| A Little About Us |
(article from "Cha-Am Today" May 2010)
Who We Are
In Cha-Am there are a group of hardy souls that meet each Saturday afternoon to yomp up mountains, scrabble through scrubland,
march over sand hills and hike amongst the jungle greenery. Who is this bunch of assorted miscreants and why do they do this? They
are the Cha-Am Hash House Harriers and they “hash” mainly because they have been promised bucketfuls of beer, a sing-song and
the chance to spin a yarn or two with a few mates.
The Hash House Harriers (HHH) were formed in 1938 by a group of British officers stationed in Kuala Lumpur. They realised that after
the excesses of the weekend they felt lethargic and stodgy. They decided to get a “hare” (a man with a bag full of shredded paper) to
lay a paper trail in the jungle surrounding the base whilst the “hounds” (the rest of the men) gave chase, following the paper until they
found the trail’s end. Celebrating the success of this event they returned to their clubhouse (known as the “Hash House” because of
the boring food) and drank lots more beer; necessitating another run the following week. Sadly, World War Two intervened and the
early Hashers disbanded, with one of its founder members, Mr A.S. Gispert, being killed in Singapore in 1942. However, the remaining
members regrouped after the war and continued the tradition. Setting a trail, following a trail, drinking and (in those days) smoking
once the exercise was out of the way. Thus, the Hash House Harriers were born.
Who We Are
In Cha-Am there are a group of hardy souls that meet each Saturday afternoon to yomp up mountains, scrabble through scrubland,
march over sand hills and hike amongst the jungle greenery. Who is this bunch of assorted miscreants and why do they do this? They
are the Cha-Am Hash House Harriers and they “hash” mainly because they have been promised bucketfuls of beer, a sing-song and
the chance to spin a yarn or two with a few mates.
The Hash House Harriers (HHH) were formed in 1938 by a group of British officers stationed in Kuala Lumpur. They realised that after
the excesses of the weekend they felt lethargic and stodgy. They decided to get a “hare” (a man with a bag full of shredded paper) to
lay a paper trail in the jungle surrounding the base whilst the “hounds” (the rest of the men) gave chase, following the paper until they
found the trail’s end. Celebrating the success of this event they returned to their clubhouse (known as the “Hash House” because of
the boring food) and drank lots more beer; necessitating another run the following week. Sadly, World War Two intervened and the
early Hashers disbanded, with one of its founder members, Mr A.S. Gispert, being killed in Singapore in 1942. However, the remaining
members regrouped after the war and continued the tradition. Setting a trail, following a trail, drinking and (in those days) smoking
once the exercise was out of the way. Thus, the Hash House Harriers were born.
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Modern day Hashes (or Kennels) can be found all over the world. There are over two thousand Kennels worldwide and approximately
100,000 Hashers. In our local area we are lucky enough to have two Kennels; our own Cha-Am HHH and the neighbouring Hua Hin HHH.
The Cha-Am and Hua Hin Hashes run on alternate Saturdays; so if it isn’t one Kennel’s turn it is the other’s. There are too many Hash
traditions to mention here, but one of the more humorous ones is that Hashers get given a “Hash Name” this is usually a name that refers
to a physical characteristic “Chicken Legs”, height “Long Ron”, profession “Old Macdonald” or taste in clothing “Lily the Pink”.
Hashers describe themselves as “drinkers with a running problem” and say that “if you’ve half a mind to try hashing, that’s all you need!”
Hashing is not all about running and it certainly is not about competing. Most Hashes are suited to both the fleet of foot and the more
ambulatory members of the pack. The trails will often have a split where the runners go one way and the walkers go another; this means
that both kinds of Hasher are catered for in one event.
100,000 Hashers. In our local area we are lucky enough to have two Kennels; our own Cha-Am HHH and the neighbouring Hua Hin HHH.
The Cha-Am and Hua Hin Hashes run on alternate Saturdays; so if it isn’t one Kennel’s turn it is the other’s. There are too many Hash
traditions to mention here, but one of the more humorous ones is that Hashers get given a “Hash Name” this is usually a name that refers
to a physical characteristic “Chicken Legs”, height “Long Ron”, profession “Old Macdonald” or taste in clothing “Lily the Pink”.
Hashers describe themselves as “drinkers with a running problem” and say that “if you’ve half a mind to try hashing, that’s all you need!”
