Run No : 1197 Weather : Dry and mild
Date : 26th January 2003 Venue : Bridge House, Crookham
What a contrast… one hare nearing a record 100th hares, causing a NH4 dilemma about what to give her to celebrate such a auspices occasion, and well… Fairy Snow, minus a fan-belt, and in Sanyu’s absence reduced to ‘pooper scooping’ behind Bidet’s dog Keta. Meanwhile, Spotted Dick was away with a contingent doing ‘Tough Guy’ so it was a pleasant surprise to see an unhealthy pack raring to go.
The hares were late, but what did we care, for it was mild and the terrain was flat and we felt safe!!!. We got going along the canal toll-path before meeting our first hurdle of the day, long poled anglers bent on causing as many casualties as possible, it was a surprise that no one fell in. The sanctuary of a check on a Poulters bridge allowed Horn the opportunity to take us away down a lane, before we crossed a stile and entered a muddy field. I called On at the far end, and led us down a path to a check before a long leg to a check back on the Basingstoke canal by Zebron Copse. A delay followed, with numerous paths to check-out, until Old Thumper pointed Fruit N’Nut the right way, but he overshot and a confused Rent Boy doubling back from another direction took advantage to call-on. We scampered through the woods to a check on the edge of a field, which Horn found before meeting a back-check halfway across. Soon after we found flour along side the canal and reached a regroup by the junction of a road in Crookham.
The SCBs were soon in sight, and Mary and Rent Boy called On as we continued along the canal, after a while a check held up proceedings and when the SCBs were sighted down a road, confusion reigned as I led the FRBs the wrong way. Horn though called On from the other direction, before I took three checks as we clung to pathways following a deep ditch toward the Hart Leisure Centre. Mary then led us down a road to our second regroup where Old Thumper advised us there was an extra long leg back to the finish for those that wanted it.
I took us across the road and across fields and met latecomer Specky coming the other way, who obviously thought ‘NNINO’ meant yes. He was so relieved to see us that he spilt the beans on where the trail wen,t and with Mary we crept through Dogmersfield before a long climb up a road brought us to the last check. With a huge lead we crossed fields to Whitlow Alders and descended back to the car-park. Shortly after Sex Slave and Petal brought in the SCBs
Down Downs by GM JGG and RA Goalkeeper:
Old Thumper/Fairy Snow– Hares.
Rent Boy – George Michel look alike.
Silvier Fox – For cocking up a restaurant booking the night before.
Petal– Snitching as above.
Old Thumper- For giving misleading information about the New Forest.
Scribe: Silvier Fox