Golf and sport on Hua Hin Today

Hash House Harriers & the Hua Hin Hash today

Hare and Hounds as an adult sport began in the fall of 1867 with a group of London oarsmen who wanted to keep fit during the winter. Also called "Paper Chasing" or the "Paper Chase," the game became very popular after its introduction on Wimbledon Common in 1868 by the Thames Hare and Hounds. Early clubs called themselves "Hare and Hounds" or simply "Harriers."

THE HASH IS BORN
The Hash House Harriers as we know it today was founded in Malaya (now Malaysia) by Albert Stephen Ignatius Gispert, an English chartered accountant.

It was sometime during 1937 when Gispert (or simply "G" as he was known to his friends) acquired a taste for the paper chase with the Springgit Harriers in Malacca (also in Malaya). Shortly after being transferred by his accounting firm to Kuala Lumpur he gathered together a number of fellow expatriate businessmen to form a harrier group. The first run was held in December 1938 and the founding members included Cecil H. Lee, Frederick "Horse" Thomson, Eric Galvin, H.M. Doig, and Ronald "Torch" Bennet.

The group's name came about primarily because local authorities required legal registration of the club. While the "Kuala Lumpur Harriers" would have appeared a logical choice, "G" decided instead to use the nickname for the Selangor Club where a number of the local harriers both lived and took their meals. It seems that due to its lackluster food, the dining room was commonly referred to as the "Hash House."

The philosophy of the original Hash House Harriers from the 1938 charter:
- To promote physical fitness among its members
- To get rid of weekend hangovers
- To acquire a good thirst and to satisfy it in beer
- To persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel

MODERN HARRIERS
Hashing in Kuala Lumpur was suspended during the World War II occupation by Japanese forces, but then reestablished after peace returned. It wasn't long before the hash began slowly spreading around the world. Former members of the original Hash House Harriers started a hash in 1947 near Milan, Italy, but it wasn't until 1962 that the next group was formed in Singapore. The Singapore Hash was gradually followed by others until in 1973 there were approximately 35 hashes in 14 countries.

Harrier International Magazine (1978-1997)

Subsequently, the hash began spreading like wildfire and the number of hashes soon climbed into the hundreds by the early 1980s. Today (1999) there are some 1,700 active hashes in over 180 countries, including approximately 350 in the United States.

Hua Hin Hash House Harriers
On the 8th of July 2000, the Hua Hin Hash House Harriers (H2H3) was begun by Tom & May Crowley along with several other local runners. A trail of finely shredded paper was set out in the boondocks by the hares' and then the trail was pursued by the pack until the end was found. With no end of hash trails in sight, the H2H3 celebrates 6 years on July to an ever increasing membership. Half of the hashers are runners, and half are walkers. Half are boys and half are girls. Half are Thai and half are farang. They all have one thing in common: "If you have half a mind to join the hash, that�s all you need."

It is emphasized that the hash is much more social than athletic. Though we have some very serious runners among the membership, we also have some folks who are very serious about not moving from the car park at all. Some enjoy just resting� in the car park while the runners roam the country side and the walkers wend their way through the woods enjoying the scenery, the weather, and the camaraderie.

Most often, the hares� will scout out a trail in the woods around Hua Hin or Cha Am to ensure that a trail can be set beginning and ending at the car park without running into obstacles such as fences, dog packs, planted crops, klongs, etc. Then, just before the run, the hares lay the trail with shredded paper, flour, or both. Normally, there will be several false trails to slow down the lead runners and keep the pack running together in order to keep the front runners out of the cooler before everyone else.

There are often separate trails for walkers and runners and both are planned for about an hour each. The hash is usually held on Saturday beginning in the early evening. The trails are run or walked and then back at the car park at the cooler the requisite hash nonsense commences with the down-down of plenty of cold beer. Fortunately for many hashers, there are also plenty of non-alcohol beverages including lots of cold water. Munchies abound also.

It is at the circle� that the Grand Master or the Religious Advisor gathers the group to welcome new members, welcome back snowbird hashers, and to sing silly songs and talk hash trash in general. Once the cooler is empty or the sun has set, the hashers head for home or to a pre-determined pub or restaurant for some more hash fun and maybe some more beer and grub.

Everyone is welcome to join the hash. Singles, couples, families and friends of all ages and nationalities are encouraged to join the fun. It�s a great way to see the country, to meet new friends, and to get a bit of exercise if you are so inclined.

Please take a look at the KobWeb, www.huahin-hhh.com for information about the Hua Hin Hash House Harriers. If you don't use a computer, call Don Tetley at 05-088-7181, Keith Twitchell at 06-077-3690, or Rolo at 06-164-8098. There is also the Cha Am HHH, www.cha-am-hash.com. Call David Vincent at 07-932-3327. Every Saturday there is a hash run in the Hua Hin and Cha Am areas. Both hash groups are really the same people with few exceptions. Please get your long pants off, come and get in the weeds in the woods with us.

For bicyclist, join the recently formed Hua Cha Hash Pedalers. We're much like a hash but on wheels instead of on foot. Next trip will be June 11 or 12. Look at the KobWeb, www.huahin-hhh.com for info on this.