Hashing is not all about running and it certainly is not about competing. Most Hashes are suited to both the fleet of foot and the more
ambulatory members of the pack. The trails will often have a split where the runners go one way and the walkers go another; this means
that both kinds of Hasher are catered for in one event.
The Hash begins with a short briefing, or Circle, where the Hares will describe the kind of trail that they have laid, they will show the Hashers the kind of paper they
have used and inform the group if there are any “checks”, noisy local dogs, geographical hazards or if there is the possibility of false trails. Once the group is
briefed there is a cry of “On On!” and the pack heads towards the beginning of the trail. Throughout the Hash you will hear other Hashers shouting “On On!” when
they are in sight of the paper trail. Sometimes the pack will hear “Checking”; this means that the front of the pack has reached a “check”.
have used and inform the group if there are any “checks”, noisy local dogs, geographical hazards or if there is the possibility of false trails. Once the group is
briefed there is a cry of “On On!” and the pack heads towards the beginning of the trail. Throughout the Hash you will hear other Hashers shouting “On On!” when
they are in sight of the paper trail. Sometimes the pack will hear “Checking”; this means that the front of the pack has reached a “check”.
| Checks are a way of keeping the pack together, a chalk or powder circle is laid on the ground and two crossed sticks or branches are placed in the centre. At the check, the paper trail stops abruptly, with no paper to be seen ahead. The Hashers who reach the check first are expected to search the surrounding area (anything up to a 100m radius) and find where the trail resumes. Shouts of “Are You?” (which means “does anyone have a clue where the trail is?”) will also be heard until the trail is found again. Once someone finds where the trail resumes, they give the call “On On!” letting the rest of the pack now that they are back “on paper” and the trail is found. Off the pack goes again, over whatever terrain the paper has been laid. It is at this point that everyone hopes that they are not following a false trail; if this happens the whole pack has to turn around and go back to the check to find where the genuine trail really resumes. |
Everything is very good natured, the camaraderie is palpable, and some Hashers use the Hash as an opportunity
to have a good chat with their friends as they make their way around the countryside. Hashers also have the
advantage of getting to see some of the most beautiful scenery that the local area has to offer.
to have a good chat with their friends as they make their way around the countryside. Hashers also have the
advantage of getting to see some of the most beautiful scenery that the local area has to offer.
Hashes typically last an hour for both runners and walkers; the trail will go through every kind of landscape that you
can imagine. Dried up reservoirs, scrubby mountains, cow tracks, deserted railway lines, pineapple groves – you
name it and you can bet it has been well and truly Hashed.
Hashers like their trails to be “shiggy”, a Hash term for brush, brambles, mud, sand and all other manner of natural
elements. Most Hashers have stories of encounters with elephants, snakes, monkeys, chickens, dogs and other wild-
life.
As yet, no Cha-Am Hasher has ever been gobbled up by a tiger or squished by a hippopotamus!
can imagine. Dried up reservoirs, scrubby mountains, cow tracks, deserted railway lines, pineapple groves – you
name it and you can bet it has been well and truly Hashed.
Hashers like their trails to be “shiggy”, a Hash term for brush, brambles, mud, sand and all other manner of natural
elements. Most Hashers have stories of encounters with elephants, snakes, monkeys, chickens, dogs and other wild-
life.
As yet, no Cha-Am Hasher has ever been gobbled up by a tiger or squished by a hippopotamus!
| At the end of the trail is the Beer Truck; Hashers can quench their thirst with copious amounts of cold beer (or soft drinks if preferred) and recount their experiences on the day’s Hash. Once the whole pack is returned and there has been a head count to ensure no-one has got lost or eaten by tigers, the Circle is formed. The Circle is a Hash tradition and it is a way of having a little fun at the end of the Hash. In Cha-Am the GM (Grand Master) is Dave the Rave, he is charged with keeping the unruly Hashers in some kind of order. He will call various people into the Circle and present them with a “Down Down”; this is a beer that is drunk in one go whilst the other Hashers sing in encouragement. Hares, visitors, virgin Hashers and other groups may well be called upon to have a “Down Down” and get good-naturedly ribbed by the rest of the Hash. The Circle will often sing rowdy songs, tell jokes or just generally behave like a bunch of naughty school-kids. The atmosphere is friendly and there is always much fun to be had by all. After the Circle has ended the Hashers adjourn to a local restaurant or cafe (for the OnOnOn) where they have more beer and a hearty meal. Most go home feeling happy and healthy, all looking forward to the next Hash. |
A check found on the trail
