|
|
Hashing takes the form of a sawdust chase beginning and ending at a place decided by one, or two (preferred) volunteer members (hares) who are responsible for the organisation of that week’s meeting. The course (trail) is laid with a number of breaks (checks) so that the less fit (backmarkers) can pause for breath while the more athletic (frontrunners) search for the next stage. Runners who by some chance happen to be in front shout the famed Hash Cry ‘ON ON’ so that those behind can follow the calls rather than the trail. Upon coming to a check, they shout ‘CHECKING’ until the next part of the trail is found, thereafter ‘ON ON’ etc. Hashers run at a gentle and becoming pace and help their less fit fellows rather than make a dirty dash for the finish leaving the slower ones to find the trail and their way home, unaided. Blandford Hash House Harriers is registered with the UK Hash House Harriers which has onward links with the International Hash House Harriers (Interhash) which is organised by Kuala Lumpur Hash House Harriers, ‘The Mother Hash’ where the Hash found its origin at the Selangor Club in 1938. There are now 225 branches of the Hash House Harriers in the UK and some 1645 registered worldwide. Each is an independent club with its own rules and individuality, but all are linked by a common bond of informality, international spirit and a desire to perpetuate the traditions of Hashing. Responsibility for the direction, control and operation of Blandford Hash House Harriers is vested in the Committee as follows:
The ’On Sec keeps the Hash records, maintaining the membership list with the number of runs completed and trails laid by each member which appears at the end of the weekly Hash Words. ’On Sec also maintains the Hash database of when and where trails have been laid and holds some maps for recce purposes. 'On Cash will collect dues from members at the beginning of each Hash. The amount will be determined by the Committee and will be sufficient to cover the cost of the first round of reviving drinks, tankards and other awards, and general administration expenses. Any balance which may accrue will be credited to Hash funds and used for the general benefit of the members. Hash funds are audited regularly. ’On Cash is also the Hash stock-keeper, procuring Hash T-shirts and awards for the membership. The Hash is a non-profit making organisation. ’On Badger encourages members to take their fair share of Hash laying responsibilities and ’On Dust assists with the necessary resources. ’On Words nominates a Wordster for each trail and distributes the completed essay to all members by electronic means. They are also dispatched to ’On Line for publication on the BH3 website at www.ewzz.co.uk/bh3. The website is used as a notice board for BH3 members and is a useful additional record of BH3 events and mug-ratings. In the absence of the relevant Committee member at the Hash, other Committee members who are present will ensure that the absentee’s Hash duties are carried out. There are very few rules but experience has proved the wisdom of the following:
Winter Months (after the clocks have gone back): Consistent attendance on runs will be recognised by the award of the following:
Alternative awards may be considered by the Committee for special services to the Hash. Certificates will be presented to all members on leaving. Hares are responsible for all arrangements for the week’s Hash. This includes:
THE PRELIMINARIES Trails must always be properly recce’d in advance of the Hash to ensure a good run and thus avoid unkindly and cynical comment from the ’On Pres or the nominated Wordster. Ideally it should also be run by the Hares after it has been laid to make certain that it meets the criteria in the following paragraphs. This will also afford the opportunity to make fine adjustments to the trail if they are necessary. It should be remembered that an Olympic Champion does not lurk within all of us. At the start of the week’s Hash, Hares must brief the assembly on the salient points of the trail covering such things as its estimated length and duration, the number of checks and false trails that have been laid, warnings about roads, crops, swamps and other hazards and obstacles which will be en¬countered, and anything else which is relevant, or irrelevant, which they wish to mention, but always ending up with clear instructions on how to get at the beer at the end of the run. Having done that with a loud and distinct cry of ‘ON ON’ they must lead the ‘Pack’ (everyone who has turned up) to the start of the trail. THE TRAIL The sawdust trail is laid in ‘Blobs’ or ‘Dabs’ (H3 technical terms) and it should commence within 50 metres from the start point. Once it has been picked up by the Pack, the blobs should have been laid with enough consistency (not too much sawdust, not too little) and at sufficiently frequent intervals so that it can be followed easily without having to pause to search for it whilst running. On no account should a trail be laid across crops or land used for grazing or under any type of cultivation. The frequency of the blobs depends entirely on the ground which is being run over; long open areas or tracks where the trail can be seen from some distance away can be fairly wide apart, whilst in close country such as woods or undergrowth, they should be much closer together. Deviations such as sharp turns from a path into a wood or field, or in close country or at a crossroads must be clearly and un¬mistakably indicated by more frequent blobs or even a sawdust arrow pointing in the direction of the deviation, unless using the Checkback ruse. It is also very important that outgoing and incoming trails are not