This r*n was the appetiser for a fantastic weekend of hashing in Wensleydale, and began from the youth hostel where the group was billeted for the duration. Hares Morticia and Lurch had insisted on a late afternoon start time to retain sufficient daylight to enjoy the promised scenic delights.

And so it was that an impromptu circle formed in the hostel car park at 3pm and the r*n began shortly thereafter. The first few yards were through the hostel back garden, and the waterlogged nature of the ground was immediately apparent as the r*nners sank up to their ankles in deep shiggy. There was to be no W/R split but the pack broke up naturally into two groups, fast and slow, with Speed Bump, Dormouse Large Package and Hard Astern pulling out an increasing lead as the trail took us through a series of footpaths on the edge of Hawes village.

About this time there was an anomaly in the space-time continuum. Fans of the 80s deep space TV sitcom Red Dwarf will recognise some of the plot of the episode named “Backwards” (series 3 ep 1) where the heroes find themselves on an alternate version of Earth where time runs in reverse. To survive in this world two of the Red Dwarf crew set up as the “Sensational Reverse Brothers” who have a pub act based on doing normal things that appear to be backwards to the local populace.

LVH3 had its own Sensational Reverse Brothers & Sister when the Rambo group began to experience the trail in reverse. Markings didn’t fit, checks made no sense, and after some time of confusion they bumped into one of the hares who was apparently surprised to see them approaching from that direction.

The reverse siblings opted to continue following the reverse trail, towards where the hash bugle could be heard reverberating across the valley. Both alternate worlds (in the form of the fast and slow groups) met and passed close to a waterfall which some never saw, so maybe it didn’t exist in the reverse universe. After a little more futile wandering around Gayle and Hawes the front r*nners passed once more through the space-time rift and arrived back at the hostel with time once more flowing as normal.

Veterans of the most recent Eskdale hash weekend cannot fail to recall that a similar time-slip occurred on that weekend’s Friday r*n. Roughly half took that trail in reverse, but returned to normality later (in the pub). It was mooted that this might become a tradition for such Friday evening hashes; it certainly adds interest!

Delicious home made soup, bread and cakes were served back at the hostel to fortify the hash members. Sporadic discussions were held and the exact point in space where time began to run in reverse was identified. It would be beyond the pay grade of your scribe to dare to apportion blame. Thanks for the hash L&M!