A r*n for traditionalists, hosted by frequent Yuletide hares Bitter & Twisted, on the occasionally soggy fields and winding canal towpaths around Garstang. This r*n would have fallen on Christmas Day but was rescheduled to Boxing Day to encourage a few more hashers to venture forth. It turned out a mainly sunny day, with a chill wind, but nowhere near as bad as forecast.

Hashers had been primed to wear their best fancy dress to take part in a competition to be judged before the start proper. An amazing array of wild and wonderful costumes was presented to be judged by hash newcomer Evelyn, who selected easily the best of a bad bunch: Large Package's Royal Mail pillar box outfit.

The trail led out roughly Northwards, with several checks but each time the trail followed the canal towpath. Eventually there was a Wimp/Rambo split. We had been warned by Twisted not to attempt the Rambo split unless we were fast r*nners, so only Lurch and Large Package went that way, except that Twisted opted to walk it with another newcomer, Simon.

The Wimps continued along the towpath while the r*nning Rambos followed a shortish loop that brought them back to the canal. Engrossed in conversation the two managed to not see the marks leading back down to the towpath and later picked up some marks further along the trail. Realising the error, they retraced their steps and this time saw the plentiful marks and rejoined the trail, now behind the walking Rambos.

After a brief beer stop the return route was fairly straighforward and the r*nners managed to catch up with the Wimps and all arrived back at the Bellflower more or less together. The limited menu at the pub dissuaded some from staying to eat, but there was a very quick circle, in the absence of the Religious Advisor or deputies, at which Large Package received his engraved tankard for reaching a total of 100 r*ns!

On! on! to the full moon r*n on 6th January, and meantime a hashy New Year to all!