Venue : Ulu Yam
Hare : Nick Mason
Co-Hare : Excellent Choice (David Hirst)
Scribe : Hugh Murray
For a change and for reasons that will become obvious later on I will start this scribe report at the circle on-site, before getting to the run itself.
The circle was conducted by the GM ably assisted by his Bomo of the week, Wolfgang Druba. Having welcomed our visitors and guests The GM handed over to the Bomo, who the proceeded to congratulate Dennis V. for coming prepared to the circle, with his new shoes. There then followed an allegation of serious shortcutting, by a small group of hashers, my self included, from the Bomo. But how did the Bomo know about this because he was with us for about 20 minutes, however he did not see fit to join us on the box. There was an appeal for Committee Members for next years Committee particularly amongst our Malaysian members. A number of announcements were made including the brewery trip and also AGM. (If you are intending to go to the brewery tell Nan so that we can advise for catering purposes – I don’t think they should run out of beer)
However having read the above you will now gather why this run report may be missing a little bit about the true trail.
Another hot day with minimal shade found the pack already starting to dehydrate on the open runsite about 3km on the Batu Caves side of Ulu Yam. A fair size pack but missing most of the Australians who were having their barbeque on the surplus funds left over from their run. Pity they could not have supplied more food on the day so that all of us could eaten that day.
ON ON was called on time and started with a jog alongside the road towards Ulu Yam before turning right towards the river. In the old days this use to be a runsite so was surprised that so many people wanted to check back across the road rather than across the river into old running territory. Never mind check was broken relatively easy. Near the river bank. Across the river and then up the hill to a radio tower and the next check. This was broken to the left and down the hill. However a few of us suspected that this had to be a clockwise circle and would therefore necessitate the trail coming up again, were reluctant to loose our height, so carried on along the terraces and even made our way through the secondary jungle. All the time we could hear the pack only a few hundred metres away, and were still anticipating that we had guessed correctly.
However we were wrong and in fact the hares had set an anticlockwise circle a fact that we only accepted after about 1 hours when we made our way back to the riverbank about 2km further upstream with no sign of the paper. We therefore wandered back towards the intrail, across the intrail to find the home trail confirming that it had in deed been an anti-clockwise circle. Arrived in after nearly 1½ hours – (ideas for a future possible run having been formed), and ahead of the pack. Talked to the hares who stated that really they were not the hares and that these were supposed to be Michelle Mason and Colin King. In addition they were quite pleased that they had manage to fool us into thinking that it was a clockwise circle. 1½ hours passsed but the hares were not worried about a 10 weeker as they pointed out the correct hares should be the above mentioned Colin and Michelle, and it would be their responsibility. In fact before the front runner, Dave Settergren was in, in 1 hour 40 minutes, Nick had already SMS to Colin warning him of his upcoming 10 weeker. Straight after Dave there followed 8 or 9 other hashers then a big gap, indicating that a check was not properly filled in or there was missing paper. Last runner was about 1 hour after the FROP.
So what else did I learn about the run from talking to various hashers.
- The middle part of the run had a variety of terrain including palm rubber and orchards
- There were 6 river crossings, which were used by quite a few for cooling down.
- At one point the trail went along a tarmac road (no check) but paper was missing for about 400m. This was confirmed by the GM who saw a Kampong Boy with a large stack of hash paper, even though the hares had torn it nearly all the way through to make it useless for drawing etc. If you are a hare and setting near a Kampong please consider also using chalk or flour (flour is also chicken food though), but tell the Committee so that they can announce it at the start.
- That there were a number of places to short-cut and Terry G managed to lead a large party of our tail end walkers through one of these so that the back of the pack did not include all the usual suspects, Emilia and Soo.
- The middle of the run was very enjoyable but both the start and end had criticism for being very open, not helped by another very hot day.
Even though the circle started a bit late, a short circle enabled us to get back on track and leave for the restaurant in reasonable time. With last people off the run site with Ramlee just after 8:00pm.
ON ON was at Hock Lay where a good spread was provided including the house specialty of Tom Yam Prawns in Coconut.
The accoustics at the restaurant made it hard to hear the circle. With the front runner over 1 hour 30 minutes the run was awarded a toilet seat, and the GM using his discretion as the FROP appeared before 1 hour 45 minutes (probably with the conniving of the hares who will not actually have to set it) decided it will be a 10 weeker. Colin King, Michelle Mason we look forward to your run on 4 June 2005.
The GM also paraded some potential Malaysian, Female, recruits to the committee.
Triple ON was declared at Backyard. I did not attend preferring to have ny own private Triple On with the wife on my balcony.
Considering the hares had agreed to stand in at short notice and not had time for a proper recce due to work and holiday commitment, I believe (having not actually been all the way round) it was a not a bad run. Thank you Nick and David.
ON ON
Posted by onsec at February 21, 2005 10:48 PM