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"THERE ARE NO RULES IN
THE HASH!"
However,
experience has taught me that there is a need for a few traditions to
help prevent disastrous trails and keep the Pack happy and coming back
for more. A SHORT HISTORY OF THE HASH HOUSE HARRIERS Hare and Hounds style chases
have been around for centuries in one form or another. The original
concept was to mimic
the original hunting sport during times or in locations where sporting
game was sparse. It was a normal transition to substitute the hounds
with runners. Men, not as well endowed with the sense of smell, required
a trail of paper to find their quarry. This sport was well entrenched
long before these sportsmen became known as 'hashers' and the sport
was referred to as Hounds and Hares or the Paper Chase.
The Hash House Harriers received its humble beginnings in 1938 from a British expatriate named Albert Stephen Ignatius Gispert, in what is now Malaysia. |
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Alberto Esteban Ignacio Gispert
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31st
July 1903 - 11th February 1942
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Having a fondness for the "paper chase", he gathered together a group of expatriates in Kuala Lumpur that would later become a worldwide legacy. The fraternity received its name from the Selangor Club Chambers.
The "Hash House" was the mildly derogatory nickname given (for
its unimaginative, monotonous food) to the Royal Selangor Club Chambers
in Kuala Lumpur by the British civil servants and businessmen who lived
and dined there between the two World Wars, when it had become something
of a social center of the times. Situated close to and behind the present
Selangor Club, its function changed after independence and it became
an office for the Water Board. Sadly, the "Hash House" was
demolished around 1964 to make way for a new highway, Jalan Kuching,
although the buildings housing the original stables and servants quarters
are still in existence.
A "hare" would be given a short head start to blaze a trail,
marking his devious way with shreds of paper, soon to be pursued by
a shouting pack of "harriers." Only the hare knew where he
was going . . . the harriers followed his marks to stay on the trail.
Apart from the excitement of chasing the hare, reaching the
end was its own reward, for there, thirsty harriers would find a tub
of ice-cooled beer. BACK TO TOP
Known as "G",
Mr. Gispert originally took on duties as the On-Sec, convincing Cecil
H. Lee and Frederick "Horse" Thompson to become the
first Joint Masters. The first runs averaged a dozen, although attendance
could sometimes be counted on one hand.
This relatively peaceful endeavor was cut short with the advent of the Japanese invasion, during which several hashers distinguished themselves. Gispert died in the Battle of Singapore and has no marked grave. However, his name appears on one of the commemoration walls at Kranji War Cemetery
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However, Torch Bennett re-established the hash after the war and also successfully sought war reparations for 24 enamel mugs, an old galvanized tin bath and two old bags.
It took nearly 12 months after the war for the survivors of the Kuala Lumpur HHH to reassemble and post-war Run No. 1 was a trot around the racecourse in August 1946.
Strangely, it took another 16 years for the second HHH chapter to be founded, in Singapore in 1962, followed by Kuching in 1963, Brunei, Kota Kinabalu, and Ipoh in 1964, Penang and Malacca in 1965. Perth, in Western Australia was the first "overseas" chapter, formed in 1967. Even in 1974, when KLHHH had Run No. 1500, the HHH had only 35 chapters worldwide. Now the Hash world has over 1200 active chapters, in some 160 countries, and this despite the total absence of any central organization. We are unique!
A now defunct publication, Harrier International, claimed over 1700 hashes in their listing. However, closer scrutiny found hundreds of outdated contacts or dead hashes, so it is still difficult to make an informed guess. With less accuracy, it could be said that there are indeed about 1500 to 2000 hashes out there, as many were started by hashers who do not have contacts with hash publications or simply don't care to register. Occasionally, there is a hash that finds out, usually by the accident of running into other hashers, that they, indeed, aren't the only one in the world. BACK TO TOP
Despite its growth, hashing hasn't strayed far from its British and Malaysian roots. A typical hash today is a loosely organized group of 20-40 men and women who meet weekly or biweekly to chase the hare. We follow chalk, flour, or paper, and the trails are never boring. When forced to, we'll run the occasional street or alley, but in general we prefer shiggy . . . fields, forests, jungles, swamps, streams, fences, storm drains, and cliffs. And although some of today's health-conscious hashers may shun a cold beer in favor of water, the end of the trail is still a party. Perhaps that's why they call us the "drinking club with a running problem!"
So . . . if you'd like to spice up your running program with fun, good company, new surroundings, and physical challenge, try hashing. Just remember one thing . . . never wear new shoes to the hash!
Regardless of the style of
the hash, all is in good fun and this "drinking club with a
running problem" welcomes all with a sense of humor. Hashing
has created a fraternity that knows no geographical bounds of hospitality.
