It may sound as if hashing is something done to dinner leftovers at breakfast time, but for lovers of running and beer, it’s a cross-country chase with a hangover prize.
Hashing was founded in 1938 in Kuala Lumpur by Alberto Stephano Ignatius Gispert, a Briton of Catalonian descent who equally loved running and socializing. He formed the Hash House Harriers, a running group named after the Selangor Club Chambers which, due to the plain food served, was commonly known as the ‘Hash House’.
Hashing is similar to the game of Hare and Hounds played at Rugby School since 1837. A ‘hare’ lays a paper trail which a pack of ‘harriers’ follows cross country. The hare will attempt to throw the pack off the scent by laying false trails while the pack checks each trail, calling “On-on” to each other once the true one has been found.
Once the run is complete, the pack gathers in a ‘circle’ where hashers are penalized by the hash master for misdemeanours such as short-cutting, false calling of on-on, tampering with trail markings or just about anything that appeals to pack mentality. Punishment is in the form of a ‘down-down’ in which the offender must sink a mug of beer or other refreshing drink.
Hashing was initially spread by the expat community and now includes over 1,800 hashes in every major city in the world: even Antarctica can boast the Deep Freeze and Brass Monkey hashes. The sport has developed its own traditions such as members adopting a hash name related to something in their real life or some embarrassing incident.
A collection of mountains, jungle, rocky river beds, beaches and 230 South China Sea islands – and with 60 percent of its land in country parks – Hong Kong is a hashers’ paradise. The scenery is breathtaking but, sadly, so is the air pollution. However, fresher air can be found in the mountains and islands and some of the best runs are set on Lantau, with the ‘circle’ held on a junk on the return trip – though multiple down-downs and choppy seas are not for the faint-hearted. With a land mass half that of Mauritius, Hong Kong is, amazingly, home to 12 hashes…
The Hong Kong Hash formed in 1970 is the oldest, and quite possibly made up of the oldest hashers. It is a men-only hash that runs on Monday nights as does the Kowloon Hash, which was originally formed for residents of Kowloon before regular cross-harbour transport links were established.
The Ladies’ Hong Kong Hash runs on a Tuesday and seems to attract as many men as women. However, they follow a rule that men may not front-run and transgressors are swiftly chastised by the ‘hash mattress’.
On Wednesday nights both the Little Sai Wan and Northern New Territories hashes run. The latter, as the name suggests, tends to run in the New Territories and the former is famous for its marathon trails.
Thursday is the night of the Royal South Side Hash, a gentlemen’s organization and one of only two to retain the ‘Royal’ in their name after the handover. Rumour has it they don’t actually hold a charter from Queen Elizabeth – but surely gentlemen would never lie! The South Siders run in pink and black livery but absolutely refute all accusations of being a gay hash. Their hash master swears he has never seen Brokeback Mountain, although he does admit to owning a cowboy hat.
One Saturday each month the Free China Hash sets an unusually long run, normally on one of Hong Kong’s picturesque islands. Famous for hilarious circles, these guys party well into the night. Also monthly on Saturdays, Hash House Horrors is an event for mini hashers in the making, although they are often more energetic on the trail than their supposedly hash-fit parents.
Sunday is the day for the Sek Kong and Wanchai hashes. Sek Kong was formed from British military personnel but is still going strong. The Wanchai Hash was originally set up to cater for the many domestic helpers with spare time on Sundays, and the sad old gwailos who have nothing better to do than chase around after long-haired, nubile, lycra-clad Filipina harriettes.
It is home to the renowned Flipper Boat Race Team lead by ex-grand mattress Rawhide. This team of under-5ft tall girls challenges all-comers to beer-drinking competitions and are as yet unbeaten. Even the mighty US and British navies have slunk back to their ships, their tails between their legs. Some have hurled accusations of cheating, not drinking all their beer, getting the sailors drunk before the race and spiking the Navy drinks. But cheating in the Wanchai Hash? Never!
Hong Kong is also home to the T8 Hash which only runs when a typhoon level 8 warning is called. They are quite rightly known as ‘the most dangerous hash in the world’. The last event circled up amongst palm trees that were literally being uprooted as the hash master was handing out down-downs.
And last but not least is the occasional Blood Run Hash, a run, or rather crawl, around the bars of Hong Kong.
Often the various hashes will come together to organize joint events. Two such are the Santa Hash each Christmas, which involves running through downtown Hong Kong in Santa costumes raising money for Operation Santa, and the recent Nash (National) Hash, the ‘forbidden hash’, which attracted runners from all over the world.
Hashing is as much about socializing as it is running. It is a great way to meet people, see bits of Hong Kong you normally wouldn’t know existed and have some fun. In fact, in 1950 the stated goals of the Kuala Lumpur hash were:
1. To promote physical fitness
2. To get rid of weekend hangovers
3. To acquire and satisfy a good thirst with beer
To persuade older members they are not as old as they feel.
The sport caters for all ages, all levels of fitness and all nationalities. It’s not without good reason a hash is often referred to as ‘a drinking club with a running problem’.
 Biography of a Hasher
Haggis has lived in HK and hashed in SE Asia for five years: he has run with every hash in Hong Kong. Current grand master of the Blood Run Hash, ex-assistant grand master and religious advisor of the Wanchai Hash and a regular Royal South Side hasher, Haggis is happiest when ‘tail-gating’ long-haired, nubile, lycra-clad Filipina harriettes… who isn’t?
|
Kuznetsova and Lindsay Davenport and the prettiest of the rest Elena Dementieva, Zheng Jie, Yan Zi and Nicole Vaidisova. Eight beautiful women sweating and grunting around a mainly empty Victoria Park. Which is a shame, as the Victoria Park court is a compact and imitate venue to get an up close and personal view of the action. As it’s an exhibition event, the players are more relaxed - and if past tournaments are any indication - willing to pose for photos and autographs. Watson’s have spent a large chunk of change to bring these ladies here, so drop bye and make them feel at home. What: Watson’s Water Champions Challenge When: January 3-6 Where: Victoria Park How Much: $280-680 Enquiries: www.watsonswaterchallenge.com
