PHHH to celebrate 2,500th run

Penang Hash House Harriers (PHHH) will mark another milestone in its 46-year history today with its 2,500th run. PHHH Grand Master (Hasher’s term for chairman) V. Kalimuthan is all excited about the event as Hashers from around the country will join the run which will start at 3.30pm from the Penang Water Sports Centre in Tanjung Bungah.

“We try to celebrate during every 100th run or at least once in two years but we have been unable to do so of late. Thankfully, we managed to get everyone’s co-operation to organise our 2,500th run. I am very happy and excited,” he said. He said some 400 Hashers were expected to take part in the run which would last about one hour and take them over the hills behind a nearby condominium.

Final planning: Kalimuthan (with green headband) having a chat with the Penang Hashers after a run.

Kalimuthan, who recently took over the PHHH Grand Master’s position from Nick Bourdville, said PHHH was formed in 1965 and was the seventh oldest Hash chapter in the world. He said the HHH originated in December 1938 in Kuala Lumpur when a group of British colonial officers and expatriates began meeting on Monday evenings to run and upon completion, be rewarded with drinks.

Kalimuthan said that, like many other Hash groups around the world, the PHHH is a ‘direct descendant’ of the original Kuala Lumpur Hash, being formed by three former Kuala Lumpur Hashmen whom he cheekily described as being exiled to Penang. He said there were 13 chapters of Hash House Harriers in Penang of which PHHH is the first.

Kalimuthan, or Black German as he is known in the Hash circle, has been a Hasher for the past 33 years. He says that Hashing is an activity for some good quality ‘boy time’.

“We look forward to our Hash runs every week because after breaking a good sweat, we get to reward ourselves with a few drinks and socialise. “It is a time when we let our hair down and have some fun. It is just ‘boys being boys’ time,” said Kalimuthan while chuckling.

He said that good friendships have been formed over the years with Hashers worldwide. “When Hashers from other countries visit Penang, they take the opportunity to join us during our runs which helps us meet new people and form new friendships as well. Likewise, when we visit other countries, we try to make it for their Hash runs too,” he said.

-thestar online.