The weather forecast was for a hot sunny day but started off rather overcast with a mist that nearly obliterated the magnificent views over the Valley of the River Beane and glimpses of the rooftops in the ancient hamlet of St.Evenage. After a few cries trying to invoke the non-rule of 'passing the pub after starting on a trail one can stay at the pub' we were off across open fields.

Capt F was intrigued by a raised shooting hide and persuaded Forking to test out the rickety ladder much to the amusement of the pack who five minutes later started to complain about a non-trail over recently cultivated field. In fact the farmer is allowed 3 weeks before he has to roll the ground into a 3 ft wide pathway and our timing was just unlucky – absolutely no fault of the hares.

For some uncanny reason the pack kept checking out both real and imagined false trails to the left on what was basically a clockwise route. Only a few yards from the On-Inn and having gone off on a recognised old trail, an exasperated Bangers asked for directions.

Much to their initial delight some hashers spotted £20 notes on the trail.

The pub lived up to its name and the sun shone in time for the circle where Rapid and Forking awarded so many down-downs that it was hard to remember, but here goes...

• BlowFelt and Pussies for leaving the trail and going off together
• Lady P for likening Depth Charge for being like "a rat down the drain"
• Captain F for forcing Forking to check out the rickety hide
• Forking for trying to pay his subs with a dodgy £20 note
• An extra traditional one for Forking with DE and Capt F
• Perdita and Sue for blocking the trail when bended looking for dod droppings
• Cortesan [ish that Camping mug ... ed] for humming the tune to Black Beauty as we passed a horse paddock.

On-on to the next run at Maulden

Pongo and Gorjoyce