Run Details

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#2472 : (The) Friar's Oak, Hassocks - Sometimes I wonder if it is worth continuing to write the first part of the re-hash write-up when the GPX is so readily available to all now. But of course, then you'd miss some of the on-the-night details, such as everyone leaving Bouncer in the toilet getting changed and setting off without him! Bouncer and Angel, on their way back from 'Gromit Tours', had reached Leatherhead early enough and decided that they would be able to attend after all. And so, the pack (sans Bouncer) set off N out of the pub, crossing over London Rd (A273) just after the end of the new housing estate and headed W through the trees until the hedge-line and cross-paths. True trail turning N, it was somewhere just after here Bouncer would call me (the hare not answering his phone apparently), and I would r*n back to ensure the trail clearly marked through, talking Bouncer through the route so far; communications would NOT be on our side tonight and the part about crossing the road and then going 'straight straight straight' was not heard; as such, Bouncer ended up in Burgess Hill where, apparently, there were no marks to be found! R*nning along, I managed to catch the pack at the next check, turning W around the field and on to College Lane and Hurstpierpoint College. Another phonecall with Bouncer directed him this way, and WhatsApp Live Location helped to keep him aware of our current location. Back marks (using twigs) would be laid by myself and Little Swinger, both repeatedly swapping between front and rear of the pack now. W down Chalkers Ln would then turn S just after the Astro pitch, around the field, over the footbridge and into the woods. Multi-way check here would see a wiggly route through a lesser-trodden trail to Cuckfield Rd, turning S and all the way down to the High St. A quick RG here (although still without Bouncer) would see the pack continue S onto Brighton Rd, turning E up the footpath and then a little circle around the tower house on Athole St (and a quick photo opp). Pack then continued E over Pit Rd, N after the playing fields back up to the High St and then E along Hassocks Rd before turning N at St Georges Lane. A FH here would see a quick check of my phone showing Bouncer's Live Location not that far back, and so LS and myself would run back just that little further to catch Bouncer just off Hassocks Rd! Finally a full group for the evening, trail continued E, doing a loop of what I assume is called Layton Field (since the road before it is called Layton Fields Cl), then E along the road transitioning to the footpath all the way to The Fairway (on the new estate), following the trail around and On Inn.

With food (mostly) all eaten, DDs were brought out on a tray - the pub had even provided thirds glasses, saving me the hassle / mess of decanting a pint across several half pint glasses. A point raised the week before had been the fact that we had not hashed from (The) Friar's Oak before, a fact I knew not to be true since in my short hash history I had been there before... In fact, the first hash from there dated all the way back to 1983 (#252), and the last hash from here had been May 2024 (#2361). In fact, this evening would be our 13th hash from the pub. Hare Pondweed tried to wriggle out by saying the spreadsheet and hash website said "THE Friar's Oak" whereas the pub was actually just "Friar's Oak". It was noted that it was typical of a Tory to try to find some loophole! (In fact, there really is much ambiguity over the name - does it have a preceding 'The' or not? The answer, it seems, is unclear - the pub, and MapMyRun which I use to redo the route, both lack it, but Google and the pub's very own feedback request form include it...). And, with that, PW (stuck behind a long table) would take the first DD of the evening to "Here's To The Hare". Next up, needing to Get A Life would be Wilds Thing for yet another weird marathon, this time in a Tesco supermarket and dressed as a can of Pringles! He quickly ran off to get his costume, so DD held after the next - Just George (Whose Shout's son) getting "Stupid" for nearly going all the way back to the last check after being caught at a fishhook. Next up, recipients of the "Hasher Song" would be Rebel & Prince Crashpian, for both of their first hashes were in fact from this pub, and Bouncer, for getting lost/forgotten but sticking with it and catching us up in the end. Next week's hash would be announced - Wilds Thing haring us from The Shelley Arms, Broadbridge Heath; I've checked and it really does look like we haven't hashed from there before (having double-checked the website 'pub directory' and having to enter it into the website database is usually a good sign we haven't!). A reminder was made to sign-up to both this AND 13th July from the Cock Inn as soon as possible, and it noted that the Christmas Hash was pencilled in for 14th December from John Harvey Tavern (subject to agreement at the AGPU). And, with that, the evening was closed with a toast. Another great hash! - Nasty Nips