail before getting to the beer! They were somewhat frustrated when the trail turned right up a little path and out onto the fields again before turning north and back towards the houses. Road Enema cracked the check at the main road and we ran up a small path and out onto the estate roads – at the check we went all ways before someone called on down the road. There, at the next check, was much then interest in the trail back up the hill behind the shop, but the correct way was to continue along the road back to the main road – Road Enema arriving there first. The ~It always goes this way” straight ahead, didn’t! It was false ahead and on left up the footpath behind the hedge before turning right into the estate road – some dithering took place before finding the path out of the corner of the estate to a check.
La Crease went left and then right, Whadesay and Lockjaw went straight ahead and Dipstick went down right - all were wrong as the real trail appeared to loop left around the false trails before coming out over a stile to where the False Trail short cutters were standing and waiting. At this stage the two Old Timers set off apace down the other side of the hedgerow chased by Finger Flasher. Lockjaw missed the dodge right through the hedgerow, but Finger Flasher didn’t, and we ran on around the field edge to the ‘river’ crossing and back up the hill to find Lockjaw, SCB, waiting for the pack to arrive. On-On across the fields and eventually out onto the Baldons road. The on-on was across the road and up to the church passing through the churchyard before finally emerging onto the Southend road for a run uphill to the cars.
The weather had turned chilly and the blazing fire in the pub was most welcome but what a cold draft there was when the back door was opened! The DH3 RA (Plod) came across and we expected wise words but all we got was “yes, we ought to do down-downs”. What a perfect (but missed) opportunity this week with all those TOSSers to pick on.
Trail was 3.1 miles long but seemed longer and was most enjoyable but might have been a bit long for those TOSSers– well done Hares
On-On to ‘warm’ summer evening runs commencing on Tuesday 7th April.
S/Shoveller