Hash 1600 – MOTHECOMBE

We circled up on a lovely, clear but ever so slightly chilly evening beside the School House cafe above Mothecombe. Gaffer had valiantly stepped up as honorary GM for the evening and despatched his duties in record-quick time – although ill-advisedly attempted to pin scribing duties on a visiting Plympton hasher, who quite literally laughed in his face (well, her devoted husband did. Most uncharacteristic…).

The hare, Lady Godiva – ably assisted by Doggy Style – promised us a very special hash across ordinarily entirely out-of-bounds land on the Flete Estate, and incorporating a little dip in the balmy sea, before heading back up to the dell a stone’s throw from the carpark for Burger Van Bob (as he has unanimously been christened subsequently)’s flame-grilled fare beneath twinkly lights. And we had of course all brought our own choice of beverage and seating… I think a few of us were curious to find out how comfortable a ‘damp bake’ might be and so had deliberately neglected to bring chairs.

And then we were dismissed – off onto the beautiful wooded trails winding around the Flete Estate, with the Longs dipping first down to the shoreline for the promised dip at a usually private beach – although most eschewed this unique opportunity on account of not wanting to squelch around the next 5.5 miles of the hash (and us no longer being in the grip of a sweltering heatwave: some of us have very exacting criteria for launching into the sea in September…) – and then back up through the woods, weaving along pretty (dark) trails in pursuit of a hopeful glimpse of flour. (In fairness, it was a very well-laid trail).There were some unusual little sections, including crossing a couple of ittle inlets (rias?), and intermittent views of the beautiful Erme estuary and sea between the trees – as well as some sneaky little (i.e. crunchingly-tiring) hills to make sure we didn’t forget it was a hash. It was a real treat to be able to run virgin trails (I think?) on the occasion of SH4’s 1600 milestone.

After a slightly disconcerting final approach to the carpark from the OH which, although marked abundantly and from every direction, was still a solid 1.5 miles from the finish and accompanied by only the merest whisper of flour by way of reassurance, we arrived back at the School House fully in the dark (we’re well beyond gloaming now…). Shades of a slightly unconventional/problematic school camping trip prevailed as we gathered in the woods beneath the twinkly glow of string lights to a soundtrack of sizzling burgers and the hiss of miscellaneous cans of questionable (but invariably alcoholic- phew!) contents being cracked. It turned out the nominated RA for the evening had already disappeared into the evening, so Goolie stepped into the breach – with only a little bit of a fight – to deliver a very entertaining RA stint, featuring the inimitable Ging Gang who performed some of her most elegant and graceful heckling (deftly ‘steered’ by a fortuitously place Yeuck).There were the usual lies of short-cutting (Gaffer and Undercovers– so unlike them…) and hashers being led astray (Pugsley, Rizzo and WGAS?) and a whole assortment of reports on hash length, for anyone that cared.

Down downs went to…well, whoever was close enough to Goolie’s flailing arm to fall victim. Hasher or not. Burger-van Bob almost got collared but had, by (some) accounts already made a valiant start of his own, spotted as he was swigging vino from the bottle following his solo stint at the grill. Based purely on some slightly haunting, Blair Witch Project-esque photographic evidence alone, I think they were:

• Lady Godiva – hare (would have been joined by Doggy Style, but she’d already gone…)
• Dulux – possible nomination for the lovely Ging Gang, whom Goolie declared was not thirsty (and besides, there was no prosecco on hand in the woods)
• Fob Jockey – wanton shortcutting? Nomination in place of another miscreant?
• Jaaaaaiine – because she was sitting immediately in front of the RA as he cast around for another Down Down-ee
• Phil – unfortunately, again, within Goolie’s orbit; possible nomination for Squashed Ball’s Finnish friend, Stan, who’d also gone…)
• Fob Jockey’s mate (sort, name escape’s me) – virgin

ON, ON  to RINGMORE

Photo credit: Rubbery

🏃 📸 🍻 You can see (a few) more photos from the more-than-fleetingly Flete Estate Mothecombe hash by checking out the Hash 1600 photo album 🏃 📸

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Next SH4 Hash 🐷👣 
HASH 1601 – 23rd September 2026  
RINGMORE

CIRCLE UP: 7.25pm

National Trust Car Park, Ringmore, TQ7 4HR
Https://what3words.com/rips.whistling.adventure
ON DOWN:
The Journeys End Inn
Https://what3words.com/repeat.paler.notion

Hares: Vindaloo & Goolie
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For more info, please see the Hash 1601 event page on the SH4 Facebook Group.

Add your photos of how the evening went down (on 23rd September, 2026) to the Hash 1601 photo album on SH4’s Facebook page.

📝 If you are the lucky Scribe at RINGMORE on 23rd September, please submit your edition of The Words to thewords@sh4.org.uk by Sunday evening (27th September, 2026) – TVM! 📝

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SH4 MercHASHdise

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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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