QH3 Run 926. Manvers Arms, Cotgrave

RUN #926

Date : TUESDAY 27th December 2016
Location: Manvers Arms, Cotgrave
Hares:Butcher's Dog and Sausage
Weather: Bright and sunny winter's day
Pack size: 16

The Quorn Hash first ran from the Manvers Arms in Cotgrave in July 1997 (Run 213) when the trail was set by a certain Too Tuf and Pleasure Gnome (!?). Since then, until now, we had run from here only a further two times - July 2003 (Sybil's Snot and PE) and September 2009 (Shagulater). We find it hard to forget when we have an On Inn with no beer, as it was in 2003, and we've held a grudge ever since! The good news is this pub has been transformed by the current landlords since 2013 and now looks like an excellent hash venue with decent beer and plenty of room to sit. Indeed, the food menu looks good (Wednesday eating group with a running problem take note!)

Another good turnout for this end-of-year Tuesday run with hashing visitors (Frogney and Borderline), and a welcome back to Huffamoose on his biannual run. Even Mrs Pre-Mature (Margaret) was seen walking on the the trail with a limping Puss 'n Boots who must have been overdoing it a bit in the Pantomine season.

The trail was well constructed  going in directions we expected it not to go, including a poor call on a false trail up the road to Clipstone which Bummer got the blame for. Plenty of shiggy underfoot but a lovely sunny winter's day to be out hashing. Malteaser had obviously learnt from Seaman Stains the art of walking very fast on the hash, leading the majority of the pack to wonder why they were making any pretence of putting one foot in front of the other in a running sort of way.

The return back into Cotgrave reminded us this used to be a mining village including an extra loop at the end into the fringe of what is now a nice country park.

The pub car park is a pay and display, I guess because Cotgraveans might think about using this as a Park & Ride into Nottingham. The more money you put into the machine the bigger your redemption in the pub!

It was good to have the Beer Master here to do his job and RA Chicki back under the collar after an unusually long absence of a month.

The following awards were made:
1. Lily the Pink for misplacing her cool running shades;
2. Puss 'n Boots for running shoes new to this hash (though technically he could have claimed he didn't run in them);
3. Huffamoose welcome back;
4. Bummer, who got the blame for the bad checking up towards Clipstone;
5. Butcher's Dog, master baker for making Lily the Pink bake rock cakes instead of bakewells. Well she is a geologist!;
6. Pre-Mature who showed more concern for Lily the Pink this week (having ignored her fallen body on a previous hash);
7. Borderline, ex-Yorkshire hasher was welcomed to QH3 in the traditional manner (unfortunately Frogney had already departed for Exeter);
8. Margaret to her surprise (she was lurking to try and avoid the circle) received an award for her Skyping abilities;
9. Too Tuf for being a naughty boy (would you like a list from the RA?);
10. Malteaser who now has a plastic dot to talk to called Alexa;
11. Durex, absent from the A-team this week;
12. Hares Butcher's Dog and Lincolnshire Sauage for setting the trail. Depending how you want to use the term 'mean', they received a secret ballet vote of between 45 - 69%; and the dregs went to
13. Chicki, a welcome back after a month's absence.

So that's how 2016 and this Blog ends.....?

On On and On.. Durex

Trail as done by Durex

     

QH3 Run 925. Jingle Balls run. Tap at 76, Ashby de la Zouch

RUN #925

Date : Sunday 18th December 2016
Location: Tap at 76, Ashby de la Zouch
Hares:B*gg*r and Goblin
Weather: Bright and dry after early mist
Pack size: 17

A really good turnout for the Quorn Jingle Balls trail including two newcomers - Tim and Polly. A rare Ashby run NOT from the Plough Inn, instead a new addition on the high street, namely, 'The Tap at 76'. This outlet for the Tollgate microbrewery is an excellent addition to the Quorn H3 On Inn portfolio and certainly a place to visit if you like real ales and ciders. It was a nice touch to provide free cups of tea for the drivers.
Mercifully, Gobalot had sworn a vow of silence so as not to harm her voicebox for the afternoon's carol concert. We had a peaceful run. It was a tortuous trail around the outskirts of Ashby visiting many parts I'd not been to before. The route was well marked with nicely rounded balls of 'snow' though the bars on the first foot-bridge across a stream did cause the newcomers some confusion. Afterall, this was a trail with B*gg*er's involvement!  We were warned to watch out for several sudden changes in direction - these worked as well as any check. A trail from a microbrewery pub AND passing a cake factory - what more could you want from a trail. The pack was well spread with groups of walkers and r*nners and IP and Sweet Pea somewhere in between.

