Location : Somewhere beyond Bukit Tinggi
Hare : Richard Foyston
Scribe : Yoong Nim Chee (replacement for Nadia)
New run site, seldom visited Pahang state, river, what else, yes, great view and hot springs nearby should give at least a t-shirt rating. The turnout was a bit below average (blame Bali) and front runners were sparse. That meant that the first check at the logged out hill took a whopping 45 minutes to crack! We were also distracted by the lack of vegetation coverage and a long falsie which was run at least 3 times by different groups of runners not realizing that it was one. Many runners turned back and when on on was called on a cunning trail in a stream only about 25 of us were still game to complete the run.
From then on, it was run of the mill rubber, long hills, orchards and river. I believe that the first runner came in after 1.45 but considering that the pack screwed up at the first check, it was deemed a good time and a t-shirt deservedly was awarded. Some young farts were not happy getting sunburnt in the first hour but I say middle-finger them as I thoroughly enjoyed the run. Run ratings should only be sought from rational people (me one of them of course) and judgments pronounced should only be based from asking one question – did the majority of us (rational people) enjoy the run? Irrationals and sticklers for 1.45s (c’tee members included) should be barred from speaking. This controversy will rage on but as official scribe, like it or not, I get to ram my views through!
Venue : Hulu Tamu Hot Springs
Hare : Nadia Mohd Noor
Co-Hares : Rambo & gang
It was a mighty hot day at the hot springs. A large turn out congregated at the run site very soon before the start. The heroine of the previous week’s run, Catherine was honored and virgins were called up with strict instructions to stay on the RIGHT PAPER!! Besides, the consultant being Rambo, no one in their right minds need go for anything longer!!!
The run started across the road and up the first hill which took us to the cow-dung/bamboo trail. From there, it was down, down to the rubber plantation, then up again through the thorny fern bushes which our hares had kindly bashed for us, and thence, down to a shady and gently running stream. The next hilly stretch was a strenuous climb and a check was called here. Waiting for the On call provided a respite before the trail was found down the hill and back to a connected stream. More river bashing and one very muddy stretch later, we emerged to another plantation. Lots of scream and shrieks abounded as the ladies pulled themselves up with difficulty.
Any hopes of a trail home was dashed when we clambered down the hill and reached a steep hill slope down. At this point, my mind blurs and while I know there was another river, hill, durian orchard, it’s hard to keep track but let it be on record that there was a good mixture and just enough hills not to ‘kill’. Kudos to the little 9 year old girl who completed the whole run with not sign of exhaustion or complaint.
The hares was anxiously awaiting the return of the prodigals AND presumably taking attendance. Of particular note was our faithful Emilia who usually does the sweeping, but she too came in in good time. The Lost soul ? Guiness ‘walk on his own’ Khoo. With no sign of him when the circle started, Gail, Rachel and Marlies were punished for the littering the run-site at the last run with unmentionables (either justly or not, but who cares!!), Sam for making ungentlemanly remarks, and a host of others who didn’t mind being made fools off if only for the fun of the evening.
With the circle over, it was off to the on down before one could say Bob’s your uncle, at the old Lucky Like restaurant, the tau ke niuh being Rambo’s kaki. Six tables plus half gathered, Timothy volunteered to stay to wait for the recalcitrant Guinness with Jimmy, Emilia plus others who wanted to finish the beer at the run site. The dinner was sumptuous, enjoyed the fish slices and black sauce chicken in claypot., which came up to a very reasonable RM 12 each for the whole course!!
The highlight of the evening was the on down with Dave holding fort. The virgins were a trio of ladies from various parts of SEA and two other unsuspecting souls; guests included a Russie named Louder from Hazards with a fine rendition of a Russian ditty, and Paul Smith’s older sibling and wife. It’s customary to honour a birthday and Gail’s was no exception as she was presented with a cake in the form of flour and egg on her head!! Anyone else want to celebrate their birthday, hash style?
Guinness and his ‘rescue party’ finally arrived but not before the hare and her co-hares were downed with egg nog for being at the on down while the ‘lost soul’ was still ‘lost’ despite Rambo’s convictions that it made sense to start the search on a full stomach and not go in too early as he/she could well be on the way out already!!! Guinness was given a chance to have his say, proclaiming that he was NOT rescued at all and pulling in Paul Smith and his ‘St Georges’ day t-shirt as the cause for his being at the run at all!! A few more were downed for various sins, all too nonsensical to remember.
And the run judging? First runner in purportedly 1 hr 35 mins, JM Jimmy proclaimed an On down, but unanimously outvoted and deemed worthy of a T-shirt by members present. Well Done hares!!