too close together and that one part of a trail is not laid adjacent to another since it is almost certain that if they are, some runners will pick up the wrong part of the trail. The last 500 metres of any run, or when the blessed end is in sight, should be a clear run home marked by the On-In (BHHH/BH3 in sawdust). CHECKS The trail should contain several checks, which should be spread out along the length of the trail and occur where paths or tracks cross, in open areas or in woods where the ground affords the best opportunity for the next part of the trail to recommence in any direction without it being obvious where that is likely to be. Checks help to keep the Pack together. The check is to be clearly marked with 3 blobs of sawdust in the form of a triangle in a prominent position. The next part of the trail (the On – confirmed after 3 or 4 blobs) should start 100 to 150 metres or so from the check and should be reasonably, but not impossibly, difficult to find. The first and probably second blob of trash from the check should be concealed behind a tree or bush to prevent it being seen from a distance so that the Hasher who finds it ‘comes across it’ rather than spotting it from some way off. This will slow up the proceedings sufficiently for the backmarkers to catch up with the frontrunners and give them a chance to recoup some of their flagging energy. Whilst searching for the correct trail, a degree of reassurance is obtained from knowing that others haven’t found it yet either and this is done by calling ‘ARE YOU’ and everyone replying ‘CHECKING’ until someone happens to come upon the new trail. It is also useful to indicate the progress of the check by informing the gasping Pack how many blobs have been discovered and calling ‘ON ONE’, ‘ON TWO’ as appropriate until either the ON or a False Trail have been found. When the ‘ON’ is espied, the finder should, as an act of mercy, see that the slower runners have reached the check and give them a moment to recover before revealing the secret. Having allowed a reasonable time, he/she must then cry ‘ON ON’ loudly, clearly and repeatedly to ensure that the poor devils who are still searching 400 metres away in a diametrically opposite direction can hear it and, after the usual muttered oath, set off in the direction of the cries. It is most important that calling is good throughout the trail but particularly at checks for slower runners are more often than not guided by sound rather than sight in close country, and if they are unable to hear calls, they will soon become lost. If the trail is temporarily ‘misplaced’ then the frontrunners should call out ‘LOOKING’ as distinct from ‘CHECKING’ to warn those behind to keep a sharp look out. FALSE TRAILS False trails are probably the most misunderstood and wrongly used tactic in any trail. Denounced as an abominable evil by many H3s, they are in fact a ‘Perfectly Permissible Ploy’ (PPP), but there is no obligation on the part of the Hares to lay a false trail if they do not wish to. When laid, however, it should be as difficult to find as the real trail. It should also be sufficiently long to encourage those Hashers who hang around the check in an unhasherlike manner to think that it is the real trail. It should be terminated by a cross of sawdust which the checker can indicate by crossed arms. CHECKBACKS The Checkback is most definitely a PPP with which to catch out the unheeding frontrunner and allow the backmarkers to gain ground. It is normally placed after a concealed 90° deviation, some 50 metres further along what would have been the straight route. It is marked by a smiley face and sends those who come across it back to the last blob seen to take up the trail in a different direction. (Sometimes the Pack must return to the previous check, a variation that should be advised from the outset of the run). HASH HALTS & WHIP-INS The Hash Halt, marked by a line of sawdust across the trail, should always be used to regroup the pack before crossing a busy road or railway line. A Whip In, marked by a ‘W’, may also be used to break up a particularly long, straight leg (although better planning by the Hares should avoid this). An ad hoc Whip-In may also be called by the Hares or Hounds if the pack has become too spread out, although more judicious use of economical routes is preferred, as hot Hashers do not like standing around getting cold!
Variations On A Theme For a 'live lay', variations on the normal trail markings are permissible. Simply marking the trail with blobs and omitting checks etc is allowable and expedient. Indeed, some hares (the more idle ones) prefer this method for non-live lays. But, consider, this does not work so well for the more intricate trail, where there are cross-overs for example, and it speeds up the Hash, reducing the 'catching breath' time. HARES To reiterate, among their many other duties, Hares must ensure that no one becomes lost. A well laid trail can do a lot to see that this does not happen, but as a precaution one Hare should run with the frontrunners (as far as she is able) and the other with the backmarkers as a ‘sweeper-up’ of lost, lame or weary runners. In the case of one Hare only, then the latter role should be adopted. If the trail cannot be found at a check, then after a reasonable time, and long before runners become irritated and abusive, they should indicate the general direction in which the next part of the trail starts. They must not, however, lead the pack. Hares are always encouraged to use their imagination and ingenuity when designing a trail, and so long as the spirit of the Hash and rules are maintained, and it is within the law, there is no limit to what they may organise.
