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HASH 1546 – HARBERTON

Picture the scene: A hasher awaiting their lift (and key-holder to the car, wherein sits their pub-going attire) in the gloaming [alright: the dark. ‘Gloaming’ is just so much more atmospheric and indicative of mysterious goings-on. Better for the narrative. Humour me]. Another sidles up with an illicit, whispered proposition: a rash offer to assume the mangy albatross of The Words in exchange for deliverance from carrying the PH3 hashit, earned a few days prior. Well, 1: there is no ‘exchange’, of either duty, only suffering – and probably exponentially more of that for attempting to dodge it [very unfortunately, it’s looking really unlikely they’ll be able to make it to a Sunday evening hash for several months…a terrible shame]; 2: the second hasher is sorely regretting their hasty gesture, realising that it appears now to be Sunday night… S’pose I better get on with it, then.

A clear evening in the picturesque village of Harberton (as distinct from Holbeton, for which Willy Waiver seemed, at least initially, to have rather more of an affinity [until he – or his co-pilot, Bad Cock – twigged, that is]) had encouraged a healthy turnout of hashers – albeit with a few notable absences – even enticing some fresh meat to the fray: Emily, WGAS‘ daughter and, we later learned, Olive’s baby bridesmaid (some time ago…); Luke the cyclist (there was some mumbled concern for his energy levels from the hash on learning he’d cycled to Circle Up: did he know what he was about to embark on? Was he, perchance, at all acquainted with either of the hares…??); ‘Jayne with a Y’ and Richard. Just Richard. All the usual preliminaries were reeled off and variously acknowledged/ignored by the rabble, including mention of the 3rd, breathtakingly beautiful, Rambo Salcombe Marathon (brilliantly organised by Filth and Zoot) taking place at the weekend in support of two worthy charities  – and the intrepid SH4-ers intending to do battle with that particularly gnarly 26.2 miles of the SW Coast path. [Massive congratulations to all those who took on the challenge on Saturday, 27th September – an incredible achievement!].

Ever so slightly concerningly, there was a rather more than brief ‘talk amongst yourselves’ moment, ably filled by the Pre-Xmas hash bash organisers, while our esteemed GM disappeared into the pub to extract the hares…after which, Fob Jockey and Whisperer emerged to offer the usual lies – Walkers 2.5miles; Shorts 4 miles; Longs 6 miles –  with some ‘local colour’ embellishments, including that there were some gorgeous, but peckish, horses on trail which may or may not have eaten most/all the marks in a particularly expansive field. But they are gorgeous animals. And not-at-all threatening: “You may hear thundering hoofbeats, but they’re so friendly”. So friendly. Cue: *nervous tittering in the ranks of the assembled hash*. And then we were off – in pursuit of some very bijou, very generously-spaced marks 😁

The hash was a beautiful, meandering route, taking in some unfamiliar (to at least some of us) territory, magical woodland, a surprisingly (given the more recent, relatively dry conditions) fast-flowing ‘footpath’, and rolling fields – although entirely sans equines, according to all reports… There were a few choice ankle-breaker sections, and some fiendishly long false trails (although, it should be conceded, all crushingly [for those of us for whom checking the wrong trail carries a wearying, if perversely comforting, inevitability] appropriately marked. Eventually).

For all the ineptitude of a few front-running hashers, however, there were some triumphs: Good Shag announced that she had ‘gone Long’ that night, which seems to align neatly with her name (and who are we to doubt?) – it was, though, pointed out that she may have ‘local’ advantage; a reported lack of enthusiasm for checking routes from the first check apparently saw Olive and Lowt’arse seize FRB status (although, given the length of the false trails, its plausible there were already hashers buried deep in the wilds of Harberton, doing their due [checking] diligence, that were so far beyond the limits of human hearing it seemed they were all waaaaay behind); Lactaster, it seems, escaped debilitating injury this week [hurray!], but fell victim to the Field of Disappearing Marks and seemed hopelessly lost until deliverance came in the shape of the eagle-eyed Rizzo – who spotted the giant stile in a corner of the field and guided the lost lamb to the exit [phew!]. Other remarkable hasher wins included Undercovers similarly evading injury – especially noteworthy, given the rock-bestrewn tracks through the (gloomy) woods – and Willy Waiver getting ‘all the checks right’ (not clear if WW was first to these checks; arguably less impressive if not [I can’t help but think: Holbeton… 👀 😘]).

Some less salubrious moments, however, saw Lazy Git, Filth and Dragon getting lost and claiming there was no Walkers’ trail (attack is the best form of defence, etc.), and Py skipping around the stream crossing to avoid getting wet feet while overheard saying (to someone/something?) “you are really going to get it tonight”, which was suggested was a little brazen for a respectable family hash such as SH4 *cough*.

Most exciting and unexpected, though, was the joyous news of a momentous reconciliation: Dimwit and Wet Spot were spied holding hands as they ran through the South Hams countryside, signalling a happy truce, post- Dittisham and Car-key-Gate. A wondrous occurrence, made all the more remarkable by Dimmers’ emphatic absence from Harberton that evening. A true miracle. (Wet Spot, the card, quipped that Dimmers was still waiting back at Avonwick for his lift…).

