Hamlet set us all off running around the round the roundabout and into the woods. There followed a long/short split and unfortunately after this for the next 30 minutes I didn’t have time to stop to make any notes. We eventually got to a regroup where we were suppose to have met up with the shorties, BUT Clepto had sent them off on what turned out to be a long and rather hazardous long trail (I was acting under instructions from the ‘senior’ hare, honest guv - Ed). Us long runners were given the choice of a long trail (4 miles), a medium trail (3 miles) or a short mile back to the pub. I have to confess that I, with the rain just starting to fall, chose the short one. On the way back along the road we passed the normal short cutting walkers, namely Chicaine, and Mudlark who was citing injury as an excuse.

Once dry and back in the pub we found Mistress selling raffle tickets for the famous, or should that be infamous, Bourne Valley raffle. After quite a while a few very wet runners started to appear. The first to show was Jack, who accused Chicaine of cheating, this he obviously denied strongly.

As the pack drifted back, with the shorties looking far from happy, the story of the second half of the trail started to emerge. The trail took them across, yes across, the A34, around the back of the service station, through a field with bulls in, who at the sight of Concorde decided to start to charge, and had to be rescued by Stradlevarious (or was it Heffer?), back over the A34 and eventually ON INN. Apparently the shorties were not suppose to do the whole of this loop, but Clepto had sent them the wrong way (I demand to speak to my Lawyer - Ed).

Down Downs were awarded to:

Hamlet and Clepto as Hares

Adam (Fig Leaf?) – Virgin and no insoles in his shoes.

Mr Cuddles – for taking the long route for once.

Torchkiller – 200 runs with the Haunch of Venison AND 25 runs with Bourne Valley.

Concorde and Stradlevarious for the bullock incident (strange thing was, Heffer took one of these down downs?? - see photo)

Polly (FUCKAWE) for the running?? the London Marathon and not stopping talking about it.

Black Adder for moaning about hurting feet.

Clepto, again, (who was also awarded the Hashyclava - passed over from Silver fox - see photos) for trying to kill off half the pack.

There was also a Down Down competition between Martini and LCB. Guess who won.

The multiple choice food (mainly curries) was excellent and Spike the Publican was awarded a special down down for laying on such a great spread.

PS - The star raffle prize (a home hi fi system) was won by and thanks go to Mistress & LCB for selling the tickets (see photo).   PPS - and another prize winner Careless Wrister added an Interhash Hat to his collection 'cause daft Clepto left it lying on the table beside the Raffle Prizes when he was awarded the hashyclava!

All in all another great birthy run was enjoyed by all - you all come back now, you hear!

On On, Whippit