What is the Hash?

What is a Horror’s Hash?

The Hash is basically a fun-run, following a trail of flour, chalk or paper through varied terrain – from the flattest pavements, to the deepest jungle. The trail is set earlier in the day by the ‘Hares’. Just follow the flour and/or paper markers! Occasionally there will be a circle – which means that the trail is broken and restarts close-by – and the kids must ‘check’ and find the restart. Sometimes there may be a large T – which means that you have gone the wrong way, and need to go back down the trail to find the right route. Remember that you are following a trail – if you can’t see the flour, stop and go back to where you last saw it – don’t just continue – always make sure you are still on the trial. The front-runners will shout ‘On On’ to indicate that we are still on the trail – when you see a flour mark you can help the people behind you by shouting ‘On On’.

When and where?

Every second Sunday at 4.30pm somewhere in Singapore. Members get an e-mail with venue details about 5-7 days before the run. Visitors find out by word of mouth – or through our website.

What should I bring?

Be prepared to get a little muddy and wet as we often get…muddy and wet. We run, whatever the weather!

• Exercise clothes, light long pants/trousers/leggings are recommended
• Running shoes with plenty of grip
• A hat/cap
• Towel
• Drinking water for the run – there are refreshments at the end of the run for children (orange squash – part of fees) and adults (a cool one purchased from Mr Tan)
• Insect repellent
• Sun Cream
• First aid kit (optional)
• Plastic bag (Ziploc) in order to carry phone if you decide to run with it – handy for photos and using GPS to mark the run
• Dry set of clothes and old towel to dry off
• Rug/chairs to sit on (optional: Picnic table)

 

How long are the runs?

A well-laid run usually takes about 30-60 minutes. The fastest runners and the slowest joggers should come back within 15 minutes of each other.

What else do we do?

After the run we eat dinner, eat ice cream, and play games (if time allows)!

How fit/fast do I have to be?

Adults only have to be as fast as their child if they want to keep up with them. Note: If you don’t want to keep up with them, it helps to give them water to carry. Obviously if they are still attached to you (in papoose, in backpack, on shoulders) then you can set the pace.

What about wildlife?

A herd of human beings crashing through the jungle tends to scare away most wildlife except for insects.  Recent sightings have included pangolins, wild pigs, monitor lizards, hornbills, kingfishers not to mention the odd snake!

Other Details

A hashmark is a splash of flour, paper or chalk used to mark the trail. The pack should call out “On-On” when they see a hashmark. Blasts on horns, whistles, and other noisemakers are encouraged. Hounds asking “RU?” (are you on trail?) should be answered “On-On”, which means they are on trail, or “Looking”, which means they’ve lost the trail.

Arrows, or several closely spaced hashmarks, are used to indicate change of trail direction. Hound should use arrows different from those used by the hares as necessary to assist hounds further back in the pack.

A checkmark is a large circled X, or a circle with a dot at its centre. Checkmarks indicate that the trail goes “SFP”; that is, the pack must search for true trail. Hounds should call out “Checking” when they see a checkmark. (Checking IS NOT Looking!)

A backtrack is three lines chalked or drawn in flour across the trail, indicating a false trail. The pack, upon encountering a backtrack, calls out “on-back” or “Backtrack”, and goes back to the last checkmark to find true trail. Sometimes a hound will draw an arrow with a backtrack sign at the checkmark to identify the false trail for the rest of the pack.

A checkback is a devious variation of the checkmark/backtrack. A checkback is a CB followed by a number. For example, a “CB 5” means to backtrack five hashmarks and then look for true trail as one would at a check. Also known as a countback.

A whichway is two arrows, only one of which points toward true trail; no hashmarks will be found in the other direction.

Tradition requires a down-down (chug-a-lug or scull) of a drink after a hasher’s 1st hash, naming hash, and other significant occasions, e.g., 25th hash, 50th hash, etc. A Down-Down is also in order for hares, visitors, and for any other reason that can be thought up. It is permissible for non-drinkers to pour the drink over their head. The primary consideration of the Down-Down is that once the mug leaves the drinker’s lips, it is turned upside-down over the head.