5 February 2012 - 11.00 a.m. - Hash 100 - Fleur de Lis, Stoke Sub Hamdon. Commemorative t-shirts. Let Martin know if you will be there in good time so that he can order the appropriate numbers in the correct sizes. You may be disappointed if there is no t-shirt for you if you don't let him know!

For more information contact Martin "Mixy" Chaffey

A trip to Lundy Island with the Lundy Island Hash in 2003 planted the seed in the minds of Martin “Mixy” Chaffey and Martin “Major Clanger” Monaghan, as the combination of running, shouting and a bit of drinking seemed ideal for the Yeovil Town Runners and so, on 28^th September 2003, the first run of the Ham Hill Hash House Harriers took place from the Fleur de Lis in Stoke sub Hamdon. Over the years, there have now been more than 80 hashes on a roughly monthly basis as a side line to the main Yeovil Town Road Running Club activities – it is an informal gathering and very much a “bit of fun”!

Hashing is an international phenomenon, having started in Kuala Lumpar, Malaya in 1938 with the ex-pats at the Selangor Club (The Hash House) who livened up their time with short runs along the lines of the old paperchases. There are now hashes held all over the world. Locally the Taunton Hash is very active and we have friends in the Chard Hash and the Mendip Hills Hash – and of course we have been borrowing Andy “Warthog” Goodman from the Blandford Hash for years (from the very start in fact!).

Hashing is quite easy. A trail is laid out in dots of flour at irregular intervals to show the way. Find a dot and shout “on one” (the shouting is important, to let the other runners know what’s happening!); find a second, and it’s “on two”; find a third and it’s “on on” – you have the right trail! However, often you’ll find a cross, which is a false trail and you have to make your way back to the pack.

If you find a circle, then that’s a "check" and the trail effectively starts again – starting looking for "on one" again – but if you find a circle with a cross in it, then that’s "check back"; you’re on the right course but you’ve run past a turning off to the right or left. Be very careful ‘because those hares are sneaky! There are  "regroups" (circle containing an R) but the ones you really want to look out for are the circles with JB or B in them – that’s for the jelly babies or beer!! Another hash favourite is “on inn” – which means you’ve reached the end of the hash and you’re heading back to the pub!

Hash names are awarded (never chosen!) and amongst the Ham Hill Hashers you’ll find Mixy, Midflow, Grotbags and Dumbledore, as well as Fossil, Hands On and Sanatogen – you’ll have to come along and ask (nicely) the stories behind the names.

Volunteer hares needed for future runs – please email  hash mistress Nicky “Flasher” Adcock or call her on 07727 681808 to offer your services.

If you are laying a hash, please contact the pub before the event and also inform the police in case the local populace get worried and report you for marking their properties for future burglaries:

Dorset Police 01305 222222
Somerset Police 0845 4567000
Wiltshire Police 0845 4087000

Mixy's blog provides new and comments on hashing and hashes.

Photos of previous hash runs:

• Red House Hash
• Thornford Hash
• Club Night Hash
• Lytes Cary Hash
• Lamb and Lark Hash
• Tintinhull Hash
• Red House Hash
• Bull Inn, Ilchester Hash
• Chetnole Tree Stick Hash
• East Stour Hash
• Yetminster Hash
• Catash Hash
• Montacute Hash
• Keinton Mandeville Hash
• New Year's Eve Hash - Cooper's Mill
• Ash Hash
• Mermaid Hash