Venue : Batang Kali (Ulu Yam) Football Field
Hare : Ron Brooks
Co-Hare : Helen Brooks
Scribe : John Robertson
Every cloud has a silver lining…and after braving the slow crawl of traffic from KL to the run site we were to be rewarded with our silver lining in the form of a gem of a run set by Ron Brooks and his able and illustrious co-Hare Robin Cox.
In view of my duties as Scribe, I had attempted to ensure that I had all the necessary equipment (i.e. pencil and paper), particularly in lieu of my inherent inability to distinguish between one part of jungle and the next, to fulfil my obligations and accurately document the day’s events. Unfortunately, somewhere between KL and Ulu Yam I managed to misplace my ideal writing implement (one of those small pencils you “borrow” on a permanent loan basis from IKEA) so I had to settle for an inferior pen borrowed from Chai Leng. I suspect that she knew she might never see that pen again and as such made sure the one she gave me had no ink! So from here on in it’s an account based on my pre-Alzheimer’s memory.
The run started shortly after 4.30 with the pack charging off into the palm and then crossing a small creek more than once before settling in for the first check. Being a bit of a plodder, the first check was well and truly broken before I had even finished negotiating the creek. The second check slowed the front-runners down, particularly as many seemed engrossed in debate as to whether Ron had the athleticism to leave the trail and set checks in the high ground, and allowed the short-cutters and back markers to amble on. At this point I was still desperately trying to get ink out of Chai Leng’s pen to no avail before realising that everyone had run on and I was by myself. I made a concerted effort to burn a few calories and catch up with the pack.
I will spare you from the details of each check (only because I can’t recall them) but what I do recall is that the run made excellent use of the terrain, with some clever work such as the circular combined with a short false trail that ensured that for the majority of the run the pack was not too dispersed and the front-runners well and truly exercised. Of course there were some classic checks such as the one set in a deep ravine that slowed the front-runners enormously as they were forced to bush bash their way across and up the ravine. Just how did Ron lay that check? Given the area is well known to many the hares did an excellent job in setting a very challenging run that is hard to find fault with.
Towards the end of the run some short but high gradient slopes helped sort the men from the boys before a nice run home was enjoyed (or rather endured). First runner was back in around 1 hr 30 min and the mixed looks of exhaustion and exhilaration on the faces of the following runners was a testimony to the good efforts of the hares.
A quick circle was held at the run-site before adjourning to the on-on at Lucky Like. As per the norm, down-downs were given to number of guests and virgins as well as to others for sins and issues ranging from mosquito bats (aka Japanese instruments of torture) to chastity belts. Ron was given a bithday song to celebrate his 50th but spared a cake due to the absence of Dave Settergren. However, If anyone should develop a complex from the day’s events it would surely be likely to be Mike Clarke who endured a barrage of down-downs that started at the circle and culminated with his naming at the on-on as “(Paul’s) Fierce Gay Boy”. I can imagine that Mike is probably still thinking that with friends like Paul Smith who needs enemies!
The run was judged as a well deserved T-Shirt and Ron donned his new second skin to the cheers of the crowd (if only to cover his body up and spare some of the more refined (if there are any) members of the Hash from trauma counselling). Well done to the hares and happy birthday Ron!
On On!
Posted by onsec at December 5, 2005 06:33 PM