Foghorn, Boomer, Baldrick, Keith, Greenfly, Pissquick, Glittertits, Iceman, BGB, Incider, Cloggs, Honey Monster, Miss Whiplash, Salome, Max, Cheating, Soapy, Shyeena, Lemming, ItsYor,

Dumper (after the run).

Reduced numbers due the rival attractions of the Reading half-marathon and the Grizzlie but still a fair turnout for a windswept day.

The hare warned that the trail would be up to his usual sneaky, cunning standards and gave the starting direction towards the Arborfield Cross. Foghorn & a.n.other struck off early left down a lane only to find nothing and be called back along the main road through the village. A sneaky right turn down an alley forced another On-Back for the FRBs who fell for it again at the next check as the next straight ahead alley led to a false. A small loop took most down to the Swallowfield road (50m from the Pub) and back through the fields at the back of the houses (a budding ‘Charlie D‘ had not one but two ponds) to the other side of the previous false.

From there the trail crossed fields and skirted a small wood in a straight mile run into the howling wind – stringing the pack out and freezing most extremities. From the eventual check the trail went left down Wokingham Lane but again the FRBs appeared to have overrun and were seen retreating. A bar check perhaps – this query prompted Cloggs and others to double back to a likely side path near the check – but no, the FRBs had just missed the trail. It had taken an abrupt left turn, cut through a small wood out into the field we had just crossed and rejoined the earlier trail – a full loop no less. We had been warned ! The pack had closed up again so full marks to the hare.

The next trick was a Bar Five leading back into a small wooded copse and back onto the top of a muddy track which some back-markers failed to avoid. The next two-way check fooled no-one as the walkers were ambling up from one direction. Greenfly checked out the all too obvious false down the road while the rest hung back or checked out the woods to the right. However, it was not on the obvious track but ran through the wood, Greenfly to the fore again. Another sharp turn was missed by the FRBs who ran round the Farley Hill cricket ground – while the trail and most hashers cut across the ground to much abuse from three locals repairing the score board.

The next check at Farley Castle become an impromptu regroup – at least for the front half of the pack. Again Greenfly raced down the tarmac to a false while Cloggs found the trail in the woods. This simply tracked the road some 20m into the wood and emerged to the proper Re-Group.

Here GBH offered a short road run home or a trail fit for (marathon) runners – one blob and on but don’t expect to find it too easily he warned. Baldrick boldly stated he know where it would go – not wrong as it transpired – but declined to elaborate. After a further meander through the depths of the woods the pack crossed the Swallowfield road and headed down a track past Kenny’s Farm. A long trek round or over fields with little flour between distant checks ensued till we emerged from Pound Copse onto the Reading Road in Arborfield village. With little flour in evidence Foghorn checked out the road to the church to no avail but it was a straightforward trail up the main road, down Pudding Lane with an On-Inn across the playing fields behind the pub.

A boring semi-factual account of the run – normal service will resume next week.

RA Motox awarded the following :-