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So
it's your first time . . . |
Capital
Hash House Harriers, based in the Australian Capital Territory
and established in 1982, is just one of over 1700 worldwide
chapters of the Hash House Harriers, an international running,
drinking and socialising club founded in Malaysia in 1938.
Capital
Hash House Harriers run every Monday night at 6 pm regardless
of holidays, rain, fire, frost, sun spots or beer strikes. The
mixed pack is typically 30 – 50. Trails are usually 5
kms + in length and cater for both runners and walkers at all
levels of fitness. $10 is all it costs to hash with CH3 which
covers the cost of grog (Capital Hash
boasts a selection of 10 beers - 4 light for the drivers - champagne,
red wine and softies). and mash following a trail. A
fire bucket during our chilly winter season is also traditional
Capital fare.
It
is based on the old English game of “Hare and Hounds”
and is centered around non-competitive running and enjoyment
of beer - see Hash Origins.
Every
Hash and every Hasher is unique in their own way, although a
good attitude, personality, thirst, humour, old shoes and a
sharp wit appear to be the recurring attributes. A few traditional
groups still restrict membership with “all male”
or “all Harriette” hashes. More rarely, there are
even “all officer” or “expat only” hashes.
However, the tradition of mixed, open membership has become
the most popular, making up over 95% of the hashes today. Remember,
sweat, mud, blood and scars are often trophies of great hashing.
Membership in Capital Hash is painfree - except for the running
part - and is easy. Just show up to a run
and check us out, or give one of our friendly Mismanagement
a call.
Premise
of the Hash House Harriers
A Hash Primer
What's Hash?
Hash
Rules
Old Shoes
What I Like
About Hashing (external link)
Premise
of the Hash House Harriers (harrier.net)
One harrier (the hare) lays a trail of flour over a
course (s)he chooses. The other harriers (the hounds)
try to follow that trail to the end where they enjoy
munchies and beer (or soft drinks). The typical hash
is 3-5 miles over hill and dale, through suburbs, woods,
malls, et al. The hash isn't a race, there are no prizes
to the swift. Following the trail is the challenge -
camaraderie and beverages are the rewards.
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Hashing . . . it's a mixture of athleticism and sociability,
hedonism and hard work; a refreshing break from the nine-to-five
routine. Hashing is an exhilaratingly fun combination of running,
orienteering, and partying, where bands of harriers and harriettes
chase hares on eight-to-ten kilometer-long trails through town,
country, jungle, and desert, all in search of exercise, camaraderie,
and good times.
Hashing, as we know it today, began in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
in 1938, when a group of restive British company men started
a hare & hounds running group. They named the group after
their meeting place, the Selangor Club, aka the "Hash House."
Hash House Harrier runs were patterned after the traditional
British public school paper chase. 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 trail. Apart
from the excitement of chasing down the wily hare, solving the
hare's marks and reaching the end was its own reward, for there,
thirsty harriers would find a tub of iced-down beer.
Hashing died during World War II (Japanese occupying forces
being notoriously opposed to civilian fun), but came back to
life in the post-war years, spreading slowly through Singapore,
Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand, then exploding in popularity
in the late 70s and early 80s. Today there are thousands of
Hash House Harrier clubs in all parts of the world, complete
with newsletters, directories, and regional and world hashing
conventions.
Despite its growth, hashing hasn't strayed far from its British
and Malaysian roots. A typical hash "kennel" 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 or a diet soda,
trail's end 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!
If you'd like to try hashing, there's probably a group in your
area.
Why not check it out?
Booger's
Hash Primer ©1995 by Flying Booger
Originally published in Hawaii RacePlace Magazine, June 1995
Although
begun by expatriate Poms 60 years ago in Malaysia, hashing is
now a world-wide phenomena with over 1,700 hash clubs and 75,000
active harriers. It is particularly strong in Australia, North
America, Asia and the UK.
Basically
an evening with the "Hash" consists of:
1.
A Run:
A trail is laid by one of the hashers
(the hare). The trail is pre-laid by the hare
and consists of chalk or flour marks, or pieces of paper, depending
on the hare. At a given signal the rest of the hash, the "pack"
set off on the trail. When hashers are running on the trail
they can be heard yelling "On On". The idea is that there will
be regular checks with false trails, so that the pack stays
somewhat together. Fast and energetic runners fan out looking
for the true trail. Less energetic hashers gather at the check,
calling "are you" (on trail) to those actually checking. Having
encountered a false trail, hashers may be heard yelling "On
back" which saves other hashers continuing down that path. The
length and difficulty of the run depends on the hare, but will
typically be between 5 and 8 km - usually about an hour. Fit
bastards will usually run longer, after checking out a number
of false trails.
2. A Circle:
When the run is over the harriers gather together to drink beer
and observe their "religious ceremonies" which consist of drinking
more beer, this time "ritualistically". Down downs (sculling)
are given to the hare, newcomers, and anyone else who has in
some way "sinned" or stuffed up. The ceremonies can last a couple
of minutes or half the night depending on the level of religious
fervor of the hash. Depending on the nature of a particular
hash the Circle may become somewhat debauched, (if you are lucky).
The
Circle and the Spirit of Hashing (external link)
Deep
Thoughts on Religion (external link)
3.
The Nosh:
Most hashes suspend the religious activities for a while to
eat the "nosh" - some retire to a local restaurant where more
beer is drunk and food served. Religious and social activities
then continue. If you read the above carefully it should be
apparent to you why the hash has been called a "drinking club
with a running problem."
Parts
of text borrowed from the Darwin H3 page
HASH
RULES
From the Adelaide HHH, South Australia
1.
No poofters.
2.
There is no rule 2.
3.
See rule 1. No poofters.
4.
No stealing (see hereunder - definition of stealing):
Stealing - the covert removal of another Hashman's property
with the intention of depriving said Hashman of such property
for an indefinite period of time.
5.
No stealing, but borrowing is okay (see hereunder the definition
of borrowing):