You're as welcome at one group as another, although there are still
a few traditional "all male", fewer "harriette"
and even more rare "by membership" or "social status" only groups left out there. The only prerequisite to hashing is a sense
of humor, as running and athletic ability usually take a back seat to
the social aspects of the sport. As reportedly coined by Hong Kong hasher
Phil Kirkland and stated in hash flyers frequently: BACK TO TOP
Hashing also knows no age boundaries, with family hashes and horrors (or children's hashes), as well as members from all ages in the regular hashes. There are hashers like Wan Sai Kow or “Small Yellow Dog” of Ipoh Hash House Harriers and others who have actively hashed in their seventies or older.
The main difference between groups is their emphasis on the sporting versus social aspects of hashing. Some choose to maintain the tradition of a live hare hash, chasing runners while they lay the trail after a few minutes head start. They thrill in the hunt, the occasional catch and the notion that there is a real pursuit in progress during the event.
Other hashes have shunned the competitive nature of the live hare hashes, pre-laying the trail with a number of marks designed to keep the pack together. These checks and other delaying marks allow the hashers of the dead hare hashes to sing and make merry from point to point, emphasizing the social aspects of the sport.
All of the hashes end with a bit of fraternity business at the On-In or finish point. The Down-Down celebrates new runners, various landmarks in the careers of hashers, and assorted other reasons to drink beer. Most hashes also add bawdy song to the festivities and there are special-event runs that may end in a feast and a party. Interhashes, or gatherings of several hashes for a special event, occur at frequent intervals worldwide. There are national and regional interhashes, as well as a world event simply labeled Interhash.
Regardless of the traditions
that a hasher originally adopted, the spirit of hashing is alive and
well at interhashes. Of course, there's the usual bitching and moaning
from the virgin, or relatively virgin, interhashers, who find it difficult
to accept the traditions of others. However, those who have attended
a few interhashes relish the endless variety of trails and traditions
found throughout the hash world. The important thing is that we are
all Hash brothers and sisters sharing an experience like no other, and
in the sharing, we are all enriched.
HISTORY OF MAJOR HASH EVENTS
InterHash
The
Mother Hash (Kuala Lumpur) held several invitational hash get-togethers
during the early days of hashing, but the InterHash era is generally
agreed to have started in 1978, when the Kowloon HHH hosted the first
international assembly of hashers outside Malaysia, in Hong Kong. Held
every even-numbered year since, InterHash gatherings have included:
1978:
Hong Kong
1980:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1982:
Jakarta, Indonesia
1984:
Sydney, Australia
1986:
Pattaya, Thailand
1988:
Bali, Indonesia
1990:
Manila, Philippines
1992:
Phuket, Thailand
1994:
Rotorua, New Zealand
1996:
Limassol, Cyprus
1998:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2000:
Hobart, Tasmania
2002:
Goa, India
2004:
Cardiff, UK
2006: Chiang Mai, Thailand
2008: Perth, Australia
Regional
Interhashes
The
original Nash (for "national") Hash was held in New Zealand
in 1977, and Australian hashes soon adopted the idea. Nash hashes have
been a strong biannual tradition Down Under, and today other nations
also host nash hashes, including the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and the
USA.
Other
Significant Years in Hash History
1938:
Kuala Lumpur HHH (Mother Hash) founded
1962:
Singapore HHH founded
1967:
Dhekelia HHH - first hash in Europe
1967:
Sydney HHH - first Hash in Australia
1971:
Fort Eustis HHH - first Hash in North America
1971: Westcombe Park HHH - first Hash in UK
1973: KL HHH 1500th run - 35 other Hashes "known" to exist
1977: 90 Hashes known in 35 countries
1984: Harrier International founded
1986: 555 Hashes known in 85 countries
1988: 700 Hashes known in 125 countries
1997:
1470 Active Hashes known in 184 countries with 100,000 hashers
2000: Birth of Penang International Hash Hounds
1st
December 2003: Penang International Hash Hounds becomes a registered
Society
ELEMENTS OF HASHING
Basically a hash consists of three main parts:
The Run (aka The Trail)
One or two hashers, called the hare(s), lay a trail. They mark their trail with chalk arrows, shredded paper, flour, or pieces of toilet paper hanging in the bush, depending on local tradition or terrain. They might pre- lay the trail a day or a few hours before the hash, or they might lay the trail as "live hares," running ahead of the pack with only a short (15 minutes is typical) head start. At a given signal, the rest of the hash (the Harriers, Harriettes, hounds, or pack) set off in pursuit of the trail. The idea is to keep the pack somewhat together and this is achieved by setting cunning checks and false trails. The fitter front runners will often run twice as far as the more slothful members, yet still finish the run at the same time as the rest of the pack. The length and difficulty of the run depends on the hare and the terrain but will typically be between six and eight kilometers, or about 55 minutes to 90 minutes of running with checks and false trails.
