Given that last week’s run was the nearest to the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Surrey Hash, it is appropriate that on Easter Sunday, a time of re-birth, our two hares Atalanta and RHUM, should kick off the next 50 years. There were no bunnies, but for the fleet of foot there were treats of chocolate eggs hidden in poo bags at a few check circles.  Whilst Chastity Belt bagged one or two, the prize for the most collected was Ms Bean who led the pack most of the way.

  We have run on West End and Esher Common many times before but rarely have we started from West End village, a surprisingly attractive hamlet sandwiched between the conurbations of Esher, Cobham and Hersham.  The trail led us through West End Common and then over the Portsmouth Road onto Esher Common.  On West End Common we came to the top of a steep escarpment where Popeye, hare on a previous hash and kitted out with climbing ropes and crampons, had us climb it.  Fortunately, our hares led us down a more gentle route to the bottom where a clever back check led very gently back up again.  Unknown to me at the time and perhaps others too, but the plot of the trail showed the out-trail crossing the in-trail more than once and on Esher Common, the return trail ran for some distance parallel to the out trail within a few meters of each other.  How disaster and chaos was averted, with the return trail being found too early, is either down to pure luck or the skill of the hares.  Surely the former!!  There were two short cuts led by RHUM and Atty did a grand job shepherding the walkers around the five-and-a-half-mile main trail.
Back at the circle, our GM again produced his crystal ball and rather worryingly claimed to see in it Atalanta in pink knickers, to which her immediate response was that she was not wearing any!

  Fortunately, a quick change of subject, I really did not know where this was going, our only visitor, Ollie, Mazza’s son was introduced with Uncle Gerry referring to Mazza as Ollie’s Granny with a more correct response from ‘Ard-On Provocateur that she was more like his girlfriend than a grandma.  Hopefully, we might see him hashing with us again.  The RA did his bit with a few sinners and a long forgettable joke and should have punished himself for starting at the wrong pond.

  However the day belonged to RHUM, his celebration of seventy years on this planet and to mark the occasion he generously invited the hash to the Prince of Wales across the road, for nibbles.  And what a feast it was, plenty to eat and very delicious.

  A great Easter Day out, the sun shone, well sort of, an enjoyable On On and food, an interesting trail and a master class in trail laying and in keeping the pack in touch, well done both.

  On On, J Arthur