Hash mince pie by Goblin

As the committee was full of Xmas cheer no subs were collected today and, in addition to the wonderful Goblin hash mince pies and shortcake feet, pork pies were provided to soak up some of the lovely beer.
A short inside circle was convened at which the hares were thanked by the stand-in RA (Butt Plug) for an good run. Shortly before this Barritone had arrived proving you can get to Ashby de la Zouch without a car on a Sunday, albeit a bit late.


On On....to the last trail of the year on Tuesday 27th December at 11:00 am. 

Trail as done by Durexhttps://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1488646273

MH3 Run 282. Masons Arms, Mickleover. Xmas trail

Masons Arms, Mickleover, Xmas 2016 (photo by NJ)

MH3 Run 282
Date: Monday 12th December 2016
Location: Masons Arms, Mickleover(DE3 0DL)
Hares: Lionel and Dobber
Weather: Mild with rain in the air
Pack size: 22



How to get a large pack - forget about good weather, just provide mince pies, free beer and lots of Christmas cheer! This was an excellent turn out for the annual MH3 Christmas trail including Nose Job and Soggy Balls from the Bull Moon Hash and Mary, a new hasher from Etwall. Beer Barbie and Ond also made a suprise return appearance.
The trail was just right for a Christmas trail, not too long and a well decorated Christmas tree in the middle of nowhere. This tree was close to the 'false' bar on the Mickleover railway trail so hashers regrouped around it to sing a few carols whilst the On On was sought. Although from Mickleover myself, I rarely get around a trail here without going badly astray. Tonight was an exception.
Hashers assembled upstairs in the Masons Arms. I never realised there was a room upstairs but then I've never gone into the Ladies here before either. Mrs Dobber provided the excellent mince pies and, in the tradition of the MH3 Xmas trail, tonight there was no circle but free beer for everyone.
Thanks to Dobber and Lionel the hares for the evening. Hashy Christmas everyone.
On On
Durex

Trail as run by Durex

AH4 Run 66, Xmas trail, Ramblers Retreat, Dimmingsdale

The AH4 Christmas Trail, Ramblers Retreat, Dimmingsdale (photo by Totem Pole)

AH4 RUN #66
Date : Sat. 10th December 2016
Location: Ramblers Retreat, Dimmingsdale, near Alton
Hares: ASB and Mama Rose 
Weather: Dry and mild with lots of shiggy
Pack size: 13

A decent sized pack for the AH4 2016 Xmas trail set around the Churnet Valley in Staffordshire. Rain in the previous 24 hours (shame it wasn't snow) made this a very shiggy run in parts and faded the flour made checking false trails challenging. Nobody went missing and there were plenty of opportunities for shortcutters and walkers alike. The hares showed no Christmas spirit on the false trails which were long and, more often than not, uphill or downhill. At times the flour was hid like parcels under the Christmas tree. This had to be a very a good run as it included a mince pie and mulled wine stop, signed as "mpn" (mince pies near). On the trail, somewhere in the wood, we also passed a grotto with a Christmas theme, though the hares probably had nothing to do with this.