Rambo Chan’s Water Tango (aka Run 1472 at Ulu Rening on 28/05/05)
Except for the slow crawl from Rawang to Batang Kali it was thought to be a fine day for a fine run (no pun intended) at opposite the football field. Even the 0.8 kilometre stretch of road going in was no longer a jouncing ride in non 4x4 vehicles. Just before the run commenced with a small pack of about eighty, the GM made his usual announcement of following papers with the running rubber tree man to avoid getting lost. But knowing the notoriety of the hare, Ngiau Chee was seen carrying a small yellow torch in his pouch and even Jan Khan’s little nephew did not feel like running. Celine was heard asking who is the hare, Rambo Chan, but after the run she knows who he is! Starting trail to the first check seemed to be long way off. The trail crossed a natural land bridge crossing a small valley with a tiny stream. This check was found easily into an abandoned orchard before crossing a clear river. Climbing up the step bank, well laid papers guided the runners along the jungle track. But soon the pack encountered a very effective second check, a circular one. Even Saru and Florence ambling along talking about the maintenance of dogs had time to catch up the main pack. Papers crossed a small valley with bamboo clumps to emerge in clean rubber with a modest dwelling. The Indian occupants watched in amusement at the mad runners all colours, shapes and sizes filed past. Unknown to others, there is actually a short cut. One has just to go round the ridge, then cross the stream to the hut by the back. When Catherine Oii with Lewie Dekker behind saw one short cutter coming out from the back, she taught he went for a pee! Runners then entered the jungle again running in good clean tracks, going nitially parallel to the river, before swinging right, and going uphill. Emerging into clean rubber the pack took off. This place must have impressed lots of people like Candy Harjeet. She decided to go the whole way and was not seen back till just before 07.00 pm. (If those looking for papers—like Gary Murrell and Colin Hercus— at the circular check had continue along the main road to the right for maybe 1.5 kilometres they would have hit this trail, thus avoiding the hill climb.) With the nice rubber estate road the pack sprinted off for the Nambi Estate in Rasa. There were a further four checks in rubbers and oil palms but what slowed the pack down was what seems an endless jumping into and out of a series of streams. At one stage there was a long and very tiring walk in the crystal clear water. Runners religiously followed the river system, hoping to find more spectacular waterfalls after seeing the miniature one. The front runner in was Alex Yong at 06.20 pm to be followed by Alistair and Colin Hercus. On Colin Hercus—he lost his sense of direction thinking the run is anti–clockwise and the home trail was the same as the car track coming into the run site. The first lady in is Wendy, a guest of Lilian Ee from the RLC HHH. Her style of running from afar looks like Virginia Tan’s. Doing quite well from the same club is Vivien. Probably sensing the run would be long and not wanting to be obstructed by the slow lories, the three hash Pipe Pipers in the form of Tom with his bugle, and Barry Sage and the GM with their hash horns returned with the main pack. Meanwhile, the hare accepted the congratulations from the FROP’s. The hare told them that as the sun started to dip below the horizon, the middle pack would come back cursing, while the last group would be keeping mum because they had no energy to complain! For a hasher of twenty years, he is correct! Ramboo mentioned the run could be shorter if his team (they must have forgotten to bring their parangs) had bashed down from one hill. The last group returned just before 07.00 pm. The Circle started at 07.50 pm with an imported Bomoh, Graham Wood, from Down Under. It was a quick affair. Some of the people that had to on–downs were:
· YK (aka Chalres Lee), not for loosing his horn, but for coming to the aid of Aileen with her sprained ankle
· John Hutchingson for coming to the run site late as he does not want to break checks
· Gary Murrell the Pussy Hunter
· Peter Brooke, the representative of the sitting down veterans in their own Speaker’s Corner.
The hare promiseed a meal at old Lucky Like at RM20 per head but he was just joking. The delicious meal came to RM130 per table with six tables in attendance. One very special dish is the thin slices of fresh water (it is another species of the infamous Snake Head Fish that the American Wildlife Department classified as an invasive specie brought in by the Vietnamese population) fish with fresh scallion and young ginger. The Circle at the restaurant started with monikers being given to Les (“Depository”) and Candy being called “Bombay Doll”—the other suggestions were "Mystery Pussy”, “Wax Job”, and “Chinese Twat”. Then there was Celine for using the handphone while the Circle was on. There were five virgins and the crowd wanted more from Soo from Korea and Wendy from China. Dogs seem to like Lee Heard’s leg, but since the owner was not around, a substitute was called up. Dave Kamikaze pulled Catherine Oii and and Emelia to up to remind hashers sponsors are needed for PH3’s 1,500th Run at year end. Peter Brooke was hauled up for enthusiastically singing CCB song with gusto, while returnee, Don Cheang, attempted to sing a hash song The hare was awarded the Toilet Seat. As to whether the hoary subject if it is a ten weeker just read the GM's Column No. 4 – 2005 posted by the On–Sec at 31/05/05. —Guinness Khoo