The Circle ( aka Religion)
At the end of the run hashers gather to drink beer and observe religious ceremonies . . . which consist of drinking more beer.
Circles may be led by the hash Grandmaster, the Religious Adviser, or by a committee of mismanagement. Traditions (and the degree of rowdiness) vary from hash to hash, but in general the Circle consists of awarding "Down-Downs" for misdemeanors real, imagined, or blatantly made up. Visitors are always given a Visitors Down-Down as are Virgins (first-time hash runners) and anyone else who comes to the attention of the Circle. The Circle can last a couple of minutes or half the night depending on the level of religious fervor of the hash.
The On-On On
Some
hashes suspend ceremonies for a while to consume food provided by the
hare(s). Other hashes, at the conclusion of the Circle, go to a nearby
restaurant or pub. This is the social part of the hash, and the party
usually breaks up afterward. In some hashes, however, religion may continue
during or after On-Ons, with the telling of jokes and singing of songs,
and all members, visitors, and virgins should come armed with at least
one joke or song lest they be called upon.
BACK TO TOP
Guide For Hares
Setting a run is the most important responsibility that can be entrusted to a hasher. It takes planning, insight, and creativity to lay an exciting trail and establish the conditions for a great ON-ON afterward.
A note for virgin (first time) hares: You must have a veteran co-hare! There's no substitute for experience - you can learn much from your grizzled old partner.
There should be enough parking space at the start for everyone expected to show up. Also, make sure that it's allowed to park there.
Recce
your trail early and often. This means actually running and/or walking
the trail several times to get a good feel of its viability in terms
of length, difficulty (shiggy), and opportunities for pleasant surprises.
You can't scout a good trail from a car or motorbike, but both can be
useful support items.
The trail should normally be in the 5 to 10 km range but certainly never more than 10km.Take note of the time of year and weather conditions. Tell people if a torch may be necessary.
Safety:
Remember that not everyone
is a rock climber. Avoid the truly dangerous stuff.
Include several checks
(2 –5) to permit the less athletic (and the lost) time to catch
up to the pack.
Don't' use the hash to demonstrate your superb physical fitness. The point of the hash is for both hares and hounds to have fun.
Hash day logistics are essential to a successful event. The hare has many logistical responsibilities, which if not carefully planned can detract from a good run and ON ON ON .
Three
important things not to lose sight of:
1).
Actual weather conditions on the day of your hash can cause disaster
with the best-laid plans.
2).
Once the hash
starts, it's no longer in your control.
3).
Every hare has a trail that will not work.
Laying the Trail
Before laying the
trail, make sure that both you and your co-hare are using the same marking
conventions. Otherwise you just may confuse the hounds, get them lost
and into an ugly mood.
Don't annoy the pack by making the trail difficult to find. Make the terrain hard not the finding of the paper.
Assigning segments of the trail to different hares to lay independently is a sure recipe for disaster. The only guaranteed way to ensure a coherent trail is for all hares to lay the trail together.
Trail Marks:
Ideally, hounds should be able to see the next mark from the last.
Hash marks should be placed about 10 metres or so apart.
When in jungle conditions, make marks very close together.
Mark your trail with environmentally friendly substances.
False trails can only start from a check. False trails must clearly be marked with a “bar” at the end to show that they are indeed false. End your false trail with a “bar” mark.
Checks keep packs together and Front Running Bastards (FRBs) confused. Ideally, the last and slowest runners should reach the beer-wagon within 5 minutes or so of the FRB's. If the slower hashers say the hash was very easy whilst the FRB's ran their ass off, you've done a great job. On the other hand, too many checks can be quite annoying. In this matter, trail laying is more of an art than a science. Unfortunately, you can only learn the proper balance from experience, both as hare and hound.
IN CASE OF RAIN:
Lay your trail marks in larger than normal piles. Avoid gutters and drains where paper is sure to get washed away.
Try and find places to lay it where it won't get wet, if possible.
If it rains after you've laid your trail, you really should recheck it before the hash starts.
Starting the Hash
Give a talk before the hash. This is to introduce visitors, acquaint the new boots with hashing in general and to appraise the old hands of the new twists you've introduced to confound them on the trail.
Point out the direction of the trail if the pack can't find it themselves quickly. State how many checks and false trails.
Parting Words
Don't worry about trying to lay the perfect trail - there really isn't such thing. Something unforeseen will normally, generally, usually go wrong. Just try your best and your hash will be a success. Accept your down-down and abuse with humility.
Acknowledgements:
http://www.half-mind.com Flying Booger’s Half a mind site
http://harrier.net A Hash House Harrier Resource
http://www.gthhh.com The World-wide HHH Homepage
Plus......some from inside Nonok Blakeway’s
head!
