Isle of Wight Hash House Harriers
Grand Eclipse Viewing Competition

• The most ambitious plan came from Snowman, Fireball, Kanga and Ganges, who organised a three-day eating/drinking trip to France. The centreline of the Eclipse passed over Fecamp, north of Le Harvre, so they fey-camped some 150 miles to the west. As it was, the enthusiasm of the French for getting out of bed on the 11th allowed them to travel reasonably unhindered to a viewing area. If they had spent as much effort chosing the best eclipse-watching spot as they has spent chosing their wine, beer and seafood, then they might have got a better view in the untypically bad French weather and boring flatness of the land. (8/10 for effort but only 4/10 for results)
• Keeping local, it was down to the Island's southern reaches, chez Tanglefoot and Godot for many home-based hashers. Here, leaning out over the abyss that had been the conservatory, one could achieve a potential 98% eclipse. Their efforts were rewarded with some fine views through the cloud that had spoilt the day for many. Nibbling on eclipse baps (slice of black pud on a fried egg) and supping bubbly, the highlight of the show was the band of totality clearly evident in the channel to the south. (3/10 for effort and 7/10 for results)
• Your Scribe and family were unfortunate enough to have an invite to Cornwall. "Bin There Done That Bought The Tea Towel". The kiss of death really, as the 11th proved to be typical of a drizzly Cornwall August day. Their relations' house at Helston was bang on the centreline and, standing on an adjacent hill with some 500 others, a panoramic view of a thunderstorm over Penzance was seen just prior to the blackness coming sweeping across from St Ives. Not a sign of the sun, but that was on telly anyway (8/10 for effort and 6/10 for results)
• Navigator bought a ticket to the Eclipse Hash in Truro. His report comes later, but he does get an extra point for hashing. (6/10 for effort and 6/10 for results)
• Bernie went boating in the Channel - but then he always does.......
• But it was up to Magoo to show us all how simple and effective a view of the eclipse could be. Ticket to Cherbourg, Hotel, a few beers and then wander along the front, park oneself under a statue of Napoleon alongside a few mademoiselles and wait for it all to happen (7/10 for effort and 9/10 for results)

So, The Winner receives a family holiday for up to four persons in Meaders Road Ryde* (*available only to members of the McGee clan)

and the beers......... your Scribe reports that the St Austell Brewery "Daylight Robbery" was most suppable, but just eclipsed by the excellent Skinners' "Who put the Lights Out", coming in at an umbral 5.9%. Back to Reports