#1186 Swans Nest, Exminster - Speedy - 22 Dec 2025

Words by Speedy. Photos by someone!!

A yellow weather warning was in force, but a large pack assembled for the Christmas trail. Boots, Piss, mischief and wrecking ball were welcomed back to the hash. Lots of hashers commented on the size of Stix’s Arse as he had put on a few pounds after eating too many mince pies over the festive period. I explained that this week’s trail was strictly on the left (except for the bit at the start) which seemed to confuse some as the pack got stuck at the first check. We continued crossing the main road and heading into the village. As the trail wasn’t very long, I had done medium short splits rather than long short splits. This resulted in most of the hashers doing the medium as they thought it was the walk. We then ran past the oak and up the hill where I had invented a new mark, the walkers check, I forgot to tell everyone this in the circle so it confused people a bit, it was meant to be a re-group for the walkers as everyone else does the check. We then got into a meadow by crossing a brook and then continued out of the meadow. After a bit more checking we ran past the church and down a hill before arriving at the glory hole where we had, landlord ale, mold wine and gingerbread trees. Stix also started making cocktails which made some hashers feel a bit dizzy. We continued the trail with a long short split, most people chose longs which was supposed to be a trip into the stowey however they didn’t open until 2 (for some reason). Nerveless we progressed down the main road to the next pub stop, the Royal oak where they were really pleased to see so many people in the pub. We then progressed onto the swans nest for the awards, pints and food. All in all a very good experience. Spocky got himself disqualified for trail of the year because he rated all of his own trails (again). I was commended for my Bristol trail (on April 20^th  2025) and won trail of the year. Stix won trail of the year as well for his topsham trail, and so did Bolards. [insert name here] won quote of the year for [insert quote here]. Brillo also got a special mention for his 1 mile trail around decoy park with 3 sweet stops. Wide won GM of the year. Some other people also won awards but couldn’t remember who.

#1185 Wheathill Plantation - Minibar and Troy - 15 Dec 2024

Words from Bollards...

The car park was busy so it was fortunate that there was only a small pack. The hares were worried that the trail may have been eaten since it had been laid earlier, but there wasn't a problem. In the festive spirit, the trail was named "the twelve longs of Christmas", giving us a clue about what was to come. We were warned that 3 of the longs were longer, and even told Which numbers they were, but I immediately forgot them, except for no. 11, as Sorepoint kept reminding me. A couple of the longs were Ho Ho's but they mainly looped off the short trail and effectively kept the small pack together. We had a sweetie stop about 2/3 of the way around where we enjoyed Heros and Squashies (and for those that like them, chocolate raisins). Most of the shiggy was in the latter half of the trail, but nothing too drastic. We were in and out of the woods and it was quite warm in the sunshine. We all got back at the same time and enjoyed mulled cider, mince pies and Bailey's. A great trail to get us in the festive spirit for next week.

This was Bollards getting to the Ho Ho Ha Ha!

#1184 Kingsteignton - Wide - 8 Dec 2024

A beautiful morning after Storm Darragh, but still a little breezy. 

We circled up, welcoming Sorepoint and Paperwork because there was no Taunton hash today.

The trail quickly had a long short, with Humpty and I nearly doing it twice.

We soon  found our way down to the estuary, and then Wide and I had a half at the Passage House, before the sweetie stop half way along the footpath across the field overlooking Kingsteignton. 

Then down to Teignmouth Road, before crossing it, and a long short around a field.

We were about to cross the A380, but we're heko up by a fish hook, but that meant wemissed the next one (just) with Zoot and others slightly ahead of us. 

Humpty and I then got quite a long way ahead, even after doing the long up steep steps and down again. So we thought we'd have a quick drink in the Bell Inn (missing the fish hook!) white everyone caught up! 

Then a nice light lunch and tea, thanks to Tight. Tight and Sorepoint both got down downs because of their joint birthdays on Tuesday. 

Next week's hash is from Wheathill Plantation, hared by Minibar & Troy.

On on

Stix

#1183 Pynes Hill, Exeter - Stix - 1 December 2024

Thank you, Stix, for today's trail. A 'one and on' trail with a promise of a maximum 4.6 miles. The route took us away from the obvious dip into Ludwell Park to the main duel carriageway, only to head back down into the top end of the park. It was at this point X Bitz lost Son of the Bitz, so I took it upon my self to look for her chid and found him waiting for Odd Bitz to help him down a bank, not knowing that he had been given a shot cut.

In and threw the fields of Ludwell with a couple of long/ shorts to boot. We found the SS at the bottom of the park. A quick Happy Snapper, and we were off! Into to playing fields, over the doggy course, and out to Topsham road. Apparently, the trail went over the road into the old Pitch and Putt but was completely missed. Instead, we headed up and back through the winding streets and back into Ludwell Park but not before another L/S Spit. Wasn't long before we were back and unsurprised to see Tampa's car, who turned up late and couldn't find the start arrow, so he just made his own trail up. Big thanks to stix for today last minute trail.

Onon Spockster

And she words from me!

The first trail of winter, and with Storm Bert a distant memory, Wide welcomed the pack and acknowledged that last week would have just been too dangerous to lay.  I was today's hare, getting back to the start with less than 5 mins to spare, and Bollards had brought me a cup of coffee from home, which lasted the entire trail!  I was filling in as we didn't otherwise have a hare; Spocky was also going to volunteer, coincidently also from Pynes Hill, but I beat him to it and sacrificed my Sunday lie in.  

The trail took us up to the main road, with a loop round the houses, apparently close to where Blob Hoblin used to live.  I ensured that Spocky did the back check, while the rest of us headed towards a very slippery Ludwell Valley Park. Some of my marks had been kicked out, despite only laying 60 mins earlier, but that didn't get in the way.  A long-short split, and then a lot of slipping along the bottom of the valley , before climbing again, then down to the sweetie stop by Northbrooke.  

A lovely photograph framed so well - shame Spocky had to spoil it!

From there is was through the assault course to Topsham Road, where the trail went across to the old pitch and putt and a loop around that, but some dodgy trail marking meant that only Howlin' Wilf and Happy Snapper attempted it! 

We risked our lives crossing Topsham Road again, then back into the Valley Park, past Southbrooke School, and Oddbitz did some FRBing.  Them past a bench where Wide and Howlin' Wilf sat down (blaming Rosie) and on home.

 At the circle, Spocky declared that it wasn't as good as the hash he would have set!  The bench-users got down-downs, as did Oddbitz for not being around for the next few weeks (wishing him all the best for his operation!)

Next week's hash is at Kingsteignton, Blindwell Farmhouse, laid by Wide, with snacks afterwards.