Run 889 - Chaddleworth
Run: 889
Date: Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Venue: The Ibex, Chaddleworth
Hare(s): Twitcher
Hounds: S/Shoveller, Penelope Pitstop, Lonely, Bootsy, Big Stiffy, Wimpy, Buzz, Lemony Snicket, Rear Admiral, Leia, Phoebe, Hutch, R-Sole, R-Soles Buddy, B-Cider, Eric, Golden Shower, CS Gas, Michelle (2nd Run), Tin Opener, Lilo, Pressganger (DH4 – Didcot Hopping Hash House Harrier)
Hash K9 - Emma
Scribe: S/Shoveller
The “Ibex” Run
A new pub or at least one that DH3 hadn’t run from in a very long while, if at all. The Ibex at Chaddleworth – a charming and rustic downland village with, we were to discover, a maze of footpaths.
What a delight to go to a pub with plenty of space for parking and plenty of hashers as well including two returners in the form of Tin Opener and Lilo plus Hash Mutt Emma all last seen when we ran from The Red Lion at Chieveley (remember that day – snow in the air at the start and Stolen Cake from Mincing Tart after the run?).
After warnings of cows and sheep from the Hare the on out was called and the out trail was where most of us didn’t want it to be – up a ‘kin’ell on a tarmac road. Once on top we came to a check where the right way forward was left, but it was not long before we came to another check which stalled us – Michelle checked to the right and others fanned out in the field to our left – the on-on shout came from the left and off we trundled again. We then passed through a hedge to another check and I went right which suddenly was wrong. Seems like we were in a nature reserve area and Hare Twitcher suddenly became very nervous and sent us down a track at right angles to where we had just come from. Not sure what part of nature was likely to jump out of the bushes and chase us away but Twitcher wasn’t one for hanging around in that area!!
Regrouping by a road and a wooden bridge over a partially dried up lake we continued along the same track as we were already on and then chased around the edges of several fields before arriving into and running through the hamlet of Leckhampstead Thicket. The last cottage in the Hamlet was a blaze of floral colour – don’t know how they achieved so much colour at this time of year but it was stunning. A check came just past this cottage!
Again we were field edge running – in my case, the wrong way, requiring a diagonal run across a stubble field to catch up. At the next check CS Gas went right and was eventually called back by the Hare as he was on a false and had missed the marker. The forward trail was along a somewhat secret path behind a hedgerow which was found by Michelle and we all galloped on long a bendy path until we came to a check in a lane. Lonely and CS Gas went left down the lane, your scribe stayed inside the hedge and also went left along a well worn footpath, with high expectation of meeting some flour. I’d be so lucky, as a far distant call indicated that those who had gone right were, well, right! The trail then went left, down yet another field margin and past some woodland continuing on along a wide mown grass strip until we came upon the outskirts of Chaddleworth and a check. CS Gas and yours truly had seen the small path into the back of the pub and had also worked out that the way to it was turn right through the council estate – err,no it wasn’t! Straight on down the slope to a check in the cross roads was the way to go. We were now a couple of hundred yards from the pub and the beer but our Hare was having none of that and we carried straight on up the hill to a field of very much dried out broad beans where someone asked what on earth does the farmer do with the useless crop – I think the response was plough it back in. Some hesitancy crept in as we dawdled across a lush green field before finding the onward trail led by Tin Opener now in the forefront due to his prior knowledge of the paths (having set a BH3 trail in Chaddleworth a few weeks back). Out onto a check in the road by a bendy cottage and then 30 yards more to the next check. Then down the hill towards the pub only to be thwarted (in our desire to get to the amber nectar) at the next check which had us turning left into yet another field. Emerging from said field we passed across the lane we had not long ago left and then followed a well worn footpath across and down a field before emerging onto a road to see the On Inn just in time for a mad dash back to the pub which was up a small but knackering incline. Another 5.1 miles in the bag.
When Golden Shower jogged into the car park we all cast surreptitious glances in his direction to see what Mincing Tart had sent us this week. Oh dear, the answer was nothing.
The pub was, as per the rest of the village, i.e. quaint, and our little crowd was offered the use of the conservatory to park ourselves. Chips were served and disappeared as fast as usual, words were said and probably not heard, as usual, and we all drank our beer, as usual.
Well done, Twitcher – a great trail in beautiful countryside that had us frequently guessing. I think we will get back to this pub a lot sooner than the current visit took to accomplish.
S/Shoveller