LSW H3
Guide To Hashing
Here follows information about the LSW
Hash. It might come in handy for new runners and particulary prospective
hares. It might also serve as a distraction for the terminally bored or
Attention Deficiency Disorder sufferers who were meant to be doing
something else on the computer.
Receding Hareline
The
receding Hareline is a list of forthcoming runs, showing the run number,
date, hares, and when known the location of the run. The principle is that
everyone running the Hash should take turns in setting a run. With about
130 active Hashers, and an average of two Hashers setting a run, one can
expect to set a run per year. Not unreasonable for the other 51 weeks of
fun!
It's better to volunteer for a run, rather than being press
ganged – one can choose a convenient date.Trying to find someone else
to set your run on a 25th of December because you have family commitments
can prove to be remarkably tricky.
The Hash has been counting its runs
since run number 1, which seemed like a jolly fine place to start, and the
1500th run will be on the 14th of
January 2006. Anniversary runs marking 50th, 100th,
special numbered runs etc, are usually set at a different location, often
on a Saturday with pleasantly illustrated commemorative T-shirts provided to add to the collection piling up in ones wardrobe.
Hares
The job
of the Hares is a not an easy one. Most runs go well, a few don't. If
you've set a run you'll realise how much effort goes into it, often the
hares taking a half day off to set the run. Don't be too critical of them
- they'll probably get loads of down downs in the event of a fiasco.
The Hares should :-
- Attend the run the week before their own
run in order to.....
- Write up and submit the Hash News, along
with details of where their run will be, how to get to it and where the
On On will be.
- Recce the proposed route before actually
setting it.
- Organise a location for the start of the
run (ideally sheltered in case of bad weather).
- Organise The Bins (cold drinks after the
run).
- Organise the On On (restaurant for
dinner and down downs).
- Collect money for the food at the end,
and include a small amount per head for Down-Down beers.
If you are a Virgin Hare,
it's best to set a run with a more experienced Hasher. There are plenty
around who will after a fair amount of nagging be willing to help. Despite
the description of the markings below, it is no substitute for having an
Old Hand help you.
When setting a run, buy chalk well in advance from
a local Chinese stationery store (HK$5 per box) - it can be quite hard to find, and the big bookshop chains do not invariably stock it. As a guideline an average run
with two people setting, take a box of chalk each, and a couple of bags of
flour each.
Hash News
The
Hash News is sent out weekly via email with an account
of the last run, and details of the forthcoming run. This is written up by
the Hare setting the next run, and sent to Ruggero who forwards it to the
rest of the Hash, and posts it on this website.
The Run
Typically
a run should be between 45 and a 90 minutes long. Distance differs
depending upon the terrain. Lots of shiggy (off-piste), takes longer,
especially at night. Bear in mind that a run set during the day will be quite different at night when people are running/crawling using torches. Coloured chalk gets rendered invisible at night.
You can never have too many markings, and regular On On's reassure runners
that they are going the right way (especially for new runners or runners
separated from the rest of the pack).
Hash Markings and Calls
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Normal LSW arrow showing the route to
take. Flour on the ground is also used to show the route. On seeing a
chalk arrow or flour, one shouts either "chalk" or "flour"
to indicate to others one is on a trail (not necessarily the correct
one though).
String may also be used to mark the trail if it is
raining and the chalk and flour are likely to get washed away.
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The On On can also be marked without
the arrow. An On On means one is definitely on the right trail, and "on
on" should be shouted to let the rest of the pack know,
particularly after a Check. |
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This is a Check, with arrows pointing
to the various possible routes. The letters "CK" inside the
circle are optional. A Check means one is definitely on the right
trail and one shouts "on to the check". The correct trail
from the Check will be in the direction of one of the arrows. If there
are no arrows, it is an Open Check, and runners have to find any trail
leading from it. Front runners will check each, or some of the routes,
and return to the Check to rub out any of the false arrows, so runners
behind will know which are wrong, and save them having to check them.
It is intended to slow the front runners, and bring the pack together
again. |
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A "T" shows runners that they
are on the wrong trail. One shouts "T" to tell the others
not to follow that trail. If it comes after a Check, one returns to
the Check, rubs off the arrow that pointed in the direction of the T,
and tries a different route. A "T" is typically 100m to 500m
from the Check. |
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This is a Check Back. It means the
correct route is somewhere between the Check Back and the last Check,
or the last On On. One shouts "check back" so the other
runners also know to look for the trail off the trail they are on, as
opposed to going all the way back to the Check to try a different
route. A Check Back like a "T" is about 100m to 500m from
the Check. |
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This is a Wimps / Rambos Split. The
wimps route is easier or shorter than the rambos, and is for less
aggressive or less fit runners. Runners can make up their own minds on
reaching the Split as to which one they feel like taking. There might
be a few subsequent arrows marked with a "W" or "R"
confirming which trail one is on. The hares will say before the run
whether there is a Split. |
If one is lost or arrives at a Check, one
can call "Are you ?". Any runners within earshot will then shout
what marking they last saw. A call of "Are you ?" at a check
should elicit the responses "checking left", "checking
right" or straight or down or up etc. (common sense usually prevails)
from the front runners. If one of the front runners has seen an On On or
another Check , they will shout it out again. This happens often, as the
back runner might have been out of earshot when it was first called, or
not able to identify the direction the call came from.
The Bins
After
the run, either back at the start (A), or at B, to where
the hares have spirited the bags, runners expect cold drinks.
In the
hot, humid months, June to October, it's nice to have small bottles of
water to carry on the run, and lots of "softies" at the end.
Most Hares use large black bin liners, or something similar in which
to put the beer and softies, covered with ice to keep them cool while the
rest of the Hash is out on the run. It is advisable to get this done
pretty damned sharpish-like, as some of the Short Cutting Bastards can
finish suprisingly early. Sugar Boy and Harty have been known to get back
from an hour and a half run in fifteen minutes - the length of time it
took them to finish a beer at the nearest pub.
It makes sense if the
bins are near a supermarket or 7-11 that sell drinks and ice, unless the
hares have a car to transport it all (heavy, and normally the last thing
one feels like after setting the run).
Hash Cash
Bin
prices are HK$ 10 for the run, HK$ 10 for a beer, HK$ 5 for a softie.
Hash
Cash will collect money at the end of the run, and in the restaurant. If
Hash Cash is not around, the Hares should collect the money (it is, after
all, their money that paid for the drinks!).
The principle of Hash
Cash is to cover any shortfalls during the course of a year, where some
runs lose money (lack of runners due to weather conditions, or people
generally dislike the Hare) which the Hash fund can cover. The idea is not
for a Hare to finish out of pocket.
The On On
The
On On dinner ideally costs about HK$ 100 a head (which can sometimes be
difficult). People buy their own drinks separately.
Choice of venue
and cuisine is completely up to the Hare. Most restaurants will arrange a
set menu or do a deal for a block booking, and provide vegetarian courses
as well. There are normally about 20 people at the On On, so they will
often give a better price for drinks.
Down-Downs
These
are doled out by various raconteurs at the end of
the meal to any miscreants on the Hash. Down-Down are completely
arbitrary, have no right of appeal, and are a glass of beer downed in one.
'Dobbing
someone in' (telling stories and betraying confidences) to
the down down master for the evening is actively encouraged.
The On On On
If
one still has a thirst after the On On, there is the On On On. Typically
the LSW repairs to a pub 'The Wanch' in Wanchai, or anynearby boozer that
admits people with questionable body odour.
There is little opportunity to shower after most
Hashes, though Jeeves proved very adept at finding bodies of water with a
suprisingly high ecoli count to 'freshen up'.