Hash Brash: A vulgarly assertive Hasher - a thankfully rare species. Hash Cash: That which makes up Hash funds. Alternative name for ’On Cash. Hash Clash: A disagreement between two members. Hash Crash: Occurs when two or more Hashers collide in full cry or one becomes entangled in the undergrowth. Hash Dash: The agonising sprint to the finish of the run. Hash Fash: Hash gear worn by the self-perceived trendy set. Not encouraged. Hash Flash: The Hash photographer and purveyor of Hash Snaps. Hash Haberdash: Hash T-Shirts. Hashed Hash: An abominably laid trail. Hash Lash: The act of ‘pushing the boat out’ by departing or newly promoted members. Hash Pash: Public displays of affection not allowed on the Hash. Hash Rash: The lacerations incurred after grappling with untamed vegetation. Hash Splash: An intentional, or otherwise, dip in a river, pool or lake during or after a Hash. Hash Tash: Can only be claimed if grown by a member since joining. Hash Trash: Sawdust or other material used for trail laying. Hash Thrash: The social gathering to which we invite our non-hashing friends and relations. When my ageing limbs can no longer run, When the weekly Hash stops being fun, If I can't sup my ale when the trail is done, Then I'll quit. When my chest gets too tight - as it’s doing today, When my glasses are broke and I can’t see the way, When I say that the Hares deserve some praise, Then I’ll quit. When the aches have not stopped by next week’s trail, When a shine has replaced my present grey mane, When I think the Committee are almost sane, Then I’ll quit. Though the season gets longer, as seasons do, And the tree stumps and branches leave me black and blue, Will I stop while there’s trash and an ON ON or two? Not bloody likely! Back to the Top of The Page Article from Time Asia Magazine of 11th August 2002: When the Beer Doesn't Run Out The hills are alive with the sound of 'hashing' BY ARYN The sharp yelps of a pack on the run reverberate through the hills behind Parkview, one of Hong Kong's posher gated communities. A plaintive "where are you?" cry from within the bush is answered by a chorus of "checking," followed by individual shouts of "chalk" and "flour." Moments later a triumphant "on on!" rings out, a bugle sounds the battle charge, and the runners, dripping with sweat, burst from the underbrush. Casually slinging quips, jokes and benign insults with the easy camaraderie of old acquaintances, the 30-large herd mills around a clearing, in search of the next sign marked by chalk or flour to show where to go. These are the wild and wacky Hash House Harriers,  part jogging group, part frat party—and self-described "drinking club with a running problem." "Hashers" trot and sprint together not just for exercise but to socialize and banter (in their own arcane jargon), and to quaff copious amounts of beer that cancel out the very health benefits they gain from running. Many people—mostly expatriates— find the mix appealing, and "hash" chapters have mushroomed in cities worldwide.
The tradition was begun in 1938 by A. S. Gisbert, a Kuala Lumpur-based British expat. Inspired by paper chase clubs he had first seen in action while stationed in Malacca, Gisbert persuaded his colleagues to "hunt" with him, on foot rather than horseback. Gisbert, as the hare, would mark long, meandering trails through the brush with chalk arrows and piles of flour. The hounds or "harriers," would set off soon after, in hopes of "capturing" the hare before he finished the trail. The reward at the end of the run, whether or not the hare was caught, was cold beer for all. The group would start out from the company mess hall, dubbed the "hash house" for its dubious cuisine, and soon became known as the Hash House Harriers. They drafted a charter that to this day is still closely followed: to promote fitness among members, to get rid of weekend hangovers, to acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer, and to persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel. "It's like the McDonald's of social clubs," says Howard Franks, a veteran Hong Kong hasher. "You know exactly what you are going to get: running and beer." Each run follows a simple formula: an hour or so of hare and hounds followed by a bout of drinking and eating, followed by yet more drinking by those still standing. The beer, combined with the often strenuous running, builds a quick camaraderie among hashers. It also makes it easy for people to drop in and visit a hash. After one or two drinks, everyone, fast or slow, shy or loud, feels at home. Depending on the club (there are nearly a dozen in Hong Kong alone), the amount of drinking varies from an optional cold one at the finish to a supervised "down-down" of several beers in quick succession, due to some violation of an obscure—and quite possibly made-up on the spot—hashing law. While the rules vary from group to group, one is a constant: anyone caught wearing new sneakers will be punished with an extra large serving of beer—drunk from the offending shoe. Despite hashing's international veneer, a finely wrought British toilet humor still predominates in hash circles—the post-run roundup of jokes, insults and infractions. The naming of newcomers, a long-standing hash tradition usually accompanied by a liberal anointment of beer and flour, can border on the obscene. "You aren't supposed to like your hash name," says Martin ("Camel") Luzon, so dubbed for his long legs and loping gait. "Usually it's some sort of caricature, or comes from something that happened on a run." He cites the example of "Skidmark," an unfortunate hasher caught with his pants down on the side of the trail. Franks, for the record, is "Baby Puke." In Hong Kong, there are hashes for men, women, mixed groups and serious runners. There is even a hash for adrenaline junkies: the T8 hash boasts that "we run for fun when everyone else runs for cover"—it ventures out when the strength of a typhoon slamming into Hong Kong is graded eight, just one level below the full intensity of a direct hit. Regardless of each group's idiosyncrasies, one characteristic that never changes is that every hash is open to newcomers. "A hash, no matter where, is always welcoming," says Justin ("Secret Passage") Searle. "You can go to any city in the world, show up at a hash and immediately find a social group. It's a great way to meet people, and discover parts of the city you would never find on your own." All they ask is that you pay a small fee to offset the cost of drinks, have a positive attitude, and are prepared to have fun. Just be sure to follow the advice of Hong Kong native Shreedhar "Marmalade Head" Natarajan. "Bring water, a torch and a good sense of humor." And, never, ever wear new shoes. Back to the Top of The Page
[ Hash Words ] [ Search ] [ Contact Us ] [ Home ] |
