This year Pope’s Birthday Hash was, as usual, hared by Pope himself. However, rather than setting the ‘usual’ trail along the canal, etc, we were instead offered a trail around the leafy parks of Ealing, the Queen of Suburbs, featuring several false trails. Somehow the trail managed to wind its way to chez Pope (the Vatican?) where a welcome beer stop was on offer. Sadly, the greedy bastards on Monday’s London Hash had already eaten all the birthday cake, so we had to forgo that pleasure.

Usual merry revelries back at Duffy’s, overseen by RA Butt Plug. After that, everything was a bit of a blur to be honest. Hopefully everyone made it home in good time to be up and away on Friday for the WLH weekend in Bath.

Hare for the evening was Backdoor Boy, who set a fine trail around Mortlake, and ultimately on to Kew, where we were treated to a drink stop outside his pad next to the Kew Records Office. There was some concern before we set out about the potential length of the trail, bearing in mind that the hare’s previous efforts had resulted in a 10 mile run. Thankfully this trail was a perfect 7.5km, so no problems on that front.

With at least 3 virgins and the same number of visitors, KMA’s job as RA was quite a busy one. I forget what most of the charges related to other than Pope’s down down for excessive display of his lycra wrapped man-bulge. Luckily Dingo was on hand to cover the offending meat and two veg with a leopard skin thong, thus sparing the delicate sensibilities of the assembled harriettes.

A return to familiar Brentford haunts for our hare, 2AM, and your scribe (and Knickers). They are still in the process of knocking Brentford down, but about 12 years too late in my opinion. Anyway, our hare laid a trail around Brentford old and new, and we got to see the new blue road leading to the shortly-to-be-closed Brewery Tap. Then on to the new Brentford football ground at Kew Bridge station, on on for a nostalgic run around the old Griffin Park stadium, before finally heading down the canal to a welcome beer stop.

Back in the Magpie and Crown we were faced with a bewildering choice of fine ales and a hash feast laid on by the landlord, who just happens to be 2AM’s next-door neighbour. Much appreciated, thanks! In the circle we were treated to an RA double act comprising Pope and Robocop, with some fine repartee as a result, including dog impressions by Petal and some weird dance performed by Ryde, Table Whine and a couple of our visitors.

And now for something completely different! Our hare for the evening, Stevie Blunder, informed the pack that this would be a live hare run, with somewhat unusual false trail/check markings. Possibly only two people at the briefing were actually able to follow his instructions, but nevertheless, the rest of us somehow managed to make it round to the drink-stop, and had a very enjoyable trail around Putney – Barnes Common.

Back at the Half Moon, RA Whacker presided over the circle, and the usual range of down-downs were awarded to the usual suspects. The pub treated us well with a fine selection of beers and hash chips!

Good work again this week by the RA in arranging for perfect weather for our pleasant run around Twickenham, ably hared by Minge & Tonic. A fine trail, exploring some of the back alleys of Twickenham, whilst managing to avoid many of the more commonly used routes. Drink stop provided overlooking Eel Pie Island.

Back in the Albany, RA Whacker presided over the circle, awarding down-downs as appropriate. Recipients included our two guests from Zimbabwe, as well as a particularly large pack of 5 dogs.

This weeks run was hared by your scribe, and involved a largely off-road trail around Home Park and Bushey Park. (I continue to be amazed as to how deserted Home Park is. We were the only people in the whole park that evening.) Drink stop provided thanks to the assistance of Come Forth in Orange and Pickled Fart.

The new landlord of the Foresters excelled himself by offering up hash chips and keeping the establishment open until well after midnight, resulting in some well lubricated hashers by the end of the evening.

Here is a map showing locations of some of the WLH runs during the current year.  Clicking on a run location will allow you to view the trail for that run.

AGPU run around Brentford, hared by GM Butt Plug.

Trail along the Wandle, hared by Drain Oil.

Putney Heath trail hared by Butt Plug.