WCIT Team comes fourth in City-wide Hare & Hounds event!

This year, the WCIT team has twice entered the Bank of England’s “Hare & Hounds” event – having never before entered a team in the 45 years that it has been running!

The event is a mix of treasure hunt, cryptic crossword, pub crawl and time trial and is run by a team of Bank of England Technology staffers in aid of their chosen charities. Teams are given a list of cryptic clues that must be solved to find the next pub to visit examples of which are:

‘Jet for religious chap’ – answer: The Blackfriar

‘Royal? Posh, perhaps’ – answer: On Queen Victoria Street

Each pub contains information to a question that must be answered. And, as part of the challenge, each team must find a way to manufacture a ‘treasure’ that must be displayed to the judges. Oh, I didn’t mention the “parade” in front of the judges! All members of the team had to perform a synchronised macarena dance for bonus points. The event really does have something for everyone!

Team captain Steve Barringer led the intrepid team of WCIT members and guests around City pubs and back alleys solving clues, making things and, occasionally, drinking beer. Our team managed to come fourth out of 26 teams which was a very creditable performance.

The next Hare & Hounds is on May 14th, 2026. If you’d like to be part of the next WCIT team, contact Steve Barringer (steve.barringer@member.wcit.org.uk).

Liveryman Dave Robertson