There were a number of other details delivered in the RA-ing, including widespread mutterings about misleading mileage (all three trails ‘enjoying’ some bonus material, and of a more significant percentage of the advertised distance for some than others, e.g. Muckspreader clocked up a 7.16-mile ‘director’s cut’ on his experience of the Long). Whisperer, ever thoughtful, advised that he had, in his infinite benevolence, only had hashers’ best interests in mind, factoring in some additional miles to prepare them for Saturday’s marathon. What a gent. There was something about Olive’s (“Mary Poppins”) hash kit bag becoming mysteriously more weighty, week on week: not laden with “dreams or responsibilities”, spoonfuls of sugar or other things of that ilk, but with assorted condiments, cutlery and other small ‘table furniture’ – the nimble handiwork of the mischievous WGAS, as no-one will be surprised to hear. (It really was quite a collection: Olive must’ve been unwittingly building some serious upper-body strength toting that – incrementally increasing – little lot around the South Hams over the last few months!!). Oh, and some local info – expertly gleaned from a little pre-hash drinkie at the bar by hash newshound, Olive – that Fob Jockey‘s New Year’s party trick is a naked handstand outside the pub. Obviously, this is something that he will be asked to reprise at Pre-Xmas.

A customarily melodious Happy Birthday was ‘sung’ (I’m so sorry – I have no idea at this point to whom…), and Rizzo was presented with a T-Shirt for a very impressive 600-runs.

Down-downs were awarded:

• Fob Jockey & Whisperer – Hares
• Rizzo – milestone 600 t-shirt
• Rusty Bottom – ‘5-year’ (or perhaps closer to 18-year…?! 🎉 🥂😆) wedding anniversary
• WGAS – long career in clandestine tableware-snaffling
• Emily – virgin hash.

ON ON to BANTHAM

Photo credit: Doggy Style

🏃 📸 🍻 You can enjoy a few more photos from the long and winding Harberton hash on 24th September 2025 by checking out Hash Flash’s purpose-built photo album on the SH4 Facebook page 📸 🏃🍻

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Next SH4 Hash 🐷👣: 

HASH 1547 –  1st October, 2025

BANTHAM

CIRCLE UP 7.25pm
Outside The Sloop Inn
Bantham
Kingsbridge
TQ7 3AJ
What3words: yachting.cardinal.forces

ON DOWN:
Inside The Sloop Inn
Hares: Jyde and Nutcracker

🚜🚗🚕🚘🚗 ⛔️ PLEASE PARK RESPONSIBLY… ⛔️ 🚘🚗🚕🚜🚗

For further info, please see the Hash 1547 event page on the SH4 Facebook Group.

Add your photos of how the evening went down (on Weds 24th September, 2025) to the Hash 1547 photo album on SH4’s Facebook page.

📝 If you are the lucky Scribe at BANTHAM on 1st October, please submit your edition of The Words to thewords@sh4.org.uk by Sunday evening (5th October, 2025) – TVM! 📝

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🍻🐷👣🌟 SH4 AGPU 🌟👣🐷🍻

Dear all,

It’s that time of year again, hashers…

We are excited to announce that the AGPU will take place on 15th October at The Station House Cafe in South Brent.

This is a wonderful opportunity to get together, vote for your new committee, and celebrate with an awards night. Who will receive the prestigious magic trainer award…? *Drum roll…*

To make the evening even more enjoyable, supper will be provided courtesy of the Hash. We’ll share the menu soon, so be sure to save the date!

If you are interested in taking on a role, please let the GM know. We’re looking forward to welcoming new ideas and enthusiasm to the new committee.

See you very soon!

Love, Olive and The Committee XX

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UPCOMNG SH4 EVENTS

⛄🌟🎅🏻🌟🎄 NOW SOLD OUT!!! 🎄🌟🎅🏻🌟⛄

We can’t wait to see you all at the Start Bay Centre, Slapton on Saturday 29th November (and Friday 28th November, if you’ve signed up for the bonus extra FREE night!) for what promises to be a spectacular edition of the beloved SH4 Pre-Christmas Hash Bash. Don’t forget your tinsel (or other, more sustainable festive adornments)!
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If you’ve booked to attend this super-value weekend of entertainment, please pay the full amount (£50) to the SH4 account asap to secure your place (account details below and also on the poster):

Account name: SH4
A/c no. 00263482     Sort code: 30-94-72

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SH4 ‘EALTH & SAFETY

Please make a note of the SH4 hash phone number and add it to your phone:

🌟 SH4 hash phone number: 07922 103701 🌟

Use this number to call for assistance if you come ‘unstuck’ out on the trail, or need to get a message to ‘base camp’ (On Down) during the run.

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  Don’t forget to see Rusty Bottom / Doggy Style before the hash to log you out on trail using the new-fangled checking-out/checking-in app (developed by our very own digital-wizard, Whisperer).

Don’t forget to also check back in with the ‘On Secs once you’re safely back. 

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SH4 MercHASHdise 

Show your love for SH4 and wear your membership proudly with a bespoke SH4 car sticker!

Available exclusively to SH4 members (and, to be fair, anyone else who wants one…) for the bargain sum of £0.50 ea., you can afford one for every vehicle in your fleet! 😊

See a member of the committee at the next hash meet to get yours.

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