Hash 1599 – ERMINGTON

Turning up for my now ever more occasional hash with SH4, I was singled out and nominated for this week’s Words. Who would have thought! (Ed. a more sensitive soul might feel like this was some sort of punishment for defecting to PH3… For example. 😘)

I considered just forgetting about it and leaving it to the Words Editor, but my slight conscience got the better of me (and having a vision of Shaggy’s shocked expression at my tardiness in my mind (Ed. quite right. To say nothing of the churning [albeit largely internalised] wrath invoked by a Words Editor scorned…!) I thought I had better at least put some ramblings down in digital format, so what follows is the best I could muster.

Not paying a lot of attention in the pub, and not taking down any notes, I have plagiarised the information provided  by the RA! (Ed. admirably resourceful) 

The hash went something along the lines of:
Well done and many thanks to the hares Py & Cow Pat. Pinky was involved in some capacity laying a route around his field in that highly visible medium of silver sand – painted stones on Dartmoor was a vision that seemed to enter my subconscious at this point… Very strange.

Usual route, variation on a well-used theme, but nevertheless a very pleasant run around the Shire… Slightly biased reporting, as the RA will always have an affiliation with Ermington, given he happily called it home until he escaped to the “Muff”.

What happened on the hash…
Wild animals around Pinky’s field made Dulux do circuits, a glimpse of something crossing the lake (black panther?) but couldn’t find anything other than an owl – this is a very easy mistake to make, as I am sure a black panther is often in the tree behind my house at night hooting (Ed. classic panther behaviour).

LiveWire was running in his new, glow-in-the-dark running shoes, which were working very well as they were keeping him ahead of fellow FRB Muckspreader…only for him to then twist his ankle, which allowed Muckspreader to lead…again. (Word is Muckspreader actually tripped LiveWire up – not going to let any youth beat him! )

A check on the Long had been tarmac’d over: actually, quite good workmanship from Devon Highways, although no help to the following pack. They will clearly be in trouble with Head Office, using the allocated daily allowance of one barrow load of tarmac on the wrong hole. [ 💯 😆]

Muckspreader was deliberately putting sticks on checks, but not in the correct direction to confuse the chasing Overshot, although at his age it doesn’t take much.

We did meet the now disoriented Overshot at the entrance to Ermington woods after yet another wrong turn, but after a very brief exchange (Ed. I, of course, argued vociferously for taking the wrong course), Shaggy and myself decided to head in the correct direction,  leaving the now massively out of breath Overshot to follow along bravely.

De-briefed & Good Head complained that there too many kissing gates – not sure if there was a problem, as Lazy Git was running his fastest 10k of the last 10 years to keep up with them!

Gaffer was heard calling on-on only to be found standing on a cross! Bad habit from PH3, this calling; clearly the SH4 mantra of “thou shall not call” was lost on the poor man. (Ed. oh, I don’t know – I think it’s maybe just that we see more value in calling on when we’ve established we’re going the right way…😘)

Confusion reigned as Lady Godiva, Vinders and Doggy Style went wrong on the first L / S split and ended up doing the Longs: maximum enjoyment with maximum pain, so a good night was had.

Jyde couldn’t decide on what hat to use – feeling the cold, perhaps, but maybe also suffering from altitude sickness as he does live up the hill; he decided to wear them all (Ed. a bold sartorial choice; if anyone can carry it off, it’s Jyde!).

Dirty Bum Bum got lost again in an area where there were animals, it’s the South Hams, on farmland, in the dark? It will obviously be a common theme moving forwards and will clearly be a challenge to the said harriette come the first night hash on Dartmoor.

When darkness descended, Oui Oui switched on her head-torch and found herself face to face with a rather large horse which caused great alarm to the poor harriette, resulting in her sprinting off pursued by numerous Jack Russells – at least 15 I was told – plus a dishy farmer, half-naked after toiling in the fields all day. (This in itself caused greatest distress to Oui Oui as she didn’t have chance to get her camera out and add to her private photographic collection of “men at work” alongside Soft Porn of PH3 [Ed. you’re on your own, DW…]).

Post script: it was evidently all their own fault as they were short-cutting again.

Post-post-script, Oui Oui has been seen multiple times in the same field, hoping for a chance meeting with said farmer.

Nice Buns, Rizzo and Rusty managed to short-cut a blatant loop around Pinky’s fields, in full view of other hashers, succeeding in short-cutting over half a mile… No rules apparently, although if you short-cut, you are only cheating yourself. (Ed. detecting some strong back-to-school vibes…) 

A very old, but wise hasher has once or twice said to me, “what is the point of the hares laying a trail if you are going to short-cut?” – generally said whilst taking the most direct route themselves. This, and the rule of never checking down hill, are wise words indeed.

Back in the comforts of the Crooked Spire, notable mentions were made of:

• Virgins
• Phil
• Ian (Alchy)
• Samantha
• Isla

Not sure what they made of it all, but getting a free drink probably convinced them to return.

Birthdays…
Celebs: Hugh Grant, Adam Sandler (all unfortunately unavailable for down downs)

Nominations … (Ed. oh dear, oh dear, Dimwit – too long with PH3!) Down downs awarded to:

• Cow Pat
• Py
• Pinky
• Virgins x 2: Phil and Ian aka Alchy
• Short-cutters: Rizzo and Muckspreader (delegating for Nice Buns?)

A special mention must go to Nice Tackle for handling the RA’ing like a trooper, considering he has only one working leg.

For one night only, DW

ON, ON  to MOTHECOMBE

Photo credit: Rubbery

🏃 📸 🍻 You can see more photos from the intermittently detectable Ermington hash by checking out the Hash 1599 photo album 🏃 📸

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Next SH4 Hash 🐷👣 
👣🥳🎉  HASH 1600 – 9th September 2026  🎉🥳👣
MOTHECOMBE

CIRCLE UP: 7.25pm

Mothecombe beach car park, PL8 1LB
Https://what3words.com/piper.races.giraffes

ON DOWN:
Hot Dog van, beach carpark

Hares: Lady Godiva
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Hash Food
Please note: special food arrangements for Wed 16th September at Mothercombe 1600 Hash, which will be held near the carpark by the Burger Van under the trees!
Please can you let me know on here what food you would like to order for next week by Monday 12 noon if poss.
(Ed. noting the deadline has passed, please reach out to Lady Godiva via the Facebook group to check if still possible to order for Wednesday)

Beef burgers £7/plus cheese £10/Veggie burgers £7/Hot dogs £5-7 and soft drinks or hot drinks £2.

Cash or card and most importantly BRING YOUR OWN BEER!! (NB He buys his meat from Aune Valley)

Tarpaulins and lights provided!

For more info, please see the Hash 1600 event page on the SH4 Facebook Group.

Add your photos of how the evening went down (on Weds 16th September, 2026) to the Hash 1600 photo album on SH4’s Facebook page.

📝 If you are the lucky Scribe at MOTHECOMBE on 16th September, please submit your edition of The Words to thewords@sh4.org.uk by Sunday evening (20th September, 2026) – TVM! 📝

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SH4 MercHASHdise 

 📣👕  2026 Solar Eclipse and SH4 1600th celebration T-shirts 📣👕

If you haven’t already, please cough up the readies for your T-shirt orders!

Catch up with Rubbery on Wednesday to handover your paper pounds, or hop online to pay by BACS:

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

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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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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 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 Rusty once you’re safely back. 

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