THE KENNET Valley Hash House Harriers has just celebrated its 500th event in the Marlborough area with a challenge starting from The Bell in Ramsbury.

After 18 years of the organised Hash events, the members of the Kennet Valley Hash House Harriers (KVH3) met at the pub in The Square to commemorate an important milestone in the group’s history. The Bell, which was the base for the first ever event for the KVH3 group, welcomed nearly 50 people to take part in the scramble around the village.

Brian Lovell, 65, of Cricklade Road in Swindon, organiser and Hare for this year’s event, said: “The day went very well. It was raining in the morning but thankfully brightened up for the start. As the Hare, I went out and laid the track with flour for everyone to follow. We have two routes, one for runners and one for walkers with the aim they both finish roughly at the same time back at the pub.”

The KVH3 was started by Mike Fisher, who lived in Great Bedwyn at the time, who started the hash run in the Marlborough area after taking part in a similar group in Gloucester.

Mr Fisher, 75, of Brookfield in Highworth, said: “I took part in a similar group in Gloucester but when I moved to Great Bedwyn I thought that maybe it was too far to travel, so I decided to make my own group for people to take part in. It is more of a social club for people to come along and enjoy, we always start and end at a pub so we have a good get together every two weeks.

“Everyone had a great time on the 500th, it was a fantastic day. We ended up at The Bell having a buffet to celebrate the milestone.”