Wriggle coming down shiggy slope

Mama Rose 'n Boots - she knew what was coming

A new hash marking - "mpn" (mince pies near)

Mince pies, mulled  wine and beer were enjoyed by all

Christmas themed grotto in the wood on trail

Alas, at the Ramblers Retreat there was no room at this On Inn on account of the numerous festive diners. Instead, we moved up the road to the Alton Bridge Hotel where the hares had booked us a table. On arrival we went straight into the hash circle at which awards were made ranging from an excellent ale to water with ice cubes. First off was Totem Pole welcomed back to AH4 after a long while, as was Smutley. We also had a newcomer, an experienced hasher with dog running his first UK trail. Welcome Rabid Sheep Shagger. Wriggle and Jo were late arriving in the circle (cleaning the dog?) and Enema, Skids and Malteaser were offered sweeties by the RA to dob in sinners in the circle. Malteaser was dobbed for walking too fast on the walkers' trail. Hares Mama Rose and ASB were thanked for setting and excellent trail with mince pie stop and mulled wine. Horse's Arse was deemed to be today's FRB which left Diarrhoea as today's NODDY (Not Offered a DD Yet) and he had to drink what was left - unfortunately for him just a cold fizzy coke.

Merry Christmas Everyone and a Hashy New Year!

On On.. Durex

Trail as done by Durex (to the mince pies)
From the mince pies to the On Inn

QH3 Run 924. Final Whistle, Southwell

RUN #924

Date : Sunday 4th December 2016
Location: Final Whistle, Southwell
Hares:Pre-Mature and Slug
Weather: Sunshine but cool
Pack size: 13

Today we travelled to the far NE-corner of our hashing realm to Southwell, an area only used by this hash on two previous occasions. Well worth the long journey on a lovely day to run mainly virgin trails from an excellent real ale pub. The Final Whistle is a place worthy of a stop if you're ever in Southwell.
At 10:55 it looked as though this was going to be a very small pack with just the hares, relatives and friends plus Malteaser and myself. Just before the On Out Shagulater, Miss Takemenow, Butt Plug and then Sweet Pea and IP all appeared. So that gave: two hares, four r*nners (including John a virgin hasher from Cumbria), three walkers and the two true hashers that couldn't said to be r*nners but move faster than the walkers, namely, IP and Sweet Pea.
Lily the Pink pushed the pace and worked hard at the checks to ensure the pack was happy on her father's run. IP and Sweet Pea went missing pretty soon after the start, though did manage to catch up with the hare at points around the trail. Butcher's Dog and Sausage gave us all a 10 minute start having being held up by a very large convoy of Santas on motorbikes.
The hares used the principal that it was straight on unless marked otherwise which would have proved economical with the flour had it not been for all the arrows to keep the pack on track. Few checks towards the end meant FRBs Lily the Pink, Saugsage and Butcher's Dog (i.e. anyone in front of me) were able to stretch their legs. Not so Butt Plug for whom the weight of the Christmas post was beginning to take its toll.
The circle was held in the "station yard", Sweet Pea and IP providing appropriate songs when the following DDs were given:
1. IP for displaying his knees on such a cold day;
2. The hares Pre-Mature and Slug were thanked for a splendid morning out and a secret ballot gave the run a 43%;
3. Shagulater was at the hash today, much to the disappointment of the stand-in RA. On a nice day like this he should have been doing jobs in his new allotment which he expects me do all week long. He got his wee DD as he promised to go digging after the hash;
4. Puss 'n Boots, fresh from a pleasing 7-1 thrashing in Mansfield, turns up on the hash without paying or running, and stands in the circle with his hands in his pockets. So he got a DD just to see what he's missing;
5. Visiting virgin John was welcomed to the hash, he recited a Glaswegian poem for us;
6. Sweet Pea had been complaining about the cold and was going blue. She was given a cold beer to warm her up;
7. Postman Butt Plug was giving sustenance to get him through the next two weeks of Christmas post; and
8. The RA had a hunch that Malteaser would not pass all those apple trees without scrumping and rightly awarded a DD for scrumping whilst hashing.

Two weeks time is our Christmas trail. Get your Santa costumes and decorations ready - details will be on the web page www.quornh3.org.uk  (or www.quornh3.co.uk if you're Capt Oates).

