TVH THE WORDS by Pollyfella

Hash Words for 11th May 2026 at Court Farm Inn, Abbotskerswell

Hares: Strap On & Strap Dancer

 

Who was there?

Archangel, Beeflicker, Big End, Fukawe, Manpig, Pisswell, Pollyfella, Roger the Dodger, Strap Dancer, Strap On, Well Hopped, Wetfart.

 

It was welcome return to the elegant Court Farm Inn. Conditions were dry although there was a cool breeze blowing. There were 13 in the pack and the circle was led by Beeflicker.

 

Pisswell reminded everyone that her hash next week (18th May) was a red dress run and she would be taking donations for Rowcroft on the night. The NGS Gardens at Heathercombe will be opening especially for the hash.

 

Strap On gave instructions for the trail ahead with a 2.5 mile walk, shorts just over 4 miles and the longs around 6. He also apologised for an extra section of road because he had wisely decided to make the trail detour around a field with two large bulls! 

 

Strap On then announced that he had created a new hash symbol showing a dog. His creation indicated a “doggy detour” and we were invited to take and share photos of his new symbol.

There would be a sweetie stop and if the plan came together everyone should get there at around the same time.

 

And then we were off! The trail led out to Slade Lane and up Stoneman’s Hill and then along Manor Road with checks at each junction to slow us down. We then went up Laburnum Terrace and picked up a beautiful path with a stunning views on the left to Dartmoor. The trail then rejoined Stoneman’s Hill and after a 150 metres Pisswell, Beefy, Manpig and Pollyfella stopped to take in a stunning view point on the right which look across Newton About, Bishopsteignton and glimpses of the top of Teignmouth.

From here the trail went down hill until on our left we spotted the doggy detour symbol. Here the shorts and walkers turned off and the longs and those with dogs continued past Ogwell Cross Cemetery and then on to St Mary’s Church. Here the longs searched far and wide around the hillside for the trail. There were a few mistaken shouts of being “on” until Manpig and Beeflicker found the trail along the left side of the hill which looped and then descended to Woolborough Street. The longs were just about still sticking together. 

 

Here we ran up to Bakers Park and alongside the football pitches. Then past Bradley Manor on our right and with the river Lemon to our left. Arrows then indicated a left turn over the river and into the woods. Here the longs came to a mark already kicked out by Big End and Well Hopped but this led us in the direction of a giant X marked on the hillside. Manpig followed what seemed the only alternative route up the path to the left where he also came to a X. 

 

Confusion descended for a few minutes until Pollyfella found the trail going to the left of the giant X on the hill. From here it was clear running along a beautiful woodland path, past a stable and eventually out on to the Ogwell Road. Here arrows guided us left and after a few minutes decent the longs caught up with Fukawe, Big End and Well Hopped just after they turned right into Reynell Road. 

 

We then ran as a pack and followed marks up Luxton Road until we spotted an SS mark. Here the marks sent us sharp left along a footpath which opened up on to a magical play park. Here Strap On and Strap Dancer awaited us with a banquet of sweets including the remarkable Terrys chocolate orange segments filled with popping candy. An extraordinary invention and bizarrely delicious. 

 

Almost all the shorts and longs arrived within a few minutes just as Strap On had been hoping. It was just Archangel who was a little further back on the shorts who did not arrive at the same time.

 

Then we were off. We went up the hill behind the park where we came out on Denby Road the infamously long ascent to the Cool for Cats café. At the café we took the path to the left leading us over uneven ground to the dangerous A381. We crossed and ran on until we joined Manor Road. Here Manpig, Pollyfella and Beefy ran together, descending back to the village past the ON Home and back to the pub via Odle Hill.

 

A beautiful and creative trail with lots of virgin land and virgin sweeties!

 

A very big thank you to Strap Dancer and Strap On for all your hard work in planning and laying a wonderful trail.

 

The Down Downs

Before the on downs began there was drama in the car park when Roger the Dodger discovered that he had lost his credit card and feared this had occurred out on the trail. Beeflicker came to the rescue and went off to run the short trail in the gathering dusk and looming darkness to see if he could find it!

In the pub chilli was served and we cosied up in the bar with the locals. 

 

Thankfully the locals seemed to quite enjoying having us there and they ending up getting fully immersed in the on downs…….

1. Archangel gave the joker hat to Strap On for “blowing off a sausage” the night before!

2. Pisswell gave the elephant cap to Roger the Dodger (inevitably!) for losing his credit card and being a scrooge. But instead of a half he was passed a shot of something strong by a local!

3. Next Well Hopped was nominated for her own forgetfulness! And being Scrooge’s daughter. Her down down was embellished by the chicken

4. Then Pollyfella was nominated for volunteering for the words!

5. Then a local who had parked his Ford Capril in the car park was nominated for having a moo sticker on the vehicle. Although not knowing the rules he polished off his down down mid song.

6. The down downs closed with a local presenting Manpig with another shot of that strong stuff! Which he gleefully polished off much to the amusement of the pack.

 

Next up on Monday 18th May we will be circling up at NGS Gardens in Heathercombe which is near Bovey Tracey. Pisswell will be the hare.

 

Big thanks again to Strap Dancer and Strap On for a great night.