On On..... Durex 

Trail as done by Durex

QH3 Run 923. The Apple Tree, Compton Acres

RUN #923

Date : Monday 28th November 2016
Location: The Apple Tree, Compton Acres
Hares:Malteaser and Durex
Weather: Clear dry night with a hard frost
Pack size: 12

Lily the Pink photographed decorations
around Compton Acres. Well the cohare
 was Durex

This was the freezing cold sort of evening you probably wouldn't go for a run, unless it was a hash. Indeed, with Malteaser, I did the trail twice, setting it and sweeping it as a hare. Being a relatively short trail to lay, we did manage to get 40 mins to warm up in the pub before setting off for the second time.
The majority of the trail was off-road along dimly or poorly lit paths, with the exception of the last quarter. A torch was very necessary though some managed without one. The RA did set out torchless but finished with one. Is there no limit to the powers of our RA. She said 'let there be light' and a torch appeared from nowhere.
Wee Willy (Winkle) was running all over town, though not in his nightgown, just a kilt. He certainly ran his fair share of false trails though probably not as far as Trianal. Lily the Pink went down on the darkest bit of the trail. Was she tripped by a competative hasher? Or was she looking for more decorations to photo?
During the indoor circle the following awards were made by the RA:
1. Expecting to give a DD for the torch as lost hashing property, Chicki had to take the first DD for conjuring it up out of nowhere, it wasn't a hasher who lost it;
2. Wee Willy, a recently married returner was welcomed back;
3. Durex for competitive hashing after informing the RA that, if she keeps missing QH3 trails, by the time he is 85 he'll have done more Quorn runs than her;
4. Butt Plug, originally brought forward for more competitive hashing ("did I win trail 515?") got a hashy birthday DD;
5. Pre-Mature for the pre-run flashing of the RA;
6. Trianal for his use of a training app;
7. I was chatting to Chicki at the back of the pack and espied Malteaser doing a shortcut. "What are the chances of her leading Too Tuf astray?". "None" came the reply as Too Tuf appeared doing his own shortcut, for which he was duly awarded;
8. Malteaser took the hares DD for a trail which I could say was awarded 100% but I can't as no score was given. No sheep but interesting Christmas(?) decorations; and
9. Finally, the dregs went to Lily the Pink, not for her fall, but for taking it easy today and hence disappointing the RA who thought she was doing rather well to keep her in sight.

Next hash trail on Sunday in Southwell - see the web page for details

On On..... Durex 

Trail as swept by Durex

QH3 Run 922. Risley Park, Risley.

RUN #922

Date : Sunday 20th November 2016
Location: Risley Park Pub, Risley
Hare:Butt Plug
Weather: Overcast but dry
Pack size: 8


Rumour has it that the RA Chicki saw storm Angus was due to hit the Midlands on Sunday morning and decided to avoid the hash trail today. I was stand-in RA and the storm went south instead.

We had a small well formed pack with three walkers, two intermediates, and two runners(?) plus the hare. Today Barritone was in the A-Team. We have had run trails in this area many times but never a route of this this shape! (see the GPS map trace below). The hare, with some recycling of the trail and some deft flour relaying, set a very clever trail that kept us guessing as to "where next?" Up on the ridge past Hopwell Hall we had a fantastic view of the Trent Valley. New on the trail was an information board about the story of the Risley Lanx .

After the night's heavy rain there was plenty of shiggy, non-moreso than on the last climb back to the On INN. I espied shortcutters IP and Sweet Pea slowly crawling up this hill from half-a-mile away and almost past them on the same spot. I say shortcutters, I think they probably did over five miles. Mine was a long trail of 7.7 miles which included a lot of checking and going back to mark the checks for a distant Barritone. 

Did the birds pass a verdict on this
trail by shitting on it a lot?

I led a small subdued indoor circle with awards going to: 

1. Barritone, today a FRB and member of the A-team;
2. B*gger who has turned up with a sick note for most runs this year;
3. Sweet Pea, a welcome back and uphill shiggy struggler - one step up two steps down;
4. The Hare, Butt Plug for an excellent and cleverly laid trail. Sweet Pea, however, did produce evidence (see photo) that the birds may have voted this a shitty trail;
5. The RA gave a DD to himself for successfully maintaining QH3's long succession of trails without rain.




On On..... Durex 

Trail as done by Durex